JBI gLOCAL Symposium Climate Change and One Health

JBI gLOCAL Symposium Climate Change And One Health

Evidence, priorities, and challenges from India and South Africa

With the increase in population, industrialization, and geopolitical problems, global changes are accelerating which damage the biodiversity, ecosystems, and migratory movements of both humankind and species in general. Rapid climate and environmental changes have led to the emergence and reemergence of infectious and noninfectious diseases.

One Health (OH) is a collaborative, multisectoral, coordinated, and transdisciplinary approach – working at the local, regional, national, and global levels – with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment. 

The webinar is aimed at bringing academics, researchers and practitioners working on Climate Change and One Health India and South Africa and share their experiences.

The event is being organized by the two affiliate groups of JBI from India and South Africa. JBI is a global organisation promoting and supporting evidence-based decisions that improve health and health service delivery. JBI offers a unique range of solutions to access, appraise and apply the best available evidence.

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE

SESSION 1

Welcome

Dr Edith Madela-Mntla, University of Pretoria, South Africa

13:30-14:00 IST

10:00-10:30 SAST

Introduction to JBI

Professor Zoe Jordan, Adelaide, Australia

SESSION 2

Chairpersons

Prof Jannie Hugo, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee, JBI-CPHR, India

14:00-14:15 IST

10:30-10:45 SAST

Climate Change and One Health- Global and regional evidence

Dr. Giridara Gopal Parameswaran, AMR and One Health Expert, India

14:15-14:30 IST

10:45-11:00 SAST

Climate Change and One Health: Perspectives from South Africa

Dr Sean Patrick, University of Pretoria, South Africa

14:30-14:45 IST

11:00-11:15 SAST

Q & A led by Chairpersons

14:45-15:15 IST

11:15-11:45 SAST

TEA BREAK
SESSION 3

Chairpersons

Dr Chanchal Bhattacharya, Veterinarian, India

Dr Nontembiso Magida, University of Pretoria, South Africa

15:15-15:30 IST

11:45-12:00 SAST

Climate change lens within health systems

Dr. Rajeev Sadanandan, CEO HSTP, India

15:30-15:45 IST

12:00-12:15 SAST

ONE health best practices and lessons learnt 

Dr Sean Patrick, University of Pretoria, South Africa

15:45-16:00 IST

12:15-12:30 SAST

One Health within Health System

Prof Upasona Ghosh, Indian Institute of Public Health, India

16:00-16:15 IST

12:30-12:45 SAST

Q&A by Chairpersons

16:15-16:30 IST

12:45-13:00 SAST

Vote of thanks

Dr. Paramita Bhattacharya, JBI-CPHR

SPEAKERS

Dr Edith Madela-Mntla

PhD
She works as a senior lecturer and researcher at the Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, South Africa. She is also a researcher affiliated with the UP Community Oriented Primary Care Research Unit.
Prof. Zoe Jordan

Prof. Zoe Jordan

Executive Director of JBI, University of Adelaide, Australia
Prof Jordan has promoted global evidence-based healthcare, engaging in various international groups and receiving the 2019 Telstra Businesswomen’s Award.

Prof Jannie Hugo

MFamMed, Head of the Department, Family Medicine, Director, UP COPC Research Unit, South Africa
He leads COPC and COSUP implementation, including mobile data systems, in collaboration with Tshwane and Gauteng Health, South Africa.

Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee

PhD, Director of Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust (MANT), Kolkata, India
Dr. Mukherjee, Director of CPHR and JBI affiliate, has 23+ years in public health research, project management, and development.

Dr. Giridara Gopal Parameswaran

Senior Associate, Clinton Health Access Initiative, New Delhi, India
He is an infectious disease epidemiologist, specializes in surveillance, evaluation, and large-scale cohort studies, including COVID-19 dashboards.

