National Neonatal Forum Karnataka Chapter and UNICEF HFO Launch SOP Booklet for Maternal and Child Healthcare

The National Neonatal Forum Karnataka chapter and UNICEF HFO together have taken the initiative to write a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) booklet for ‘Antenatal, Intrapartum, Postnatal and New born Care during COVID-19’. Medical bodies like the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), Karnataka Society Obstetrics and Gynaecology Association (KSOG) and Bangalore Society of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BSOG) and many experts across the country and internationally have contributed to this book.

On 24th July 2020, all the above-mentioned bodies came together online and launched this E-Book. NNF Karnataka Chapter Secretary Dr Prashanth Gowda met the honourable Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa at his office, where he unveiled and signed the hard copy of the booklet. The Chief Minister congratulated the team for this effort and ensured his full support for the initiative.

This SOP Booklet is made available free of cost for all and training of all the nurses, doctors, healthcare workers based on this SOP will be initiated across the state in all SNCUs (Special New-born care Units). This E book will be uploaded on the website of NNF and all the other medical bodies who have contributed to it.

Speaking on this initiative of launching the booklet, Dr Prashanth Gowda, NNF Karnataka Chapter Secretary, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Motherhood Hospital said “Since the first COVID case was detected, there have been so many new developments regarding research and information about COVID-19. The virus is still very new and there is a lot of confusion about maternal and neonatal care during this phase. There are many SOPs made available to healthcare staff by WHO and various academic and technical agencies like ICMR based on latest evidence. While making this book we have corroborated all these recent evidences to make one comprehensive ready reckoner for all doctors and staff nurses to comprehend”

Speaking on the impact of COVID 19 on maternal and neonatal care Dr Gowda said “The existing burden of maternal mortality estimates to 30000 in the country and 750 in the state of Karnataka. Similarly, approximately 9,18,000 infants die nationally and 24,000 infants die in the state due to birth

& infancy related illnesses. Due to COVID-19, it is estimated additional 37% mothers and children die according to the Lancet Article. A number of healthcare employees have also become positive and many have lost their lives. The cases in the country and Karnataka especially are rising. For the safety of mothers, babies and healthcare staff we decided to launch the SOP”

Dr Gowda further elaborated on the importance of this book for healthcare staff during this pandemic he said “The main purpose of developing this document is to ensure that all the staff working in Government SNCUs are trained on these available guidance and recent evidences at the earliest. This will help support the staff especially in triaging, depending on the needs of the patient. It also enables the doctors to refer the flowcharts & ensure patients can be referred to appropriate facilitythereby limiting the unnecessary expenditures on the already distressed additional financial cause due to COVID-19 for the state. It also gives information about vaccines that are being developed by different Pharmaceutical companies.  I would like to add that this book is only the first version, we plan to update as new evidence generates with time”

The launch of this book has been highly appreciated by the Karnataka Government. Along with the Chief Minister, the Deputy CM Dr Ashwath Narayan, Shri Sriramulu, Health Minister and Dr Sudhakar, the Medical Minister have completely supported and encouraged the NNF and other bodies. They appreciated the efforts of NNF Karnataka President Dr Kotturesha and UNICEF HFO consultant Dr Sanjeev Upadhyay for their efforts to bring all stakeholders together for this noble cause.

Edtech Venture GlobalShala Aims to Cultivate Awareness of United Nation’s SDGs Across India

GlobalShala has opened its doors for learners around the world to showcase their talent and creativity; the competition is open for Junior (up to 18 years) and Senior (18 years to 25 years)

Edtech venture GlobalShala has recently announced the launch of their one-of-a-kind “Superhero U” competition with an aim to accelerate United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and pave the way for a new generation of responsible and sound leaders. Across countries, the winners for the same will be awarded prize money worth $90,000 which includes scholarships, internship opportunities, gift cards, and electronic gadgets. 

GlobalShala has introduced this unique competition where individuals are to invent a “Superhero” that essentially takes on universal challenges and strives to make the world a better place. In an industry first, the Superhero U competition aims to tackle the 5 P’s of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that is People, Prosperity, Planet, Partnerships, and Peace. Hence, the Superhero created should address all these goals collectively and promote prosperity while protecting the planet, the theme of the competition which is inspired by the UN’s mission. 

Talking about the competition, Anushika Jain, Founder & CEO, GlobalShala said “Taking inspiration from the United Nations, we are trying to nurture creativity to address surrounding critical sustainability challenges around the world. As per the SDG Index 2020, countries across Europe like Sweden, Denmark, Finland, France and Germany have set the benchmark for adept sustainability practices, India still falls back at rank 117. This needs to be improved upon immensely and therefore more events, programmes and contests need to be introduced across Asia Pacific countries to inculcate awareness about SDGs for the betterment of our society. We at GlobalShala have taken upon this challenge through an out-of-the-box approach with our “Superhero U” competition to add an element of intrigue and enthusiasm for individuals to take up the challenge. We are excited to see different local as well as global perspectives on sustainability and the challenges each of their Superhero takes on.” 

