October 10, 2024 – On this World Mental Health Day, Psychology World (an ODLQC accredited training portal) has partnered with the Dementia India Alliance (DIA) to launch an online Dementia-Orientation Certificate for Healthcare Professionals, including nurses, physiotherapists, and allied healthcare professionals. As India faces a growing dementia crisis—with 88 lakh individuals currently affected, and projections estimating 1.7 crore by 2036—the launch of this course aims to bridge the critical gap in dementia care training while addressing the often overlooked mental health needs of caregivers.

The emotional and psychological toll of caring for dementia patients has become increasingly apparent. Healthcare workers, often underprepared and untrained in dementia care, experience significant emotional strain while managing challenging symptoms such as aggression, confusion, and memory loss. Without proper training, many professionals report feelings of burnout, stress, and isolation. This silent crisis, which impacts both the quality of care provided and the mental well-being of the caregivers, demands urgent attention.

Dementia-Orientation Certificate for Healthcare Professionals course, developed in collaboration with DIA, is an online, self-paced program designed to equip healthcare workers with the necessary tools to provide compassionate and effective care for dementia patients. The course also incorporates a culturally relevant approach, acknowledging the unique caregiving dynamics within Indian families and communities. In addition to improving care outcomes for dementia patients, the course addresses the mental health struggles faced by caregivers, offering guidance on managing stress and emotional challenges.

“Through this initiative, we hope to empower healthcare professionals with the skills and support they need to manage dementia patients effectively, while also safeguarding their own mental health,” said Dr. Radha S. Murthy, President of Dementia India Alliance.

Shabd Mishra, Founder of Psychology World and Managing Director of Renaissance eServices Ltd., emphasized the importance of accessible, high-quality training: “This interactive, ODLQC-accredited course offers flexibility for busy professionals, allowing them to learn at their own pace. It ensures that healthcare workers across India are better prepared to meet the rising demand for dementia care, while also addressing the silent mental health crisis among caregivers.”

Mr. Shyam V, Secretary of Dementia India Alliance, announced, “Two additional self-paced online courses will soon be launched: one tailored for doctors and medical students, and another focused on creating dementia-friendly hospitals.”

The Dementia Orientation Certificate Course is now available for enrollment on Meducination.com for Indian professionals & students. This initiative marks a significant step in improving dementia care standards in India while supporting the mental health of the healthcare workers who are at the forefront of this growing challenge.

For more information about the Dementia-Orientation Certificate for Healthcare Professionals and to enroll in the course, please visit the Meducination website.  (https://meducination.com/course/dementia-orientation-certificate-for-healthcare-professionals-spl )

Funds will be utilized for product development, regulatory approvals, scaling partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and rehab centers across India and APAC.

Wundrsight, a digital therapeutics startup focused on revolutionizing mental healthcare through Virtual Reality (VR) technology, has raised $400,000 in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). Social Alpha, along with other angel investors, also participated in the round. The fresh funds will be used to expand Wundrsight’s hospital and clinic partnerships across India and to accelerate the development of its innovative VR-based mental health solutions.

Founded in 2022, Wundrsight is the first startup in India to develop a Virtual Reality and AI-based therapy platform for managing mental healthcare. The company aims to digitize and standardize mental health therapy, leveraging the immersive capabilities of VR to offer accessible, effective, and personalized care for various mental, behavioral, and neurocognitive conditions, including Substance Use Disorders, OCD, Anxiety, Phobias, Autism, and Dementia. The startup has already received backing from Meta, DLabs at Indian School of Business, IIT Mandi Catalyst, NASSCOM, and other notable organizations.

A Unique Vision for Mental Healthcare

Co-founded by Raunak Swarnkar, CEO, and Nishtha Budhiraja, Chief Medical Officer, Wundrsight is on a mission to address inefficiencies in the current mental healthcare system through technological innovation. Raunak, an IIT Gandhinagar alumnus with over five years of experience in product development across AI/ML, B2B SaaS, and medical devices, has worked with companies like TCS R&D, IBM, and RedSeer Consulting. Nishtha, a psychologist with over 10 years of experience, has treated more than 5,000 patients and holds a degree from the University of Essex. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise in mental health and cutting-edge product development to Wundrsight.