Dr Sean Patrick

PhD, Senior Lecturer at the School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria. South Africa
With a PhD in Environmental Health, he teaches and supervises students, researching environmental issues, climate change, and One Health.

Dr. Chanchal Bhattacharya

PhD, Country Lead, USAID Transform Project at Heifer International, India
He is an expert in risk analysis, antimicrobial resistance, and disaster management, is the Country Lead for USAID Transform at Heifer International.

Dr Nontembiso Magida

PhD, Member, Ekurhuleni Clinical Research Centre (JBI affiliate) South Africa
She is a Lecturer at the University of Pretoria, specializes in inter-professional collaboration, public health, and community engagement. PhD from the University of Witwatersrand.

Dr. Rajeev Sadanandan

Founding leader and CEO of Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP), India
He is an ex-Health Secretary of Kerala, specializes in health systems, financing, and disease management. Commissioner on Lancet Global Health Commission.

Dr Upasona Ghosh

PhD, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar, India
She researches climate change impacts on community health and healthcare systems, focusing on social vulnerabilities and climate resilience.

Dr. Paramita Bhattacharya

PhD, Assistant Director at CPHR (JBI affiliate centre), Kolkata, India
She specializes in health economics, financing, and research, and has received awards for her impactful economic studies.

Australia Award Fellowship

Australia Award Fellowship

Australia Awards Fellowship

Implementing Evidence-Based Health Interventions to Close the Healthcare Gap for the Indigenous People of India

Over the course of a year, the Fellowship will provide training and support to strengthen the capacity of participating individuals and the health system to address inequities in indigenous health in India.

This will involve the use of audit and feedback as a framework for the promotion of evidence utilisation in the healthcare setting, and include the following three key stages:

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Stage 1

Stakeholder Engagement and Baseline Audit: During the first stage of this process Fellows will establish their evidence-based improvements projects, ensure they have buy in from key stakeholders and conduct a baseline audit to establish current practice against best practice.

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Stage 2

Design and Implementation of Strategies to Improve Practice: The second stage involves analysis of interim findings and the provision of feedback to relevant stakeholders.

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Stage 3

Follow-up Audit Post Implementation of Practice Improvement Project: The final stage of project implementation involves a follow up audit to assess the impact of the evidence-based interventions implemented in the previous stage.

Following collection of all project data, Fellows will attend a second intensive face-to-face workshop in Australia focussed on evaluation, reporting and strategies for dissemination of project outcomes. They will also work together to develop strategies for scale up and roll out of successful interventions and dissemination of project outcomes. This will include the opportunity to develop a publishable manuscript for submission to a peer reviewed journal, JBI Evidence Implementation Journal, to ensure the outcomes are translated for a global audience.

Outcomes of the Fellowship are expected to include:

1. Building a community of researchers and health practitioners with the motivation, skills, tools, networks and experience to effectively champion the spread of evidence-based interventions which can reduce inequities in health.

2. Improving the quality of healthcare by building local capacity and commitment to implement evidence into interventions to reduce inequities in the healthcare delivered to indigenous people in India.

3. Equipping health professionals with strategies to assist them to lead change, including building productive teams, implementing change, managing difficult behaviour, thereby enabling effective leadership of projects and people.

4. Developing participant’s analytical and writing skills with a view to improving patient, family, and health system outcomes.

5. Forging bilateral relationships with research institutions, government, healthcare organisations, consumers and interest groups that can help to inform the design and support the implementation of effective evidence-based health interventions, as well as amplify their outcomes and impact.

6. Addressing key gaps in data on indigenous health which result from underreporting, misclassification of ethnic groups, incomplete records, limited access to healthcare, cultural and linguistic barriers, and socioeconomic disparities.

