First brain health initiative launched in State

Kumaran P | NT

Bengaluru: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar launched the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative, first of its kind in the entire country undertaken by Nimhans in association with Niti Ayog.

Speaking at its virtual launch programme Dr K Sudhakar said that the initiative is being rolled out in Bengaluru, Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts on a pilot basis. Under this programme, doctors will be trained in screening and treating mental-health patients.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has been helping people to cope with mental-health issues in association with Nimhans. We have conducted thousands of mental-health counselling sessions with Covid-infected persons and their family members. Since mental health has a bearing on the physical health as well as overall wellness of the individual, we need to ensure that everyone is aware about mental-health issues, and Nimhans is doing a very good job in taking mental healthcare to people. Under the Brain Health Initiative, even general physicians will be trained on mental healthcare. There is a need to screen even newborn babies for mental-health issues. Due to various socio-economic factors, and genetic and family issues, many people suffer from mental-health issues. This will have an impact on their dayto- day lives and quality of life. Therefore, we need more doctors trained in mental healthcare, said the minister.

Dr Sudhakar insisted that the programme organisers focus on implementation and deliver good results so that it can get more budgetary allocation in future.

Low hospitalisation rate

Speaking about the Covid situation, other than in Bengaluru, the positivity rate has been less in the state, he said. It was about 22% last week, which has now increased to 32%. About 5,230 infected persons are hospitalised, including 3,442 in govt and 1,788 in private hospitals. Only about 2% infected persons out of 3.62 lakh active cases are hospitalised, which indicates that severity of infection is not as high as it was during the second wave. It is generally seen that people are recovering within 5-6 days, so there is no need to panic. However, people must not let their guard down, cautioned the minister.

Vision Document

Our health department is coming up with a vision document. The vision document lays down a comprehensive roadmap for the overhaul of public healthcare at all three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. CM Basavaraj Bommai will complete six months in office on January 28, when he will release the vision document.