Speaking on the investment, Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner at Inflection Point Ventures, said:

“The mental health crisis is more alarming than ever; solving it with just traditional methods is often limited to accessibility, personalized treatment, and engagement. Many people start therapy but frequently drop off due to ineffective retention and engagement strategies. Wundrsight is at the forefront of addressing these issues by bringing in digital therapeutic and mixed reality technology like Virtual Reality to create personalized, immersive, and effective mental health care experiences. VR augments current solutions, helping to retain and engage users more effectively, ensuring they achieve their results. At IPV, we believe in Wundrsight’s vision to make mental wellness accessible to all through technological innovation.”

Proven Impact with VR-Based Therapy

Wundrsight’s VR-based solutions have demonstrated remarkable results in reducing therapy session times by up to 30%, delivering superior patient outcomes while saving both time and money. The company’s focus on evidence-based practices has led to the successful treatment of over 1,000 patients across multiple mental health conditions. These achievements are supported by CDSCO Registration, ISO certifications, and CTRI-registered clinical trials.

Operating in three metro cities, Wundrsight has already secured contracts with more than five hospitals, with additional partnerships with leading private and government hospitals in the pipeline. The startup offers over six VR therapy products designed to address various mental health challenges, including OCD, Anxiety, Autism, Phobias, and Substance Use Disorders, through clinician-administered therapies.

Looking Ahead: India and Beyond

Wundrsight is poised to play a significant role in the rapidly growing mental health market in India, which is projected to reach a valuation of approximately USD 62.86 billion by 2032, up from USD 6.89 billion in 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.16%. With this funding, the company is set to broaden its impact within India and expand into the APAC region, with plans to enter the US market next.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in mental health care, especially now as innovative software-based medical devices are getting regulatory approvals for prescriptions,” said Raunak Swarnkar, Co-Founder & CEO of Wundrsight. “Hospitals and clinics globally face immense pressure to provide high-quality, scalable mental health services despite a shortage of clinicians. Our VR-based solutions not only reduce the need for medication but also enhance clinician efficiency, allowing for safe, standardized and effective treatments. This funding will help us expand our reach and impact in India and APAC. We look forward to entering the US market next where VR therapy has received CPT codes for reimbursement from insurance providers.”

Bangalore, India – September 4, 2024 – LeanDietPlan.com, an innovative new service founded by seasoned tech entrepreneur Mr. Chris Thomas and his expert team from Bangalore, India, is set to transform the way individuals approach their health and wellness. This cutting-edge platform offers a unique AI-powered dietitian available 24/7, providing personalized diet plans based on W.H.O standards for just $9 per year.

LeanDietPlan.com uses advanced artificial intelligence to craft diet plans tailored to individual needs, including age, gender, height, current weight, ideal weight, medical conditions, allergies, and preferred cuisine. Whether users seek general health improvement or aim for optimal wellness, LeanDietPlan.com delivers customized nutrition solutions that cater to their specific requirements.

Key Features of LeanDietPlan.com:

Personalized Diet Plans: Users receive customized meal plans based on comprehensive inputs, ensuring alignment with W.H.O standards for balanced nutrition.

Global Cuisine Options: From Italian to Indian, and everything in between, the platform accommodates preferences for any major world cuisine.

Affordable Pricing: At just $9 per year, LeanDietPlan.com offers unparalleled value for anyone seeking professional dietary guidance without breaking the bank.

24/7 Accessibility: The AI-powered dietitian is available around the clock, providing users with immediate support and dietary advice whenever needed.

Mr. Chris Thomas, the visionary behind LeanDietPlan.com, brings nearly 16 years of experience in developing technology solutions for the healthcare sector. His leadership and the expertise of his Bangalore-based team ensure that the platform integrates cutting-edge technology with practical, user-friendly applications for health and wellness.

“We are thrilled to introduce LeanDietPlan.com to the global market,” said Mr. Thomas. “Our mission is to make high-quality, personalized dietary guidance accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or budget. Our AI-driven approach not only offers precise and effective dietary recommendations but also provides users with the flexibility to enjoy their favorite cuisines while achieving their health goals.”

LeanDietPlan.com stands out in the crowded wellness market by combining technological innovation with affordability and convenience. The platform is designed to meet the needs of a diverse audience, offering a practical solution for anyone looking to enhance their health through better nutrition.

