Report on the Observation of World Health Day 2017 Theme: Depression; Let s Talk Parul University Limbda, Vadodara Report Prepared By: Dr. Ankita Parmar Dr.Dhara Zalavadiya Assistant Professor Dept. Of Preventive & Social Medicine Parul Institute Of Medical Sciences And Research Guided By: Dr. Sidhyartha Mukherjee Professor & Head Dept. Of Preventive & Social Medicine Parul Institute Of Medical Sciences And Research
INTRODUCTION The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 th April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organizations. In 1948, the WHO held the First World Health Assembly. The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 th April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. The World Health Day is held to mark WHO's founding, and is seen as an opportunity by the organization to draw worldwide attention to a subject of major importance to global health each year. The WHO organizes international, regional and local events on the Day related to a particular theme. World Health Day is acknowledged by various governments and non-governmental organizations with interests in public health issues, who also organize activities and highlight their support in media reports, such as the Global Health Council. This year the theme for World Health Day is Depression-Let s Talk. It is very pertinent and relevant in today s context, as the number of people living with depression has increased by 18% from 2005 to 2015. Depression is also the largest cause of disability worldwide. More than 80% of this disease burden is among people living in low and middle- income countries. So, it becomes more important to a country like India where there would be rising burden of the disease in future years. Medical students need to be sensitized on the topic of depression as they are going to come across large numbers of patients when they start practicing as medical professionals. General Public needs to be oriented on Depression and the stigma attached to it. They need to be guided to move out of the cocoon and take appropriate treatment for the disease at the right time. Goal: To sensitize the medical students and general public about Depression as a Community Health Problem. PROBLEM STATEMENT Global prevalence: Depression is a common illness worldwide, with more than 350 million people (about 5% of the global population) affected. Depression causes the affected person to suffer greatly and function poorly at work, at school and in the family. At its worst, it can lead to development of ideas of self harm & suicide, which kills more than 800,000 people worldwide, every year.
Prevalence in India: About 2.6% of India s population is known to have depression. The prevalence is possibly much higher as most of these cases go undiagnosed due to ignorance and social stigma. People do not reach out and talk to anyone or seek help, due to many social factors,. This social stigma needs to be tackled and awareness needs to be spread among the general population so that depression can be treated as any other common malady. ROLE OF PARUL UNIVERSITY IN THE OBSERVANCE AND AWARENESS GENERATION DURING WORLD HEALTH DAY: Parul Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PIMSR) and Parul Institute of Public Health (PIPH) are newly established institutes in Parul University with the aim and vision towards excellence in public health and medical services. Parul University has always supported activities towards the betterment of health of community and individuals of the society, through provision of quality healthcare and increase in demand generation & utilization of a wide spectrum of health services. Parul Sevashram hospital of Parul University has been catering to preventive, promotive and curative health care services at very low cost to the needy in the nearby areas and villages. The beneficiaries can avail medical services at a cost they can afford, including several free of cost services available at the referral centre. Parul Sevashram hospital provides services at the hospital and at the periphery to the community with free referral and treatment. It has, therefore, been a long standing practice with Parul University and Paru Sevashram Hospital towards promoting health and well-being of the community by providing treatment and diagnostic services at a very low cost to the community. ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE PARUL UNIVERSITY DURING THE WORLD HEALTH DAY 2017: Focused Group Discussions on topics of Anxiety & Depression amongst Adolescents, Adults & Elderly of both genders, separately Inauguration of a week long programme Pre Test to ascertain current knowledge about Depression Talks on Mental Health including Anxiety & Depression Skit & Role play on the causes, symptoms, myths and taboos related to Depression. Post Test to ascertain improvement in knowledge about Depression Valedictory function
Focus Group Discussions (FGD): (Focus Group Discussions in villages with different age groups) Activities in the peripheral areas and villages were carried out mainly to reach out to the community and spread the message of WHD 2017, theme Depression; Let s talk. FGDs were conducted by faculties of Preventive and Social Medicine department of Parul Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. FGDs were conducted among Six groups: Adolescents: Boys & Girls (10-19 years), Reproductive age group: among females (20-49 years) and males (20-54 years), Geriatrics (60 years & above), in the following villages, comprising the field practice area of RHTC, Waghodiya, over a period of two months: Tavra-1 and 2, Timbi, Limda, Vejalpur, Gugaliyapura-1 and 2 and Madodhar Inauguration of week long programme An Inauguration of the week long activities for observance of World Health Day 2017 was held on 30 th march, 2017 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm organized at the Central Auditorium of Parul University. Dr. Dileep Mavalankar, Director, IIPH, Gandhinagar was the chief guest and Dr. Rasyandu Patel was the guest of honour. Dr.Sandeep Shah, Professor and HOD, Department of Psychiatry, GMERS Medical College, Vadodara was the Key Note Speaker. The programme started with prayer and lamp lighting by guests, followed by release of brochure containing information on Depression, causes, signs and symptoms and treatment options.
