Conversations on Public Health

Warning: This content might trigger some people The 2nd wave has brought into wide public attention the inadequate supply chain of various essential drugs and equipment, most notably Oxygen. Visuals of desperate families and friends scrambling for the gas will remain a part of our collective memory for a long long time.  Though Oxygen shortage is an issue that came into the fore recently, as a public health consultant, Abhishek Tupe has been engaging with it for years now. In this short and crisp episode, Abhishek breaks down India's Oxygen supply chain for us. Tune in to hear about the three basic ways in which Oxygen is produced. We speak about Oxygen PSA Plants, industrially produced Medical Oxygen (INOX and Linde), and the now ubiquitous Oxygen Concentrators. These three options provide drastically different solutions for what Covid-19 made an almost household problem. They differ in costs, method and point of production and capacity.  (Abhishek Tupe is a Public Health Consultant who has worked with leading Non Profit Organisations across India and Africa. He holds an MA in Economics from Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune)

That India's inadequately funded public health system would be able to bear the burden of a pandemic was nobody's expectation. The colossal failure though, has taken almost everybody by surprise. The private sector was unable to keep up with a demand that almost no one forecasted, and the lack of basic drugs and supplies compounded the problem to a point where this tragedy will be remembered as the darkest days in Independent India's history. With many examples from rural India and her native Orissa, Sweta Dash explains to us what is unfolding in India's hinterland. As Covid 19 makes inroads in previously unchartered territories, we must contend that most of these stories will never reach us. In this insightful discussion, Sweta tells us about the structure of public health facilities in rural India, the state of healthcare workers, the surprising lack of data in a regime where data collection is a huge part of a healthcare worker's daily routine, and why the public needs to be taken into confidence to turn the tide against this pandemic. (Sweta Dash is an independent researcher and journalist. Her work can be found on TelegraphGHS, EPW, Wire, DC, Article14, FirstPost, Caravan, GC and Swaddle. She tweets @SwetaDash93)

Air Pollution statistics from India are grim. And while there is no denying that, we must also make a conscientious effort to understand its causes, and more clearly, it's direct and indirect consequences.  In this insightful talk, Jyoti gives us the hard cold facts about the state of the air we breathe, how it impacts us, why we have normalised it, and how at its very core, this is a social equity problem. Like she states, this wicked problem needs to be solved using our "ballots and wallets" We conclude with a short reading from Jyoti's book, Breathing Here is Injurious to your Health, published in 2020 by Hachette India. (Jyoti Pande Lavakare is a columnist, financial journalist and writer who has lived and worked in Britain, the United States and India. Jyoti has written for and worked with publications such as The Wall Steet Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, The Financial Times and Mint. She has a Masters in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and writes an independent column on India's entrepreneurial eco-system. She is a clean air missionary, and co founded the NGO, Care for Air.)

Aptly called the Emperor of All Maladies, Cancer has confounded humans for at least a millennia. In India, the situation is dire. The one million cases diagnosed is only the tip of the iceberg, as many Indians die undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, in the course of outdated treatment protocols, and or simply in pain due to a woeful lack of palliative care. Many of these deaths are preventable. The government foots a large part of medical bills but the demand is simply too much for the inadequately funded public healthcare system to bear. And that is where Non Profit Organisations, manned by dedicated medicos like Dr Venkatraman Radhakrishnan step in. Join us as Dr Radhakrishnan expertly demystifies the cancer story in India. We discuss a plethora of subjects ranging from regulations, the state of research, social stigma, diagnosis, vaccines, the role of government, and pharma patents for critical oncology drugs to the policy changes it will require for India to script a much needed plot twist.  Dr Venkatraman Radhakrishnan MD DM is a Professor of Medical Oncology and Paediatric Oncology at Cancer Institute, Chennai, India. He takes a keen interest in clinical trials, global health and cancer policy.