Support You Get

  • Return Airfares to Australia (including domestic flight to Canberra)
  • Ground Transportation in Australia (as part of formal travel itinerary)
  • Visa Application Fees to Australia
  • Accommodation in Australia
  • Daily Stipend whilst in Australia (Total AUD $1,323.42 per Fellow)
  • Travel Allowance ($94.53 per Fellow)

Dates and Duration

Fellowship Component

Dates

Location

Component 1: Needs Assessment & Preparatory Reading

October 2024

Remote

Component 2: Opening Workshop

November 2024

India

Component 3: Self-Paced Learning & Project Development

November 2024 – June 2025

Workplace

Component 4: Workshop in Adelaide (visits to Canberra and Sydney)

June 2025 – August 2025

Remote

Component 5: Self-Paced Learning & Project Continuation

June 2025

Australia

Component 6: Results Presentation & Graduation Ceremony

September 2025

India

Fellowship Activities

The Fellowship is delivered over a twelve-month period to provide Fellows with the opportunity to instil and apply the lessons learned within their local health context. Based on our extensive experience delivering Australia Awards Fellowships and Short Courses, the proposed Fellowship will offer a varied learning experience that caters to the unique requirements of adult learners and incorporates a variety of formats and perspectives in our formal sessions, as well as during networking events and site visits, including:

Face to Face Workshops in India and Australia

  • Introductory Workshop in Kolkata, West Bengal, India (5 Days – November 2024)
  • Intensive Workshop in Adelaide/Canberra/Sydney, Australia (16 Days – June 2025)
  • Participant Evaluation and Concluding Workshop in Kolkata, West Bengal, India (2 Days – September 2025)

Monthly Online Learning (9 Months – November 2024 to June 2025)

  • Regular interactive video conferences
  • Online content delivery
  • Interactive activities

Peer-to-peer learning

in and outside the classroom.

Site visits and guest speakers

from the government and private sectors who can provide alternative perspectives on key issues and share their on-the-ground networks and experience with local healthcare services and communities. This is expected to support the alignment of Fellows projects with national development priorities, open doors to resources, data, and institutional support, and foster deeper cultural understanding and community engagement between our two countries, thereby increasing the effectiveness and contextual relevance of Fellows’s health intervention projects.

Case studies

provide practical examples of government and industry.

Networking opportunities

for Fellows with government agencies, higher education institutions and healthcare organisations, providing opportunities to create meaningful links, expand bilateral networks and collaboration, and increase awareness of Australia’s commitment to and role in the development of the region.

Cultural experiences are designed to facilitate

intercultural understanding, develop positive perceptions of Australia and Australians and create shared experiences for Fellows.

Individual health intervention projects

will provide opportunities to apply the learning in order to make progress on a healthcare challenge faced by indigenous populations in West Bengal State. Projects will involve the following key stages:

  • Fellows will be supported in designing and implementing an evidence-based health intervention over a period of 9 months, using JBI’s Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) approach and Practical Application of Evidence System (JBI PACES). This will involve the use of audit and feedback as a framework for the promotion of evidence utilisation in the healthcare setting and include the following three key stages:
    • Stage 1: Stakeholder Engagement and Baseline Audit: During the first stage of this process, Fellows will establish their evidence-based improvement projects, ensure buy-in from key stakeholders, and conduct a baseline audit to compare current practices with best practices.
    • Stage 2: Design and Implementation of Strategies to Improve Practice: The second stage involves analyzing interim findings and providing feedback to relevant stakeholders.
    • Stage 3: Follow-up Audit Post Implementation of Practice Improvement Project: The final stage of project implementation involves a follow-up audit to assess the impact of the evidence-based interventions implemented in the previous stage.
    • Following the collection of all project data, Fellows will attend a second intensive face-to-face workshop in Australia focussed on evaluation, reporting, and strategies for dissemination of project outcomes. They will also work together to develop strategies for scaling up and rolling out successful interventions and dissemination of project outcomes. This will include the opportunity to develop a publishable manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, JBI Evidence Implementation Journal, to ensure the outcomes are translated for a global audience. 
    • During the final intensive workshop in Kolkata, West Bengal, Fellows will present the results of their individual projects to a range of key stakeholders, including a baseline audit, GRiP barriers, facilitators and strategies, follow-up audit results, and overall reflections on their project experience.

