Delhi to Drass Cycling Expedition Commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence

Why is it in news?

Commemorating India’s 75 years of Independence, Indian Army and Indian Air Force have joined forces to conduct a landmark cycling expedition from Delhi to Drass commencing on 2^nd of July 22. The team comprises of 20 soldiers and air warriors and will be led by two bright lady officers of Army and Air Force.

Highlights

·       The expedition was flagged off jointly by Lieutenant General M U Nair AVSM SM, Signal Officer-in-Chief & Senior Colonel Commandant, Corps of Signals and Air Marshal R Radhish AVSM VM, Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command from National War Memorial, New Delhi.

·       The cyclists will then face the daunting task of covering 1600 km in 24 days, culminating at Kargil War Memorial in Drass on 26^th July 22 to commemorate a fitting tribute to the brave martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil War.

·       The team of cyclists will be led by Major Srishti Sharma of Corps of Signals. Major Srishti is a second-generation officer who was awarded the Chief of Integrated Staff Commendation Card in 2019 for her contribution in various technical based intelligence operations. Currently posted in Delhi, she was awarded the Vice Chief of Air Staff Commendation Card in 2021 for her contribution in air defence communication aspects during National events like Republic Day and Independence Day.

·       Spearheading the team from Indian Air Force is Squadron Leader Maneka who has served as the Logistics Officer in Bidar, Gwalior and Devlali during her span of 10 years in service. Currently serving in Air Force Station Kalaikunda, she was awarded the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command Commendation Card in 2016 for her exceptional handling and speedy resolution of various logistics issues at Gwalior Air Force Station. She is an avid sports enthusiast and has taken part in a number of cycling expeditions organised by Indian Air Force.

·       The expedition will pedal its way through Punjab before entering Himachal Pradesh. The expedition will face insurmountable challenges against rising terrain and scarcity of oxygen when they progress towards Ladakh. Preparation and training had commenced early on to prepare the team for this monumental challenge. The team had a graduated practice schedule which helped them to build up on their endurance and stamina. Flagging in of the team at Drass will be carried out by Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi AVSM, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command.

NITI Aayog releases ‘Mitigation and Management of COVID-19: Compendium of Ayush-Based Practices from Indian States and Union Territories’

NITI Aayog released a compendium of Ayush-based practices from States and Union territories detailing information about various Ayush-based initiatives and practices adopted by the States and Union territories in India for containing and managing the COVID-19 outbreak.

The compendium was released by Shri Suman Bery, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog,  and Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Minister of State for Ayush and WCD. The event was also attended by Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and Officials of NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Ayush.

Why is it in news?

Since the year 2020, the world has been facing an unprecedented public health crisis in the form of COVID-19. States and Union territories have been equal partners of the Union Government in managing the COVID-19 outbreak in India. Ayush Departments of States/UTs have joined their hands with State Health Departments to strengthen India’s fight against COVID-19. There is greater visibility of Ayush and need to maintain momentum, build on credibility.

Highlights

·       “It is critical to communicate the learnings from the testing times during COVID-19 outbreak about how Ayush practices implemented at national and State level benefited people. The compendium provides information focused on practices adopted by various States and UTs of India for strengthening the country’s fight against COVID-19, using Ayush’s resources and interventions. I am sure this document will be a crucial knowledge resource for stakeholders from other countries who have a good network of traditional medicine systems. It will significantly aid to our fight against COVID-19, other epidemics, and pandemics in future,” stated NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Shri Suman Bery in his message.

·       “In India, along with the contemporary medicine system, Ayush systems have played an active role on various fronts to tackle the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that these collective efforts of traditional and conventional healthcare systems will pave the way for the world by providing a holistic healthcare system model,” said Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai during the release of the compendium.

·       NITI Aayog Member Dr. V K Paul in his message mentioned, “I am hopeful that practices documented in this compendium will be useful to address any future surge of the pandemic and also serve as a model of an integrative approach to health action.”

·       In preparing the compendium of Ayush-based practices, NITI Aayog reached out to all State Governments and administrations of Union territories, requesting them to share Ayush practices they have undertaken for Covid-19 mitigation and management.

·       The practices in the compendium have been disaggregated under five sections: (i) Overview and objectives of practices adopted by the States/UTs (ii) Ayush Human Resource and infrastructure (iii) Interventions and Initiatives (iv) Digital Platform and Tele-medicine (v) Issues occurred or addressed. The compendium has also included a summary of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India guidelines, and initiatives.

