A health journalist is a health worker too

Dr KK Aggarwal

Communication, as we know, is how we acquire information, how we disseminate information. Effective health communication is crucial for health promotion.

Health journalists have an important role to play in health promotion by increasing health literacy. The reach of the media, whether print, radio, television and/or internet is phenomenal.

In our country, people usually visit their doctors only when they fall sick. News reports on health and medicine are thus their major sources of information and influence health-related behaviors and attitudes. Health journalists increase the level of awareness and knowledge of the general public about any health issue and in this process, they often dispel myths and misconceptions prevalent in the society. It is via news reports that we come to know of the latest advances in medicine, be it drugs, devices, techniques etc.

Particularly during times of outbreaks or epidemics, journalists can help to quickly deliver important health-related messages to the public about the disease in question, the Dos and Don’ts, so that people can take adequate measures to stay safe or when they should seek a doctor’s help.

Diseases such as type 2 diabetes, once considered to be a disease of the affluent countries are now a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. India, as we know, has the second highest population of people with type 2 diabetes in the world. As diabetes is a lifestyle disorder, it is important that people are aware of the risk factors and how they can be modified. Health journalists can educate the general public about the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to check the rising prevalence of the disease.

When reporting stories related to health, journalists should ensure that the message should be clear, accurate, complete, factual and relevant as people often make important health care decisions based on what they read or see. The message has to be tailored to the needs of the public.

Health journalists are an important link between the patient and the doctor. As health care communicators, they can be considered as health workers and therefore an integral part of health care delivery.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this write up are entirely my own.

Rural India lacks access to safe drinking water

Need of the hour is to address the issue on an urgent basis and reduce the prevalence of water-borne diseases

New Delhi, 07 August 2017: As per a global report released recently, about 63 million people in rural India lack access to clean water.[1]Add to this the fact that only about 26.9 million out of 167.8 million households (16%) in rural areas have access to piped water. Studies have also found the presence of iron in water supplied to 30% rural Indian households. As per the IMA, iron when mixed with water, can cause respiratory system hemorrhage. Lack of access to clean water can also lead to multiple diseases.

Unclean water can increase the prevalence of diseases such as cholera, blinding trachoma, malaria, and dengue in the rural areas, not to mention other water-borne problems. India is one of the fastest growing economies and the need of the hour is to address the issue of water security on an urgent basis.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “There is a strain on our country’s water resources due to various reasons. Providing access to safe water is one of the sustainable development goals and the government must increase efforts towards meeting this goal. Diseases can become rampant if people drink water that is contaminated or unclean. The presence of contaminants can result in adverse health effects such as gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with a weak immune system are particularly at risk of illness from some contaminants. Diseases such as amoebiasis, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid are all due to drinking unclean water.”

It is alarming to note that about 140,000 children die from diarrheal diseases each yearin the country, as a result ofusing dirty water. There is “chronic underfunding” of vital water resources in the country and access to safe water is not necessarily the top priority in government agendas.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “There is a need to supplement access to safe water withthe necessary tools, infrastructure, and preparedness to deal with the effects of weather and climate change, particularly in rural India. Awareness must be created on the need to drink clean water and how unclean water affects the system. Schools are a good starting ground for awareness creation and the IMA is already undertaking efforts towards educating children on public health issues through the Aao School Chaleinprogramme.”

Some tips to prevent water-borne diseases include the following.

·         Always ensure to drink boiled and filtered water.

·         Store water in clean containers and clean them every day.

·         Avoid consumption of uncovered and openly stored water outside.

·         Ensure that the pipes and tanks that supply water to your house are properly maintained and clean.

·         Using detergent and hot water, discard or flush any stool in the toilet.

Personal opinion vs official opinion

Dr KK Aggarwal

As individuals we all have different opinions or viewpoints at the same time on any situation or a particular topic. At times, opinions may overlap when opinions are similar in some ways but not in every way. These are personal opinions.

An official opinion is the opinion of any organization or association i.e. an organized body of authority. It is the collective viewpoint of all members who make up that body and reflects the policy.

The National President or Hony Secretary General of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) usually voice the official stand of the association on any issue. But, they may have their personal opinion too or their own interpretation of a situation or issue.

When they state that this is the opinion of IMA, it has to be based on the collective consciousness of IMA. The opinion of the house has to be unanimous i.e. everyone is in total agreement with the said opinion.  

I usually put a viewpoint on an issue/situation in public domain and invite suggestions. Once I receive all suggestions and comments then it becomes IMA's stand.

 All Spiritual and Mind Body blogs that I write are my personal columns and views and do not reflect the stand of IMA on the topics covered therein.  