    Topics

    Held over twelve months, the Fellowship will comprise the following modules:

    Fellowship Preparation (Online)

    Pre-Reading & Needs Assessment

    • Preparatory reading
    • Pre-Course Assessments for individuals and participating organisations

    First Intensive Workshop (5 Days – India – November 2024)

    Program Orientation 

    • Welcome & Orientation to Course Program (Introduction to JBI, overview of course objectives, expectations and support available)
    • Online Induction (Introduction to Learning Management System/ Electronic Course Materials)
    • Learning Support (What is available and how is it accessed?)

    Core Module 1: Introduction to Evidence-based Healthcare and the Implementation of Evidence

      During Module 1, Fellows will learn about evidence-based healthcare, best practice models and concepts and the importance of clinical leadership, including building the capacity of participants to manage, actively lead and facilitate change in their community, including conflict resolution, negotiation, communication and building workplace culture based on current best practice. They will also work together to develop a project plan for an evidence-based health intervention and develop strategies to effectively implement change within their local healthcare context. Topics covered will include:

      • Introduction to Health Workforce Development in Evidence Implementation Fellowship
      • Introduction to JBI
      • Introduction to Evidence-based Healthcare
      • Introduction to Evidence Implementation and Implementation Science
      • Introduction to Theories, Models and frameworks to guide implementation
      • Leading change in a clinical setting
      • The role of facilitation within evidence implementation
      • Leading people through change
      • Engaging with and managing conflict in the healthcare setting
      • Identifying your problem
      • Engaging change agents
      • Assessing content and readiness for change
      • Revieing practice against evidence-based criteria
      • Evidence implementation strategies
      • Evaluating Implementation
      • Introduction to the Practice Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI PACES)
      • Identifying audit criteria to measure compliance
      • Guided development of an implementation protocol
      • Presentation of practice improvement projects and associated implementation protocols

      Work Based Practice Improvement Project (9 Months – 2 Days/Month – November 2024 To July 2025)

      Core Module 2: Participant Evidence Implementation Projects

      During Module 2, Fellows will be supported to design and implement their evidence-based health intervention projects within their local health context over a period of 9 months, using JBI’s Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) approach and Practical Application of Evidence System (JBI PACES). This will involve the use of audit and feedback as a framework for the promotion of evidence utilisation in the healthcare setting and include the following three key stages:

      1. Stakeholder Engagement and Baseline Audit

      During the first stage of this process, Fellows will establish their evidence-based health intervention projects, ensure they have buy-in from key stakeholders, and conduct a baseline audit to establish current practices against best practices. It will involve the following activities:

      • Establishing a project team
      • Implementing a stakeholder engagement plan to educate colleagues and patients
      • Engaging with executive leadership to ensure buy-in
      • Establishing audit criteria for their practice improvement project
      • Conducting a baseline audit to assess current practice against best practice

      1. Design and Implementation of Strategies to Improve Practice

      The second stage involves the analysis of interim findings and the provision of feedback to relevant stakeholders. It will involve the following activities:

      • Implementing the evidence-based health intervention process
      • Monitoring adherence to process and compliance with audit criteria
      • Providing ongoing feedback to participating healthcare workers
      • Identifying barriers to implementation of the evidence-based process and implementing strategies to overcome these.

      1. Follow-up Audit Post Implementation of Practice Improvement Project

      The final stage of project implementation involves a follow-up audit to assess the impact of the evidence-based interventions implemented in the previous stage. It will involve the following activities:

      • Conducting a follow-up audit to assess current practices against best practices. 
      • Finalising data collection in preparation for the second intensive workshop in Adelaide

      Second Intensive Workshop (16 Days – Adelaide/ Canberra/ Sydney – June 2025)

      • Core Module 3: Post-Project Workshop

      During Module 3, Fellows will attend a second intensive face-to-face workshop focussed on evaluation, reporting and strategies for disseminating project outcomes. They will also work together to develop strategies to scale up and roll out successful interventions and disseminate project outcomes.