For more information and to start your personalized dietary journey today, visit www.leandietplan.com

Contact:

LeanDietPlan.com 

Media Relations 

Email: support@leandietplan.com

Phone: +91- 9538739022

Website: www.leandietplan.com

About LeanDietPlan.com:

LeanDietPlan.com is an AI-powered platform offering personalized diet plans based on W.H.O standards. Founded by Mr. Chris Thomas and his experienced team from Bangalore, India, the service aims to provide affordable, accessible, and effective dietary solutions to improve general and optimal health. With a focus on integrating global cuisine preferences into tailored nutrition plans, LeanDietPlan.com makes healthy eating accessible to everyone.

It is hard to believe that a single online shop, operating at a remote part of Chennai city is trying to create a lasting impact in the socio-economic scenario of the country. It continues to help thousands of Indians save over 84K crores collectively in the last 13 years.

Can you guess?
Yes, condombazaar.com has been creating phenomenal impact year-after-year through a simple and easy to use contraceptive, CONDOMS.

If one lists down the different methods of family planning, Using a condom is among the easiest and cheapest. Even though the government populated condoms through a massive ‘National Family Planning Program’ in the late 1960s, the condom usage in India happened at a snail’s pace. According to NFHS-4 Survey (2015-16), the condom usage among married couples was only 5.6%. The access to condoms remained a challenge as young Indian men and women had to face the embarrassment of shopkeepers or fellow buyers in a retail outlet while buying the condom. This prevented many from buying condoms.

Before the advent of online stores, men who wanted to use condoms have to wait late in the night to ensure the shop is empty and no one is around. In such a scenario, it is nearly impossible for women to buy condoms from an outlet. “The major hindrance to condom usage is the embarrassment factor involved in purchasing it”.

To address this issue, the idea of setting up condombazaar.com was born. Speaking about the idea, the condombazaar team said, “Sensing that if we can address the embarrassment factor by creating a hassle-free platform for condom purchase, most of the job is done and young Indian men and women will begin to use condoms and indulge in safe sexual practices. Thus Habituating Indians to use Condoms became the Purpose of Business for condombazaar.

To achieve this purpose, we leveraged the power of ecommerce way back in 2010 itself. Initially, we started selling condoms on ebay and the response was so encouraging. So, we started our own website – condombazaar.com in the next year itself and we were growing steadily. Traffic to the site picked up when NDTV mentioned our website name in an article“ Why Premium Condoms Risk Extinction in India” way back in 2014.”

Half of India’s population is less than 24 years of age while 65 per cent is below 35 years. To harness the opportunity of this young nation, it is important to ensure the well-being of the youth — and reproductive health is a key factor here. Sensing that we hold tremendous responsibility in assisting the young nation resort to safe sexual practices and to avoid unwanted pregnancies, we took following measures to habituate young men and women to condom usage.

Absolute privacy in condom purchase
Condombazaar may be the only player way back in 2010 selling condoms on ebay and then have a dedicated website. Condombazaar empowered the buyer by giving the total privacy and saved him/her from the embarrassing looks of the Chemist and other fellow buyers. Using the e-commerce store is a major relief and we are one step near in achieving our purpose of habituating young Indians to use condoms.

Largest Condom collection and condom usage
Condombazaar as the name suggest, has the largest range of condoms. We almost stock all brands of condoms available in India viz., Durex, KamaSutra, Moods, Skore, Manforce, Kohinoor, SKYN, Playgard, Okamato and Carex are a few to name.

Each of these brand have many variants in different pack sizes of 3’s, 6’s, 10’s, 12’s and 20’s. We try to stock almost all the variants available. The range include Delay condoms, Ribbed, dotted, Multi textured, Ultra thin, Anatomically shaped, Scented, Cooling, Warming, Non Latex, Female and Flavoured condoms. There are many flavored variants, that are far from imagination – Strawberry, Chocolate, Orange, Banana, Mango, Apple, Pineapple, Grapes, Coffee, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Paan, Blueberry, Wildberry, Litchee, Kiwi, Peach, Mint, Coffee, Bubblegum and the list goes on and in total, we have around 250 different SKUs, always in stock.

The idea of keeping a huge range is to encourage the buyer to browse the different varieties, peacefully in the privacy of his or her mobile phone and end up buying and experimenting with different varieties of condoms. Eventually, they will choose their suitable variant and form the habit of using condoms.