Welcome address was delivered by Dr. Geetika Madan Patel, Medical Director, Parul University. Dr. Ketan Kotecha, Provost, Parul University illuminated the audience regarding theme of World Health Day. Details of the week-long activities was presented by Dr. Ranjit Kumar Jha, Program Coordinator, PIPH. A skit on taboos related to Depression was performed by the students of Parul Institute of Public Health followed by the key note address by Dr. Sandeep Shah on details about depression and its effects. Encouraging & motivating speeches were given by the Guest of honor and the Chief Guest. The program concluded with a vote of thanks given by Dr. S. Mukherjee, Director, PIPH. Week-long activities conducted in Field Area (Skit by the students on Depression) (Pre and post test evaluation) (Video-show on depression) Week long activities were conducted in rural area from 31 st March to 6 th April. The following activities weree carried out: 1. Pre Test to ascertain current knowledge about Depression
2. Talk on Mental Health including Anxiety & Depression by the faculty of PSM Department 3. Skit & Role Play on causes, symptoms and taboos related to Depression were performed by the students of PIPH 4. Informative video show on Depression 5. Post Test to ascertain improvement in knowledge about Depression The above activities were carried out in the following villages: Date venue 31-3-2017 Tavra 31-3-2017 Timbi 1-4-2017 Limda 3-4-2017 Vejalpur 5-4-2017 Madodhar 6-4-2017 Gugaliyapura Valedictory function Valedictory function of World Health Day was held on 7 th April, 2017 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Central Seminar Hall of Parul University. Dr. R. C. Maniar, Director Psychiatrist, GIPS Hospital, Ahmedabad was the Chief Guest and Dr. Indira Parmar, Medical Superintendent, Parul Sevashram Hospital was the Guests of Honour. Programme started by lamp lighting ceremony by the guests followed by inspirational and informative lecture by Dr. R. C. Maniar. Report of the activities of the week was
presented by Dr. S. Mukherjee, Director, PIPH. Dr. Indira Parmar explained in detail regarding the various clinical presentations of mental illness and the various treatment modalities available. The programme concluded with the vote of thanks rendered by Dr. Ranjit Kumar Jha, Program Coordinator, PIPH. Video competition National IAPSM had proposed a World Health Day Video Competition both for undergraduate and post graduate students in separate categories. They had to create an interesting video based on Depression and upload it to You Tube and promote the link in online communities and circles. The winners will be decided based on the total number of views and likes it creates. Students of Parul Institute of Public Health had also participated in video competition conducted by IAPSM National body to increase awareness among the community through social media. The way forward: Parul University shall continuously work and move towards the promotion & constant support of World Health Day celebrations with each coming year by creating support systems for the same not only during the World Health Week, but also throughout the year in its quest towards excellence in curative and preventive health care services for the unreached & un-served community.