      • Analysing the data collected over the project’s life and evaluating the implementation process’s effectiveness.
      • Analysing the data collected over the life of the project and evaluating the effectiveness of the change in practice.
      • Preparing a detailed implementation report.
      • Develop a dissemination strategy to maximise the impact of your project results.

      Fellows will have the opportunity to develop a publishable manuscript for submission to the JBI Evidence Implementation Journal, which will ensure that the outcomes are translated for a global audience.

      Third Intensive Workshop (2 Days – India – August 2025)

      • Core Module 4: Dissemination of Outcomes

      During the final workshop, Fellows will share the results of their individual projects, including baseline audit, GRiP barriers, facilitators and strategies, follow-up audit results and overall reflections on their project experience. Topics covered will include:

      • Presentation of outcomes
      • Identifying and implementing strategies for sustainability
      • Building the community of practice
      • Summation, evaluation and close

      All program content will be tailored to ensure that it meets the specific requirements of the Australia Awards and CPHR at MANT and delivers the best possible learning experience for participating health care professionals.  

      In alignment with the requirements of the Australia Awards, the program will incorporate content designed to build capability in the areas of climate and disaster risk, as well as promote gender equity and women in leadership. This content will be delivered through a combination of discrete sessions delivered by leading experts in these respective fields, and these important themes will be integrated into the core modules over the course of the program.

      National Dissemination Workshop on Documenting Life Cycle of Bidi Trade and Bidi Industry Tactics

      WEBINAR

      National Dissemination Workshop on Documenting Life Cycle of Bidi Trade and Bidi Industry Tactics

      Event Date: March 1, 2024

      Time: 10:00 aM – 1:30 PM (IST)

       

      Dry agriculture land

      The objective of the research work was to uncover the unaddressed tactics employed by the bidi industry in two states.

      1. To contribute to the existing understanding of the bidi industry’s lifecycle in India.
      2. By examining its claims of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
      3. By evaluating its portrayal of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.
      4. To understand the occupational health hazards of bidi rollers.
      5. Intend to discuss the findings within the context of the implementation status of Article 5.3 of the WHO-FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).
      6. To develop a national strategy to mitigate tobacco industry interference.

      MANT-PSC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

      MANT-PSC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

      MANT-PSC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop

      Written by admin

      Dry agriculture land

      The MANT-PSC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop was convened under the People Science Centre (PSC) of Manbhum Ananda Ashram Nityananda Trust (MANT). The workshop was held on 24 February 2024 at MANT Laulara, Purulia. It was aimed to empower communities with science and their development indicators, particularly focusing on the tribal populations in Purulia, West Bengal. The objectives included amplifying tribal voices on climate change impacts, collecting input on challenges in livestock, agriculture, and health, facilitating dialogue among stakeholders, and compiling insights into a synthesis of learning.

      Background of project

      Unsustainable exploitation has pushed indigenous communities to the brink. To reverse the degradation of nature, MANT proposes to restore ecosystem functions and make communities resilient to market and climate shocks. It has recently set up “The Peoples’ Science Centre’s (PSC)” with the aim to empower communities with science and their development indicators. The interventions will focus on marginalized and vulnerable groups who depend on ecosystem services for subsistence and survival. The proposed PSC will train local youth, farmers, and women’s groups to conserve local resources and adopt climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. The PSC will arm the community to mitigate risks against future crop failures and outbreaks of human, animal and crop diseases and ensure the health of soil, water, flora and fauna. MANT will empower local communities to develop a village-based and ecosystem-specific mitigation and adaptation plan to counter the challenges of climate change. The PSC will be a place for learning, idea exchange and application of practical measures to mitigate multiple emerging threats to local communities. MANT’s community media initiatives have created awareness of climate change, the environment, and public health, especially fevers like malaria. Translating ideas into action requires institutionalized dissemination backed with
      hands-on local implementation.

