Karnataka appoints Robin Uthappa as brand ambassador for Brain Health Initiative

Chennai Super Kings opening batter and former India international Robin Uthappa has been appointed as a brand ambassador for Brain Health Initiative which aims to improve the treatment of neurological disorders. 

Recognising the need to improve the treatment and prevention of neurological disorders in the community, the Karnataka State Government in association with NIMHANS and Niti Ayog launched the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative (Ka-BHI) in January. 

With the help of this Brain Health Initiative, it won’t be long before diagnosis and timely treatment of common neurological problems can be done from the grassroots level of primary health centres, secondary-level district hospitals and NIMHANS at the tertiary level in the state. The pilot project has also been announced in this year’s State budget. 

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NIMHANS director Pratima Murthy said: 

“Neurological diseases, including stroke, epilepsy, headache, dementia, and brain infections, contribute to immense disability in the community. Since brain health, mental health, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health and elderly care overlap, coordination between the different national programmes under the National Health Mission is being strengthened through this pilot project.

“Ka-BHI will develop a model for prevention and management of neurological diseases and promote brain health, from grassroot level of primary care to tertiary care. This pilot study in three districts can become a model and be implemented in the whole State and at the national level in the coming months.” 

Suvarna Alladi, professor and head of the Department of Neurology at NIMHANS said: 

“Three in-person workshops have been conducted for all the PHC doctors in the pilot hospitals. Overall 180 doctors, including 26 neurologists from NIMHANS are involved in this. The protocols for diagnosis and management of neurological disorders have been drafted and weekly online neurology interactive teaching sessions are going on.

“The training of the PHC doctors will be completed in June and they will be certified in treatment of common neurological diseases. Training programme for ASHA workers and community health officers has been developed. They will be provided with a 15-point questionnaire that can be used to screen patients with neurological disorders from the community level and Health and Wellness centres for early identification and timely treatment in referral centres.”

State Health Commissioner Randeep told The Hindu that brain health promoting activities like yoga, physical exercises, sports, traditional art and crafts, stress reduction and nutritional support will be initiated by the three pilots. “This is a first-of-a-kind initiative in the country that will facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment for common neurological diseases,” he said.