Invention of Discreet Packing, Delivery & Billing
Condombazaar is proud to claim that we are the first e-commerce store to use the concept of Discreet Packing and Courier delivery, way back in 2010 right from our ebay time. Though we created absolute privacy to buy condoms, we invented ‘discreet packaging’ to make the purchase even more convenient. Where, the order is discreetly shipped in a plain unmarked, and tamper-proof cover with the address of our Healthcare Company. No where will it say what the customer has purchased. The package will not be labeled with any invoices or delivery challans and the credit card/bank statement will not show our website name. This way, we ensure our customers don’t face any embarrassment at all touch points, which is a major hindrance in condom purchase.

Faster Delivery across the Country
We understand that customers hate to wait for condoms as it is always needed on emergency. To ensure faster delivery, right from the beginning, we were using express and air courier services like Bludart. If the order is placed before 3 pm of any working day, it will be shipped on the same day and most of the orders get delivered the next working day. For remote locations, we use Speed Post and we have delivered to remotest locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu, Agathi Islands and to remote villages in Nilgiris.

30 condoms per order
Condombazaar has a minimum cart size of at least 30 pieces of condoms. The idea is to ensure our customers to have a ready stock of condoms at their hand’s reach, because for sexual act we cannot schedule an appointment. If condoms are available in the shelf, the couple will tend to use them every time and this will become a habit. The 30 pieces of condoms will be sufficient for a couple for atleast six month’s usage. If we can ensure a couple starts using condoms for 6 months, then it will become a habit for them.

Our Newsletter and condom usage
Over the past ten years, we have been sending newsletters month-on-month with useful information on condoms and sexual wellness to a huge email list of around 1 lakh condom users, mostly we don’t send promotional emails. For example, our newsletters will carry information like, “Flavoured condoms will cause vaginal infection due to the added sugars in the flavour”, “For men with large size, there are no condoms available, but they can make their partners use female condoms”, “how the heat transfer works while using a ultra thin condom and how couples can feel the skin on skin feel”… as these type of informations are not known to many people, we send such information to educate and thus facilitate condom usage.

Condom storage and Condom usage
From the customer feedback, we understood, that after our discreet delivery of condoms, the main problem faced by them is the storage of the condom packs. Hence we designed a black colored condom storage bag, that can be used to store condoms discretely in the wardrobe and the bag will also act as remainder for the couple to restock the condoms. The bag carries a message “Keep me always full, so that you will not get pregnant”.

Other sexual wellness products and Condom usage
Based on the request from some of our regular customers, we have added sexual wellness products and exclusive bedroom lingerie to our e-commerce platform. We also felt, these products can be bundled with condoms. Even if any of the shopping cart of our customers is filled with only sexual wellness or Lingerie, we add few packs of free condom. This category of products are driving new set of customers, to whom we have a chance to show the condom range and most of the visitor to our website who come for sexual wellness or lingerie purchase, also end up buying condoms.

Free Pregnancy Detection card with every order
No contraception can guarantee full protection, every method has a failure rate and condoms are not exception. There are two types of failures in condom. One is method failure, where in condom is broken or damaged, the other one is User failure, where in the couples who are regular users, have failed to use condoms once in a while due to various reasons. These failures may end up with an unpleasant situation for the couples, they may not know what to do further if the periods are missed or delayed. To address these embarrassing situations, we send a free pregnancy test card, with every order, which comes handy to our customers. This one idea has received a lot of appreciations from our buyers. More over, the customers are further encouraged to have confidence in condoms and the habit of condom usage is further strengthened.

With these activities, We have tried to instill the habit of condom usage to our customers instead of merely selling condoms. This makes condombazaar different from other condom marketing companies and retailers. We are focused on habituating our customers to condom usage through user-focused initiatives.

There is a general opinion that Men are self centered and selfish when it comes to condom usage, but our experience is different. 90% of the customers are men at condombazaar and we have male customers who regularly buy condoms for more than 6 years. This shows that men are not self centered while coming to condom usage. Instead, our male customers are caring partners and husband.

Men shied away from condom purchase because of embarrassment factor and when condoms are accessible through an online platform, they tend to buy condoms regularly. We are delighted that we have brought a behavioural change among men with regard to condom usage.

We are happy to see this behavioral change happening in India. According to NFHS-5 (2019-2021) survey, 9.5% Indian men are using condoms, which is way ahead of 5.6% usage as per NFHS-4 (2015-16). This behavioral change can bring about a positive change in reproductive health of young Indians and can significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies in the country. In 2015–2019, there were a total of 48,500,000 pregnancies annually in India. Of these, 21,500,000 pregnancies were unintended.