·       The report indicates that traditional healthcare systems in the country to be strengthened further. The integration of evidence-based Ayush services with the modern system has the potential to significantly strengthen India's healthcare system.

National Health Authority (NHA) organised Western Region Review Meeting in Pune, Maharashtra to assess implementation progress and draw future roadmap for Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY & Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) schemes across the region.

Along the side-lines of the meeting, around 1000 Doctors were felicitated for their remarkable & exemplary performance under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Scheme on the occasion of Doctor’s Day.

The fifth edition of Regional Review Meeting – ‘Ayushman Sangam’ was organised by National Health Authority (NHA) in Pune, Maharashtra for the Western region on 30^th June and 1^st July 2022. The event saw a gathering of senior government officials, policymakers and experts associated with the two schemes of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) from the states/UT of Gujarat, Goa, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu. The review meeting was chaired by Dr. R. S. Sharma, CEO, NHA. Addressing the event, Dr Sharma lauded the efforts and contribution made by the Western Zone towards the successful implementation of AB PM-JAY.

Why is it in news?

The two-day interaction created avenues of cohesive thought exchange facilitating assessment of progress made by both Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY & ABDM schemes in the States/UTs of Western Region.

Highlights

1.  Along the side-lines of the programme, around 1000 Doctors were felicitated on 1^st July, 2022 for their exemplary contribution provided under PM-JAY scheme.

2.  Dr. R. S. Sharma, CEO NHA while giving the keynote address highlighted the role played by the doctors in India’s fight against the pandemic and the roll out of the vaccination drive. Dr. Sharma said, ‘On the face of it, the COWIN platform is the tech-backbone of India’s vaccination drive but in spirit it is the network of our doctors and medical professionals who have made the world’s largest vaccination drive successful. Our community of doctors have been instrumental not only in our fight against the pandemic but have also played a crucial part in ensuring the successful implementation of the key healthcare schemes like the Ayushman Bharat umbrella scheme PM-JAY.’

3.  While addressing the gathering, Dr Pradeep Vyas, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra expressed his gratitude to the doctors and the medical fraternity. He said ‘The doctors of our country who work selflessly need to be recognised for their exemplary service. Today, we are felicitating a few among them as a token of gratitude to the collective contribution of doctors to our society and I salute all of them for their dedication to provide quality healthcare. Let us all commit to continuously strive for excellence in our service to the nation.’

4.  Speaking during the event Dr. Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy CEO, NHA said: ‘In my view it is not just a job, it’s a challenging commitment and service which our doctors manage to do without a single frown upon their face. As we move forward, we know that the pandemic would continue to evolve, and the health care community would also need to match the pace of this evolution to stay ahead of the game and deliver high-quality care to all patients.’

5.  Dr. Neelima Kerkatta, Principal Secretary, Public Health Department, Government of Maharashtra and Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, CEO State Health Authority Assurance Society, Maharashtra were also present during the meeting.

6.  With an objective to continue with its endeavour to reward and recognise the medical fraternity associated with the PM-JAY scheme on a regular basis, NHA announced the launch of following key initiatives:

·         Ayushman Bharat Utkrist Chikitsak Samman: An award to felicitate five best performing doctors working in the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY ecosystem.

·         Ayushman Bharat Utkrist Chikitsalaya Samman: An award for one best performing hospital empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY in each state.

·         Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Fellowship: Under this, as many as five healthcare professionals will be given a one-year fellowship grant to undertake research under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.

All these awards will be conferred during the anniversary celebration of AB PM-JAY in September 2022. Officials and doctors from State Health Agencies across various PM-JAY implementing States & UTs virtually participated in the felicitation event and it kicked off similar felicitation ceremonies across India to recognise the contribution of doctors.

India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 197.84 Cr

Over 3.68 Cr 1st dose vaccines administered for age group 12-14 years

India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,09,568

17,092 new cases reported in the last 24 hours

Recovery Rate currently stands at 98.54%

Weekly Positivity Rate is presently at 3.56%

Why is it in news?

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 197.84 Cr (1,97,84,80,015) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 2,57,98,020 sessions.

Highlights

COVID-19 vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on 16 March, 2022. So far, more than 3.68 Cr (3,68,29,621) adolescents have been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for age group 18-59 years also started from 10^th April, 2022 onwards.