      Workshop Objectives/Purpose

      • Following were the objectives of the one-day workshop:
        Engage various stakeholders to amplify tribal voices on climate change impacts.
      • Collect input from tribal communities in Purulia, West Bengal on challenges in livestock, agriculture, and health.
        Facilitate dialogue among policymakers, researchers, and tribal communities on climate-related issues in Purulia.
      • Compile insights from workshop participants into a comprehensive synthesis of learning.

      Download a pdf to read the comprehensive report of the Workshop. It talks about the discussions and the outcome in detail.

      Program Agenda

      9:30-10:00 Am

      Registration of participants

      10:00-10:30 Am

      Introductions

      Opening Remarks

      • People’s Science Centre, MANT
      • Introduction to the workshop

      Speakers
      Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee, Director, MANT
      Dr. Denny John, Professor of Public Health MSRUAS, Bengaluru

      10:30- 11:00 am

      Voices from the field

      Speaker
      Tribal Community Representatives

      11:00-11:15 am

      Tea Break

      11:15-12:30 pm

      Response from Experts

      Speakers
      Dr Suman Kanungo, NICED-ICMR, Kolkata
      Mr Somdeb Mukherjee, DPC-Howrah, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of West Bengal
      Dr Sudip Bhui, Assistant Professor, Anthropology, SKB University, Purulia
      Dr Nirupam Hazra, Head-School of Social Work, Bankura University
      Representativs from Tribal and Animal Welfare Department- Purulia

      12:30-1:15 pm

      Discussion on what we can learn from the experiences

      1:15-1:30 pm

      Closing remarks

      Speakers
      Mr Anirban Roy, Assistant Director, MANT
      Sahadeb Hembram, Co-Convenor, PSC, MANT

      01:30 pm

      Lunch

      Rapporteur:
      Mr Soumya Chandra, Research Coordination, MANT

      Photography:
      Mr Basudeb Mondal, Head-Community Media, MANT

      Radio Broadcast:
      Mr Sk Manjur Ali, Station Manager, Nityananda Janavani Community Radio Station

      Conclusion

      Addressing the impacts of climate change on tribal populations requires recognizing their unique vulnerabilities and integrating indigenous knowledge and perspectives into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The MANT-PSC Stakeholder Consultation Workshop provided a platform for tribal communities, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to engage in dialogue on climate change impacts and mitigation strategies. The insights gathered will contribute to the development of a comprehensive synthesis of learning and policy briefs aimed at addressing the challenges faced by tribal populations in Purulia, West Bengal. Collaborative efforts between governments, non-governmental organizations, academia, and tribal communities are essential for building resilience, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding the rights and well-being of indigenous peoples in the face of climate change.

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      National Dissemination Meeting on Documenting the Bidi Life Cycle

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      JBI gLOCAL Symposium Climate Change and One Health

      With the increase in population, industrialization, and geopolitical problems, global changes are accelerating which damage the biodiversity, ecosystems, and migratory movements of both humankind and species in general. Rapid climate and environmental changes have led...

      Australia Award Fellowship

      Australia Award Fellowship

      Australia Awards Fellowship: Implementing Evidence-Based Health Interventions to Close the Healthcare Gap for the Indigenous People of India.

      Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates

      Join Our Newsletter

      We share interesting and well-researched facts about the Public Health situation in India and World wide.

       

      Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Insights from National Symposium on Tribal Health 2023

      Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Insights from National Symposium on Tribal Health 2023

      Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Insights from National Symposium on Tribal Health 2023

      Written by admin

      India's 1st tribal woman radio jockey from Nityananda Janavani Community Radio presenting her views on health facilities and conditions in her village and community.