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this write up are entirely my own. 

Research underway to prove the effectiveness of stem cell therapy in cerebral palsy

About 15% to 20% of physically disabled children suffer from this condition

New Delhi, 06 August 2017: One of the most common childhood motor disabilities, statistics indicate that cerebral palsy affects about 15% to 20% of physically disabled children. Its estimated incidence is around 3/1000 live births in India. Though there is no cure for this condition, recent research speaks of the possibilities that stem cell therapy can provide in treating the disorder.

Cerebral palsy is a term used to cover certain neurological conditions affecting movement. Children with this condition can find it hard to move certain parts of the body and the condition can vary in severity. Due to the damage to certain parts of the brain, both voluntary and involuntary movements can be affected.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “This condition is not contagious and does not affect a child’s intelligence or cognitive ability. It also does not become worse with age. Currently, research is underway to show the effectiveness of stem cell therapy in this condition. This involves two steps: one,taking the patient’s bone marrow and second, injecting it back after it has been multiplied in the lab. The therapy sessions begin after this process. Once the effectiveness of this therapy is established, there could be an effort towards taking up 'autologous' stem cell therapy. Studies have indicated that the progress is quick in children below the age of 10 and this procedure can also cure muscular dystrophy and autism.People with cerebral palsy have a normal lifespan and can lead a good quality of life as well.”

Some common symptoms of cerebral palsy include overdeveloped or underdeveloped muscles, poor coordination and balance, involuntary movements, spastic paralysis, crawling in an unusual way, lying down in awkward positions, favoring one side of the body over the other, and limited range of movement.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “Though stem cell therapy is being spoken of, there is still time to prove its effectiveness in the treatment of this condition. However, other kinds of therapy can help children with this condition achieve their maximum potential in growth and development. As soon as it is diagnosed, a child can begin therapy for movement, and other areas that need help, such as learning, speech, hearing, and social and emotional development.”

Some preventive measures can help reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in children.  A woman who is planning to become pregnant should ensure that all her vaccinations are up-to-date. Additionally, it is important to:

Attend all antenatal appointments

Quit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs

Indulge in regular exercise

Eat healthy food

Head of institutes or associations should avoid chairing routine meetings

Dr KK Aggarwal

Some days back I attended a function, where Prof NK Ganguly, Former Director General (ICMR) also spoke. 

He said something very interesting. He said that he tried to avoid chairing committee meetings as the head of the organization unless absolutely required to do so.

“I preferred constituting expert committees instead as I can’t be an expert in all fields.” The reasoning behind this approach is clear. If the head of the institution is chairing an expert committee meeting, all those attending the meeting hesitate to speak up and they tend to defer to the views of the institute head. “I want their views, not just my views,” he said.

It was a lesson for me. At IMA we have different committees, each with different assigned functions such as family welfare, medical education, medical ethics, anti-quackery, rural health and national plans, to name a few and each with a designated Chair.

As National President, I have been chairing many meetings and now I personally feel that this may not always be the right way to look for ways to solve a problem or any issue.

The more junior staff tend to defer to the Chair or more senior colleagues. The right way to do it is to involve experts. This is what we routinely follow in standing committees for finance and building.

Diversity of ideas, even if dissenting views, can change the way we think.

Brainstorming or ideas and viewpoints gathered from a group of people give different perspectives, different interpretations of any given situation and different ways of solving that particular situation. Diversity leads to creative and innovative thinking as ideas that come up are often original in thought.

In the remaining term of my tenure, this is what I will try to do i.e. chair fewer meetings and attempt to gather more wide ranging ideas by letting experts take the chair and tap into their knowledge for the benefit of the Association and in turn the fraternity as well as the community.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this write up are entirely my own and do not represent in any way the official stand of the IMA.

Diabetic retinopathy must be detected on time to avoid loss of vision

Many remain unaware till the issue reaches an advanced stage, where vision once lost cannot be regained

New Delhi, 05 August 2017: India has already been accorded the status of the diabetes capital of the world, with about 65 million Indians suffering from this disorder. Statistics indicate that about 40% of those with diabetes will suffer from diabetic retinopathy at some point in time. As per the IMA, although diabetic retinopathy was always one of the associated complications of diabetes, its incidence has seen a rise in recent years. The condition can exacerbate if steps are not taken on time.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs from damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina. They leak blood and other fluids and cause swelling of the retinal tissue thereby leading to clouding of vision. This condition usually affects both the eyes.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “Diabetic retinopathy is the major cause of blindness in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, it is largely a preventable or avoidable cause of blindness. Some factors that increase the risk of acquiring this condition include poor glycemic control, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels. In most patients, diabetic retinopathy is usually asymptomatic or may cause only very mild symptoms, to begin with. Due to this reason, many people living with diabetes remain unaware until the disease reaches an advanced stage and it becomes too late for treatment. Vision that has been lost cannot be restored. It is imperative that people with diabetes undergo regular screening to detect retinopathy. Early intervention is very important to prevent visual impairment and blindness.”

