Padma Shri awardee KV Rabiya passes away in Malappuram
Malappuram (Ker), May 4 (PTI): K V Rabiya, a physically challenged social worker from this district who rose to prominence through her active role in the Kerala state literacy campaign, died at a hospital here on Sunday after a brief illness, sources said.
She was 59. Rabiya had won the Padma Shri for her contributions in the field of social work in 2022.
Rabiya, who was crippled by polio at the age of 14, had to continue her studies from home on a wheelchair.
In June 1992, she began a campaign for adult literacy for illiterate people of all ages at Tirurangadi, near her native place of Vellilakkad in Malappuram district. Through her dedicated work she introduced hundreds of illiterate people to the world of letters.
She started a volunteer organisation named ‘Chalanam’ (motion) and became active in social work in the fields of continuing education, health awareness, and rehabilitation of physically disabled people.
In 2002, she was diagnosed with cancer and successfully underwent chemotherapy and returned to her social activities. She wrote her autobiography ‘Swapnangalku chirakukal undu’ (Dreams have wings) in 2009.
Rabiya received her first national recognition in 1994 when she won the national youth award from the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Rabiya won the Padma Shri in 2002, on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day.
She had also won various honours of the state government and several social organisations.
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Centre launches national childhood diabetes screening, treatment framework
New Delhi (PTI): The Union Health Ministry on Sunday released a guidance document providing a framework for screening, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of childhood diabetes.
According to the ministry, the document, for the first time, establishes a structured and standardised national framework, positioning India among a select group of countries that have integrated childhood diabetes care into the public health system.
The "Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children" was released at the National Summit on Best Practices in Public Healthcare Service Delivery, concluded on May 1-2.
According to a statement by the ministry, the framework aims to ensure universal screening of all children from birth to 18 years through community and school-based platforms for early identification of diabetes.
Suspected cases will undergo immediate blood glucose testing and be referred to district-level health facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment, it said.
A key feature of the initiative is the provision of a comprehensive free-of-cost care package at public health facilities, including screening, diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, glucometers, test strips and regular follow-up care.
The initiative seeks to reduce the financial burden on families and ensure uninterrupted treatment for children diagnosed with diabetes.
The document also lays down an integrated continuum of care linking community-level screening with district hospital-based management and advanced care at medical colleges to ensure seamless follow-up and treatment.
To strengthen early detection, the guidance promotes the "4Ts" awareness framework -- Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Thinner -- to help parents, teachers and caregivers recognise early warning signs of type 1 Diabetes.
Besides clinical protocols, the document focuses on family and caregiver empowerment through structured training on insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, emergency response and daily disease management.
The statement stated the initiative is expected to reduce mortality through early detection, prevent complications and improve the quality of life of affected children while strengthening the public health system's capacity to manage non-communicable diseases among children.