      In a significant step towards addressing the healthcare challenges faced by tribal communities in India, a national symposium held on December 15, 2023, brought together experts, scholars, and stakeholders to deliberate on the theme “INDIA@76, LOOKING AT 100: How we can resolve the tribal health challenge?” The symposium, a collaborative effort by prominent institutions, aimed to shed light on the pressing issues affecting tribal health and explore potential solutions.

      The event, partnered by Amrita Viswa Vidyapitham, Institute of Public Health, The Spine Foundation, Mehac, Ekurhuleni Clinical Research Centre, KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research Belagavi, Ramaiah University Of Applied Sciences, and DY Patil Deemed to be University School of Public Health, saw the participation of esteemed individuals who inaugurated the program:

      1. Padma Shri Mukund Nayak, Nagpuri Folk Singer and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee
      2. Prof. (Dr.) Satya Narayan Munda, former Vice Chancellor, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi
      3. Dr. Dipak Ranjan Mondal, Former Vice Chancellor, Sidhu-Kano-Birsa University
      4. Ms. Papiya Sen, Exe. Director, MANT
      Inauguration of National Symposium On Tribal Health

      The symposium being inaugurated by (from right) Padma Shri Mukund Nayak, Prof. (Dr.) Satya Narayan Munda and Ms. Papiya Sen

      The symposium highlighted the stark reality faced by tribal communities, constituting 8.9% of the population and often remaining the most neglected and deprived group in terms of healthcare access. One of the significant challenges discussed was the language barrier experienced by both healthcare providers and tribal residents. Doctors and nurses working in tribal areas often struggle to communicate with locals, leading to potential misunderstandings that may impact the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment outcomes.

      During the symposium, a public health specialist emphasized that even the leaflets distributed with public health messages are not in the local language, further exacerbating the communication gap. The elderly population, who predominantly speak languages like Santhali, face particular challenges in expressing their health concerns accurately.

      A proposed solution discussed at the symposium involves training individuals fluent in both languages to act as mediators between healthcare providers and tribal residents. This compassionate approach aims to bridge the communication gap and ensure accurate understanding of health concerns.

      Moreover, the symposium addressed the broader health challenges faced by India’s tribal population, with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to Jaideep Menon, a cardiologist, a survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) found that 66% of deaths among tribal people between 2015 and 2018 were attributed to NCDs. This challenges the perception that tribal communities primarily face infectious diseases, highlighting the need for tailored healthcare strategies.

      Menon also noted additional factors impacting tribal health, including malnutrition and addiction to tobacco and alcohol. The symposium aimed to raise awareness about these issues and stimulate discussions on comprehensive healthcare strategies for tribal communities.

      In a momentous revelation during the symposium, the annual report of the Centre for Public Health Research (CPHR) – MANT was presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the organization’s efforts and achievements in the past year. This report underscores the commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing tribal health challenges.

      Annual report of CPHR being revealed during the symposium.
      Dr Nirmalya Mukherjee, Director CPHR-MANT, being interviewed by Zee News

      In a testament to its significance, the symposium garnered attention from popular media houses, further amplifying the urgency of addressing tribal health challenges. Zee News interviewed Dr Nirmalya Mukherjee, Director CPHR-MANT.  Clippings from The Telegraph, a prominent newspaper covering the event can be viewed here.

      Inauguration of National Symposium On Tribal Health

      For a more detailed overview of the symposium, including specific discussions, initiatives, and recommendations, you can download the program brochure here.

      Importance of inclusivity and cultural sensitivity

      The symposium served as a crucial platform for experts and stakeholders to collectively envision a healthcare system that caters to all communities, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in addressing the unique challenges faced by tribal populations in India.

      Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates

      Join Our Newsletter

      We share interesting and well-researched facts about the Public Health situation in India and World wide.