MERD India Foundation Newsletter: September 2025 👶🇮🇳
Recent Activities of MERD India
MERD India provided informational support to more than 50 people regarding Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM), Newborn Screening (NBS), and rare diseases.
September was a bustling and highly productive month for the MERD India Foundation as we continued our dedicated efforts to promote Newborn Screening Awareness Month across Rajasthan. Our initiatives focused on education, collaboration with medical professionals, and policy discussions to strengthen public health systems for the youngest citizens.
Great News & Inspiration from Global Advocacy ✨
Scottsdale PR Owner Turns Family Tragedy into Fight for Newborn Screening
We were incredibly inspired by the news of a Scottsdale PR owner who is channeling a personal family tragedy into a powerful fight for expanded newborn screening. This story, highlighting the passion and dedication of advocates globally, underscores the critical importance of newborn screening and shows how personal experiences can drive significant public health change. Their work serves as a powerful reminder of why we continue our mission every single day—to ensure every newborn gets a healthy start.
https://www.yourvalley.net/scottsdale-independent/stories/scottsdale-pr-owner-turns-family-tragedy-into-fight-for-newborn-screening,620346
On the Ground: Hospital Visits and Educational Sessions 🩺🗣️
The end of the month saw significant engagement with leading medical institutions:
September 26th: Jaipur & Bombay Hospital Jagatpura We had an excellent discussion on newborn screening with Dr. Sonali during a visit to Bombay Hospital Jagatpura. This was followed by a productive round table discussion at MG Hospital Sitapura. The presentation delivered by Dr. Satyan Hemrajani, Dr. Madhu, and Dr. Saurabh, along with the entire MG Hospital Department of Child Care medical team, was outstanding and generated a great discussion on best practices and future strategies.
September 17th: "Healthy Children, Healthy Nation" Initiative in Tonk Our awareness campaign visited Tonk, Rajasthan, as part of our "Healthy Children, Healthy Nation" initiative. We distributed informational posters to pediatricians and gynecologists at several hospitals, including:
Saadat Government Hospital
Agarwal Hospital
Bansal Hospital
Tripathi Children's Hospital
We are deeply grateful for the great support received from Dr. Vijender Tripathi, Dr. Sushma Agarwal, Dr. Rajiv Bansal, Dr. Satyanarayana, their teams, and other respected doctors in the area.
September 11th: Bhilwara Awareness Campaign A successful newborn screening awareness campaign was held in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. We distributed educational posters at several hospitals, including:
Sparsh Hospital
Ram Snehi Hospital
Keshav Prawal Hospital
Ajmera Hospital
Shri Sidhi Vinayak Hospital
This effort was strongly supported by local medical professionals, including Dr. Atul Heda, Pooja Jain, Dr. Ankasha Shrivastava, Dr. Ashish Ajmera, Dr. Rekha Sharma, and Dr. Mehul.
Conferences and Webinars: Policy and Innovation 💡🤝
Our work extended to key regional and virtual forums, focusing on the future of mother and child healthcare:
September 21st: Innovations in Mother and Child Healthcare Seminar We participated in a dynamic seminar titled "Innovations in Mother and Child Healthcare: From Research to Practice" at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur. The event was organized by the Rajasthan State Branch of NARCHI, providing a valuable platform to discuss translating research into practical healthcare improvements.
September 19th: Patient Safety Webinar As part of Newborn Screening Awareness Month, the MERD India Foundation was pleased to participate in a crucial webinar on patient safety. Hosted by DakshamA Health, the event was titled "Strengthening Public Health Systems: Policies, Partnerships, and Strategies for Safe Newborn and Child Care", underscoring the importance of robust frameworks for protecting our newest and youngest patients.
Thank you to all the doctors, hospitals, and organizations that collaborated with us this month. Your commitment is vital to ensuring a Healthy Nation starts with Healthy Children!