Our Highlights
Global Happenings
New WHO estimates highlight significant changes in the global health landscape, including shifts in disease patterns, mortality, life expectancy, and major health risks. The findings emphasize the continuing impact of noncommunicable diseases, while infectious diseases and other emerging challenges remain important, underscoring the need for stronger, data-driven health systems.
WHO is updating its recommendations on the criteria and diagnosis of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy to reflect emerging scientific evidence and improve consistency in clinical practice. The update aims to support accurate identification and management of gestational diabetes, strengthen maternal and newborn health outcomes, and guide countries in implementing effective diagnostic approaches.
WHO warns that one in four doctors globally is nearing retirement age, raising concerns about a growing shortage of health workers. The aging workforce, combined with insufficient recruitment and training, could worsen healthcare access and increase pressure on health systems, highlighting the need for long-term workforce planning and investment.
Social Stream
@smaart.fhts, University of Memphis School of Public Health, and Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, under a joint collaborative initiative, are bringing the Model of Public Health Education to High Schools by using the Public Health in Action curriculum and establishing public health clubs across 50 high schools in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. This first-of-its-kind initiative is engaging more than 1,500 students as public health ambassadors across all 12 blocks of Kolhapur.
Building on the previous modules, the eighth curriculum session, focused on technological innovations in public health, was delivered across 38 schools in Kolhapur. The session was conducted by Rutuja Gadgil, Public Health Outreach Specialist at FHTS, entirely in Marathi, introducing students to how technology is changing the way public health challenges are understood, tracked, and addressed.
The initiative furthers the goals of the National Education Policy 2020 and reflects how public health in action can support the Maharashtra state government’s ‘My Village Healthy Village’ initiative, working to address adolescent health challenges such as unhealthy eating, environmental pollution, physical inactivity, emotional well-being, mental health, and social media and mobile addiction.
www.fhts.ac.in , www.smaartlab.org
call us on +91-8527897771 or write to us contact@fhts.ac.in
#PublicHealth #PublicHealthInAction #FHTS #Kolhapur #Maharashtra
#NEP2020 #MyVillageHealthyVillage #YouthLeadership
#PublicHealthEducation #NationBuilding #CommunityHealth
Oct 12
On World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2026, students at Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Government Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VCSGGIMS&R), Srinagar, Uttarakhand, joined FHTS in observing the day under this year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
The observance was held under the joint collaboration between VCSGGIMS&R, which hosts an FHTS SMAART Center, and Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society (FHTS). The collaboration brings together research and community health work, and this day extended the same spirit to mental well-being.
Students gathered around a “Mental Health Awareness Wall” and covered it with colourful notes, each carrying a personal thought on mental health. For future doctors, who will meet people’s lived experiences every day in their work, a wall like this is a way to start the conversation early.
Activities like this remind us that mental health awareness begins with giving people room to speak and be heard.
Our thanks to the students and faculty of VCSGGIMS&R for their thoughtful participation in this multi-site observance across the FHTS SMAART Centers and our collaborating institutions.
#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #PublicHealth #FHTS #SMAART #Srinagar #Uttarakhand #RealVoicesRealChange
Oct 12
On World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2026, students at @pmchri_official_, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, joined FHTS in observing the day under this year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
The observance was held under the joint collaboration between @pmchri_official_ and @smaart.fhts. Through this collaboration, FHTS conducts four certificate programs for the college’s medical and nursing professionals, covering population health research, human-centered design for community health interventions, data analytics in healthcare, and health policy, advocacy and leadership.
Students gathered around a large board and filled it with the words that come to mind when they think about mental well-being. Each word was a personal reflection, and together they built a shared picture of what mental health means to a community of future healthcare professionals.
Activities like this remind us that mental health awareness begins with giving people room to speak and be heard.
Our thanks to the students and faculty of @pmchri_official_ for their thoughtful participation in this multi-site observance across the FHTS SMAART Centers and our collaborating institutions.
#WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #PublicHealth #FHTS #SMAART #PanimalarMedicalCollege #RealVoicesRealChange
Krishna Mohan Surapaneni, PhD,MHPE,FAMEE,FAcadMEd,FIAMSE,FISQua
Oct 12
Foundation of Healthcare Technologies Society (FHTS), University of Memphis School of Public Health, and Zilla Parishad, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, under a joint collaborative initiative, are bringing the Model of Public Health Education to High Schools by using the Public Health in Action curriculum and establishing public health clubs across 50 high schools in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. This first-of-its-kind initiative is engaging more than 1,500 students as public health ambassadors across all 12 blocks of Kolhapur.
On World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2026, students from the Public Health Clubs in Kolhapur joined FHTS in observing the day under this year’s theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change.”
The day brought students together to reflect on what mental well-being means to them and to the communities around them. For young public health ambassadors, learning to listen to people’s lived experiences is one of the first steps toward building healthier schools and villages.
Activities like this remind us that mental health awareness begins with giving people room to speak and be heard.
Our thanks to the students, teachers, and the Zilla Parishad team for their participation in this multi-site observance across the FHTS SMAART Centers and our collaborating institutions.
FHTS CREATES Social, Economic and Health Impact through Community engagement, Research-based interventions, Entrepreneurship and innovation, Academic excellence, Technology-based solutions, Employment creation and readiness, and student-centeredness. It is a platform committed to promoting health and well-being for all. Guided by compassion, integrity, and equity, it empowers individuals to grow, contribute meaningfully, and create a positive impact, reaching and improving lives every day- Dr. Ashish Joshi, PhD,MBBS,MPH (Founder FHTS and SMAART Lab & Dean and Distinguished University Professor, School of Public Health, University of Memphis)
www.fhts.ac.in , www.smaartlab.org
call us on +91-8527897771 or write to us contact@fhts.ac.in
#RealVoicesRealChange #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealth #PublicHealth #PublicHealthInAction #FHTS #SMAART #Kolhapur #RealVoicesRealChange
Oct 10