Diabetic retinopathy is included in the list of eye diseases that can be prevented and treated if detected early under ‘VISION 2020: The Right to Sight’ global joint initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “Although its symptoms become noticeable only once the disease advances, there are some common things one can look out for including sudden changes in vision / blurred vision, eye floaters and spots, double vision, and eye pain. Laser surgery is often used in the treatment of diabetic eye disease, but each stage of diabetic retinopathy can be treated in a different way.”

Few steps can reduce the chances of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.

Controlling blood sugar levels It is good to keep blood sugar levels in a target range through a healthy diet, frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels, and adequate physical activity

Control blood pressure One of the associated complications of this disorder is macular edema which occurs in those with high blood pressure. Therefore, keep the levels in the right range.

Get an eye examination regularly Get your eyes checked regularly. Though screening for diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems will not prevent diabetic eye disease, it can help you in timely treatment.

Celebrate the centenary year of IMA’s All India Medical Conference: Wear Khadi

In September this year, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold the 218th meeting of its Central Working Committee (CWC) in New Delhi.

This year also marks the 100 years of IMA’s All India Medical Conference, the first of which was held at Calcutta in 1917.

The concept of IMA was born out of these conferences in response to a need of a national organization of doctors. A resolution adopted at the 5th All India Medical conference held at Calcutta in the year1928 led to the formation of an All India Medical Association. The objectives were to improve medical education, promote medical and allied sciences in their different branches and safeguard interests of the medical profession. The All Indian Medical Association and the body were duly registered in the year 1930 under the Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860.

At its inception, the Association had only 222 members. But since then it has only grown from strength to strength.

Today, IMA has more than 2.5 lakh doctors as its members through more than 1765 active local branches spread across the country. It is the only national voluntary organization representing the collective consciousness of doctors of modern scientific system of medicine in the country, with its Headquarters in New Delhi.

This is also a time to remember the struggles and sacrifices of the founding members, both before and post-independence, not only in the formation of the Association, but also for the independence of our country as many of the stalwarts of the medical profession in those days had also served time in jail for their participation in India’s freedom movement.

In this centenary year of the All India Medical Conference, we can pay our tribute to our founding fathers by promoting our national heritage.

Khadi is one way by which we can do this. It is not merely a piece of fabric, khadi is a powerful symbol of “self-rule” and “self-reliance” of the freedom movement propagated by Mahatma Gandhi as a means to boycott the British textiles.

Khadi is made of natural fiber and is non-allergenic; it keeps the body cool as it allows better air circulation with less sweating. Being hand woven and hand spun makes it environment-friendly. By virtue of these properties, does khadi prevent skin infections? This can be a subject of research.

All of us should consider wearing Khadi voluntarily, and include it in our daily wear, as much as possible. And, I request all members to wear a ‘Khadi apron’, particularly during the centenary celebrations. And, also on 2nd October,  when all doctors of modern medicine in the country will undertake a dawn to dusk fast in continuation of our Dilli Chalo movement.

This initiative will be a good way to not only honor our cultural heritage, but also preserve this invaluable legacy and carry it forward. Also, by wearing khadi, doctors can make their contribution in empowering khadi weavers.

Wear Khadi with pride, wear khadi with flair…




Dr KK Aggarwal
National President IMA & HCFI

Recipient of Padma Shri, Dr BC Roy National Award, Vishwa Hindi Samman, National Science Communication Award & FICCI Health Care Personality of the Year Award
Vice President Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)
Past Honorary Secretary General IMA
Past Senior National Vice President IMA
President Heart Care Foundation of India
Gold Medalist Nagpur University
Limca Book of Record Holder in CPR 10
Honorary Professor of Bioethics SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre
Sr. Consultant Medicine & Cardiology, Dean Board of Medical Education, Moolchand
Editor in Chief IJCP Group of Publications & eMedinewS
Member Ethics Committee Medical Council of India (2013-14)
Chairman Ethics Committee Delhi Medical Council (2009-15)
Elected Member Delhi Medical Council (2004-2009)
Chairman IMSA Delhi Chapter (March 10- March 13)
Director IMA AKN Sinha Institute (08-09)
Finance Secretary IMA (07-08)
Chairman IMAAMS (06-07)
President Delhi Medical Association (05-06)