Introducing The Lassa Fever- a disease most of us haven't heard of. Afflicting more than half a million people in the West Africa region, this disease was first studied in 1969, and discovered in the town of Lassa, Nigeria. It is fatal in over 1% of all cases. This unique virus spreads to humans from the African rat and despite its extremely infectious nature has gotten very little attention. In fact, few outside West Africa have even heard of it.  In this episode, we get Infectious Diseases Expert, Dr Solomon Chollom to talk to us about the disease. Dr Chollom is among the very few experts on the Lassa Fever. We also discuss the future of Infectious Disease prevention, vaccine development, the brain drain in Africa, how to prevent future pandemics and how different governments will think differently about healthcare post Covid-19. Dr Solomon Chollom is a Medical Virologist who has been at the forefront in Covid-19 Management in Nigeria and Africa. He is an African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellow 2016-2018, an AITRP Fogarty Fellow 2014-2015, and an avid Liverpool fan.

We bring you this latest episode in association with The Mood Space! This is the fourth episode in a four part series that delves deeper into Mental Health issues faced by Millennials, often called the Therapy Generation. Here we delve deep into Anxiety. What really IS anxiety? How is it different from stress and panic? How do I know I am having an anxiety attack? And most importantly, what do I do when I get one? The prevalence and manner of anxiety among Millennials is a matter of endless debate. But the one thing we can all agree on is that most people encounter is at least once in their lifetime. Tune in to hear Trisha Daruwala delve deep into the science and reasons behind anxiety. She clarifies a lot of concepts for us, and explains what happens inside our brain when we get anxious using some really effective analogies! Trisha is a Clinical Psychologist, and earned her Masters in Psychology from S.N.D.T Women's University. She uses various evidence-based therapies in the course of her work and persistently strives to incorporate her learnings in her practice.

This is the third episode in a four part series that delves deeper into Mental Health issues faced by Millennials, often called the Therapy Generation. Here we tackle, Political Depression.  A toxic cocktail of social media, polarisation in politics, and an unstable socio-economic outlook has driven young people to the streets, demanding answers from an increasingly unapproachable, and out of touch political class. Tune in to hear Joyee Bhattacharya talk to us about what is political depression and why this is a problem that targets young people disproportionately. We also discuss cancel culture, celebrities and the importance of separating the art from the artist.  Joyee is a television news producer at CNN-News18 with a keen interest in politics, pop culture and cinema. She's always looking to learn, unlearn and grow.

This is the second episode in a 4 part series that delves deeper into Mental Health issues faced by Millennials, often called the Therapy Generation. Here we tackle, Toxic Workplaces. Nearly half of all Millennials don't intend to stay at workplaces for more than two years. While fluidity in the job market may have a huge role to play, their preference for a conducive and healthy work culture definitely has been an enabling factor. Mental Health issues because of toxic workplaces are a leading cause of job dissatisfaction and sickness. Vishwa Modi tells us why that does not need to be the case. And how, with clarity of thought and some confidence, we can tackle these issues head on. Vishwa is a psychotherapist at The Mood Space. Using a neuropsychotherapeutic lens, her therapeutic process is guided by techniques and strategies from evidence based therapies using an eclectic approach. Vishwa often incorporates expressive arts into her practice ensuring holistic wellbeing.

This is the first episode in a 4 part series that delves deeper into Mental Health issues faced by Millennials, often called the Therapy Generation. Here we tackle, Love. A slew of socio-political, economic and technological factors has ensured that millennials go on far fewer dates, marry later and have lesser kids. In this episode, we talk about dating apps, arranged marriages, equitable relationships, privacy, Snapchat dysmorphia and much more. While we can only guess how this impacts future society, the current impact on millennials is clear- loneliness, anxiety and a crippling fear of the future. Riddhika Bhandari tells us why that does not need to be the case. And how, with therapy, and a clear focus on balance, we can gain a lot more than we lose. Riddhika is a Bangalore based counsellor. She holds an M Sc in Work Psychology and brings a unique understanding of culture to her practice, using both holistic and alternative techniques of psychotherapy.

The WHO African Region carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2019, the region was home to 94% of malaria cases and deaths. We couldn't find anyone more informed than Odinaka Kingsley Obeta to converse with us about Malaria, and how Nigeria can use its young population effectively in the fight against this ancient scourge. Tune in to hear about: What are the effects of Malaria on the patient, family, community and nation? How proactively is the Nigerian government tackling Malaria? Who can be considered a part of Youth? What activities count as Participation? What is the potential of Youth Participation, and what skills, energy and insights can they bring to the fight? Do young people tend to be less committed to causes? What opportunities should organisations create for young people? What can communities do to improve their living conditions