The competition has opened its doors wide for creativity and has allowed candidates to submit stories, illustrations, photo collages, and even movies that demonstrate how their Superhero use their superpowers to win the day. Moreover, GlobalShala has shattered the eligibility criteria and kept the competition open to many, split into 2 categories- Junior (up to 18 years) and Senior (18 years- 25 years). The Superhero U competition has also permitted any form of submission, whether it is individual or group-led. 

Inspired by the United Nations, GlobalShala focuses on empowering students and educators through experiential learning and education to open up hopes and dreams of lifelong learners around the world. Through the GlobalShala platform, individuals have the opportunity to participate in exciting competitions and events, have a chance to earn global scholarships, receive hands-on training through global internships as well as several certifications and recognitions. 

Link for Superhero U: https://superherou.globalshala.com

About GlobalShala:

Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (mainly Education, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment), GlobalShala embraces global collaborations and is venturing to make a good world better by extending services, scholarships, and a sundry of programs.

GlobalShala is providing learners across the globe a platform to express, experience, explore and engage through various learning opportunities and internships to obtain quality jobs and sustainable economic growth through purposeful possibilities that will open up hopes and dreams of lifelong learners around the world!

UNICEF India, SAP India Partner to Improve Employability of the Young

On World Youth Skills Day, UNICEF India today announced its partnership with SAP India to provide career counselling to young people in the country that will improve their employability skills in a COVID and post COVID era. UNICEF is collaborating with YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) under this initiative to provide digital education and occupational skillset to the underserved young people of the country.

Under the collaboration UNICEF – YuWaah – SAP will strengthen the following:

* Improve digital skills and life skills for young people

* Provide young people with career options.

* Reimagine the model in other states with the Government of India

* Impacting one million young people by the end of 2022

Young people living in rural areas are particularly vulnerable when it comes to career and employability opportunities due to limited access to information, training, opportunities or the skills to participate fully in India’s modernizing technology-driven economy. The national aggregate on learner-computer ratio is reported to be 1:89, suggesting an inequitable access[1] in rural schools. Evidence[2] suggests that technology solutions can be optimized better to address poor learning levels, low retention rates, poor life-skills, and gender inclusion.

“Quality education and digital inclusion have never been more important. COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of access to education and this couldn’t be more relevant to India which has the highest number of young people, said Alexandra van der Ploeg, Head of CSR at SAP. “Together with UNICEF in support of the UN’s Generation Unlimited initiative, we can use the power of innovation to solve social issues and help our youth through education, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship. In true SAP spirit, our unique partnership with UNICEF will not only maximize our collective impact but inspire young people in India and across the globe to help the world run better. After all, if our young people aren’t given the opportunities for skill development, they won’t be able to associate and support social causes that help in development of a nation,” she said.

“COVID-19 has led to disruptions in educational, economic and social spheres of life, that has thrown up many challenges for young people. The UNICEF – YuWaah – SAP India partnership will empower young people to help them harness their creativity, problem-solving and leadership to make a difference in their lives and in their communities. This partnership will address urgent challenges young people face by equipping them with life skills, social innovation and career guidance,” said Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF Representative in India.

Join the Millions of Meditating Hearts on "International Day" of Yoga to Make Compassion Contagious #YogaforCompassion

Compassion takes centre stage on International Day of Yoga 2020. This year, it also happens to be World Music Day. Heartfulness Institute, in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH and the United Nations Department of Public Information, will be hosting a global Yogathon, with a call to make compassion contagious, music, conversations on Yoga, and an opportunity to meditate together. This event has the overwhelming support of more than 500 social, professional and cultural organizations in North America and India. 

As we continue to figure out how to face the challenges caused by the pandemic, and the personal, financial and social challenges of our times, the need to live a life of compassion is paramount. Compassion will help soothe hearts laden with fear and insecurity about the future. This event will showcase the need for compassion and will inspire people how to live a life of compassion. The transformative powers of compassion have been chronicled extensively in all the great world scriptures, and it is time for us to remind ourselves of them.

The following luminaries will be taking part in the Yogathon: Kamlesh Patel (Daaji), Guide of Heartfulness; YogRishi Baba Ramdev; AYUSH Minister, Shripad Naik; The Indian PM’s Sherpa, Shri Suresh Prabhu; UNIC India Officer-in-Charge, Rajeev Chandran; musicians Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj, Padma Vibhushan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan; wellness experts Shaina NC and Mickey Mehta; sports stars PV Sindhu, VVS Laxman, Navdeep Saini; actors Omi Vaidya, Sudhanshu Pandey, and others.

Commenting on the theme of the event, Daaji said, “Compassion is contagious and can transmit faster than any virus, while making us stronger. International Day of Yoga is a very apt platform to spread the message of compassion, and celebrities from all walks of life have readily agreed to lend their voice to this cause. This international Yogathon will help bring consciousness to the need for more elevated acts of compassion, allowing all our lives to be more peaceful and meaningful.

The event will go live on 20 June 2020 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time in the US and on 21 June 2020 at 7 a.m. in India.