Each unintended pregnancy is not only a burden for India but also a huge burden for the couples. According to Wikipedia and based on the estimate by Economic Times in April 2011 and adjusted to inflation for August 2022, the cost of raising a child from birth to age of majority (21 Years) for a middle to upper-middle income family comes to about ₹1.17 crore (equivalent to 1.2 crore or US$160,000 in 2023) in total. The mathematics will be huge when we multiply this 1.2 crore by 21,500,000 unintended pregnancies.

Condombazaar’s team is happy, that we have around 1 lakh customers over the past 12 years, whom have purchased condoms from us at least for a year’s usage. Assuming that 30% of the customers have not effectively used the purchased condoms or the condoms were used outside of their marriage or they have used some other regular contraceptive, we have around 70k regular condom users. We are sure the habit of condom usage which is the purpose of our business has saved around 1.2 crore for each of the Seventy thousand customers and contributed ₹84k crores to the socio-economic benefit of our country.

Request for Condom Manufacturers and Marketing companies.
Condom is one product which has not seen any notable innovation for the 50 years in India. We appreciate the wide range of flavoured condoms from Strawberry to Paan, made available by Indian brands and there are a lot of marketing innovations by various condom brands.

But there is a huge need for real product innovations like, bringing condoms in different sizes, because every men is of different size, there is a big demand for non latex condoms as many couples have latex allergy, condom manufacturers can think of Glow in dark condoms, which can really add a fun in the Indian bedrooms.

With these kinds of innovations, it will be more and more easy for us to promote the Habit of condom usage. We are continuously working for the cause. We also request every reader to STAND UP FOR THE CAUSE of regular condom usage.

For more information, visit www.condombazaar.com/email support@cagain.in

Kolkata, West Bengal – B B Eye Foundation, has been one of the pioneering institutions to begin Phacoemulsification and LASIK in Eastern India, home to excellence in eyecare for the last 34 years. Today, for the benefit of our cataract and glaucoma patients we share the introduction of iStent Inject and iStent Inject W technology.

Surgery in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye where progressive rise in eye pressure leads to loss of vision. It is often called the ‘silent theft of vision’ as it does not present with any symptoms during the early stages of the disease. Micro Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS), is the latest advancement in the surgical management of glaucoma to reduce the burden of the disease. Patients with glaucoma are often weighed down by multiple drops at specific intervals. Traditionally only patients with uncontrolled eye pressure glaucoma have been advised for glaucoma surgeries. With the iStent technology in the arsenal, patients with mild to moderate glaucoma may be treated with a fifteen minute procedure to allow them to become medication free.

Dr. Chandrima Paul’s performs East India’s first iStent Inject procedure.

Benefits of iStent technology for patients:

1. High safety profile compared to older microinvasive glaucoma surgeries
2. Minimal postoperative discomfort with quick recovery
3. Fewer and less frequent postoperative check ups
4. Suitable for patients with early glaucoma
5. Lesser impact on quality of life

When you have glaucoma and cataract

Additionally, a boon for this procedure is the ability for surgeons to perform it as a combined procedure for patients with glaucoma undergoing cataract surgery with high safety and efficacy. Patients with early glaucoma on 1-2 anti-glaucoma medications who develop cataract have performed exceedingly well following cataract surgery and iStent implantation, making them medicine free postoperatively.

Dr. Anujeet Paul, implants his first iStent Inject and shares the ease of use of the device.

Expert endorsements

Dr. Chandrima Paul was the first surgeon in Eastern India to implant the iStent Inject in December 2022 and has subsequently incorporated this procedure in her three decade long clinical practice.

Dr. Sumit Chowdhury has also shared his experience with the iStent Inject and mentions that it shows incredible promise for his patients with glaucoma on one or two medications.

Dr. Anujeet Paul who recently implanted the iStent Inject has highlighted its ease of use and high safety profile. He adds that it will be a boon with cataract patients with early glaucoma looking to let go of all medication post surgery.

About B B Eye Foundation

B B Eye Foundation is a 34 year old institution that has been on the forefront of transformational eye care in Eastern India. With the commitment to serve with expertise, technology and humanity, the institution has been the first to revolutionise cataract surgery with phacoemulsification and LASIK surgery with Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision Technology. Today, it is home to Premium Cataract Surgery with Multifocal, Toric and EDOF IOLs, Glaucoma Surgery with MIGS, Vitreoretinal Surgery and MIVS.