Commenting on the Yogathon as a co-host Mr.Shripad Naik said, “ This International yoga day 2020 will be a significant milestone in the journey of bringing yoga practices to the world. This vision inspired by our Honorable Prime Minister is now adopted by the United Nations and is a global movement. The tradition of yoga is time immemorial and is another contribution to the heritage of the world, a fact that should make all Indians proud wherever there are. It is our responsibility to nurture and share the benefit of this phenomenal practice so that the future generations are also able to enjoy this gift to mankind.”  

2009 world unemployment could rise by 40 million, says UN

The global economic downturn could see 40 million more people lose their jobs by the end of the year, taking the unemployment rate to its highest in a decade, the U.N. labor agency said Wednesday.

The number of unemployed in 2009 will largely depend on how effective governments' economic stimulus measures are, the International Labor Organization cautioned.

Worldwide unemployment by the end of the year will range between 210 million and 230 million people, the agency said in its annual Global Employment Trends report.

That is a marked increase on the 179 million who were unemployed at the end of 2007 and the estimated 190 million at the end of 2008, the ILO said.

The worst case scenario assumes growth slows rapidly and that an economic recovery will be delayed into 2010.

This would boost the global unemployment rate to 7.1 per cent, a decade high and well above the 2007 rate of 5.7 per cent and estimates for a 2008 rate of 6 per cent. Over the last ten years, the rate has ranged from 5.7 per cent to a peak of 6.3 in 2003 and 2004.

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said that although many governments have started to support their economies, ``more decisive and coordinated international action is needed to avert a global social recession.''

``Progress in poverty reduction is unraveling and middle classes worldwide are weakening,'' he said.

The latest predictions are based on an economic growth forecast of 2.2 per cent, published by the International Monetary Fund in November and expected to be adjusted downwards.

``Unemployment will rise with a downward revision, but I believe it will still fall within the range,'' said Lawrence J. Johnson, who heads the ILO's employment trends unit.

The report had originally forecast world unemployment would range between 198 million and 230 million people, but Somavia said the lowest estimate has probably been overtaken by events.

If the worst case scenario materializes, around 200 million more people would become working poor, unable to earn more than $2 per person a day.

In this outlook, the total number of working poor would be 812 million, or 26.8 per cent of the world's work force, the report said, using poverty estimates by the World Bank.

In 2007, some 609.5 million were working poor, 20.6 per cent of the world's work force at the time.

In addition to fiscal and monetary interventions, the world economy also needs creative measures improving the social situation of workers, the report said.

``There is a need to focus measures on vulnerable groups in the labor market, such as youth and women, who are most likely to be pushed into poverty and find themselves trapped there for many years,'' it said.

Governments should give special attention to small and medium companies because they provide the bulk of jobs and are most affected by the financial crisis, the report said.

Agencies

Sustainable development index for India

BT announced that the launch of its “Sustainable Development Index – an assessment of business performance in India”. The SD index has been developed in partnership with GlobeScan, an independent public opinion and stakeholder research company. Through a survey of senior opinion leaders across India the index is a means to measure the performance of business in India in the progression towards sustainable development over time.

The initiative was officially launched by Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI and Allen Ma, President, BT Asia Pacific at a news conference in New Delhi, India.

The SD index report reveals that although Indian companies are taking positive steps towards sustainable development, the overall performance of the corporate sector is disappointing. 46 per cent of India's opinion leaders surveyed blame a lack of awareness around sustainable development issues as the main cause of inaction. Some 40 per cent of opinion leaders also cited a lack of political will as a major obstacle to making significant progress in this area.

According to the report, this lack of action means India lags behind China, Japan and the European Union when it comes to addressing key issues, such as tackling climate change, corporate governance practices and water resource management.

Interestingly, the country's largest cities were seen as making the strongest moves to improve sustainable development practices. Whilst there are negative views around India's progress, a majority of opinion leaders (57 per cent) feel that companies in India are now more active with regard to sustainable development compared to one year ago.

In fact, the corporate sector is considered to have made significantly stronger progress than either government or the general public. Allen Ma, President, BT Asia Pacific said: “At BT, we absolutely view sustainability as an international issue and businesses cannot succeed in societies that fail. India is rapidly becoming a global centre for information and communications technology development, and boasts a high economic growth rate. It is vital that this commercial success is matched by a commitment to, and leadership in, corporate responsibility. We are constantly looking at the impact of our core business activities across the spectrum of social, environmental and economic issues. Through the launch of the BT Sustainable Development Index we hope that other organisations in India will do the same.”

The most frequently mentioned corporate leaders in sustainable development in India are: TATA Group (named by 31 per cent of respondents), Reliance (13 per cent) and Infosys (10 per cent).

Nitin Desai, Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and Advisor to BT’s SD Index, said: “There are significant social, environmental and economic challenges facing the world’s second most populous country and India’s transition to sustainable development is in the world’s interest. Given the importance of the issues at stake, there is a clear need for initiatives such as BT’s to help channel corporate sustainability efforts to where they can have the most beneficial impact. We need to be able to carefully monitor where corporate successes are occurring and to learn from them. We also need to reliably know which aspects of sustainable development most urgently require corporate action"