Top storyGuntur district recorded 145 Covid-19 positive cases in the past 24 hours, district medical and health department officials said in a statement on Saturday evening. Of the 76,895 total positive cases registered in the district so far, 75,789 patients have been discharged, while 431 are currently undergoing treatment. Officials advised people to remain cautious about the coronavirus and to step out of their homes only when necessary.
ASHA workers in Kodumur demanded a minimum wage of Rs 26,000. Led by CITU mandal president GP Veeranna, they submitted a petition listing 11 demands to Kurnool MP Bastipati Nagaraju. They sought regularisation of ASHA workers, all categories of leave, priority for trained ANMs and GNMs when permanent posts are filled, and an increase in the number of ASHA workers in line with the growing population. The workers said the MP assured them he would take the issues to the government's notice.
Contract employees of the Andhra Pradesh health department launched an indefinite strike in Anantapur district from Tuesday, protesting delays in resolving long-pending issues. JAC leaders said the government had held talks and sought time until October 3, but issued no government orders after the deadline passed. They protested with black badges, served a strike notice and held a one-day pen-down earlier. Medical services at Anantapur government hospital halted except emergencies. Contract nurses began relay hunger strikes demanding regularisation.
Poshan Maah–2026 was observed at the Vikarabad district collectorate under Collector Deepak Tewari, IAS. With the message "Our Anganwadi – Our Responsibility", awareness was created among women, pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and girls on nutrition, health and hygiene. An exhibition displayed locally available grains, pulses, greens, fruits and millets, explaining their nutritional value. Officials highlighted immunisation, hot cooked meals and growth monitoring services. The event was organised by the District Welfare Officer, Women and Child Development department.
An awareness programme on worm infestations and tuberculosis was held for students at the Government Urdu High School in Nehru Nagar, Tirupati, on the directions of District Leprosy, AIDS and TB Officer Dr Shailaja. Renigunta mandal PHC health supervisor Kamaraju advised washing hands with soap before meals and after toilet use, and taking deworming tablets as advised by health staff. Cough, fever, weight loss or night sweats beyond two weeks warrant TB tests, he said. Headmaster Mujeeb, teachers, ANM Sarita, an ASHA worker and TB supervisor Kalapriya attended.
Scientists, policymakers and industry representatives from across the world have gathered in Hyderabad for the International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP) to discuss mercury pollution and its health risks. It is the first time the city is hosting the event. Experts said mercury levels in the environment have risen 450% due to human activity, citing WHO and UNEP reports. The six-day meeting is discussing mercury use in gold mining, whitening creams and Ayurvedic medicines.
A review of Nizamabad district's health department was held Monday at the Secretariat, chaired by Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha. Former minister and Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy sought early completion of the 100-bed area hospital under construction at Bheemgal, a new PHC in Mortad mandal, a new building for Balkonda CHC, an MRI machine for the Government General Hospital and filling of vacant posts. The minister said Nizamabad GGH is being developed as a referral centre, with super speciality services to start in phases.
A free mega medical camp was held at Kadem mandal headquarters in Nirmal district under the aegis of Swapna Multi Super Speciality Hospital. Experienced doctors conducted free tests including ECG, 2D Echo and various advanced orthopedic examinations, and offered medical advice to patients. People turned up in large numbers from Kadem and Dasturabad mandals. Kadem Sub-Inspector Sai visited the camp and underwent a health check himself. He praised the hospital management and medical team, saying such free service programmes for rural people were commendable.
Hyderabad district will hold the pulse polio programme from the 12th to the 15th of this month, Collector Harichandana Dasari said. Children aged 0-5 will be given polio drops at 2,843 centres, which will stay open from 7 am to 6 pm. The district has 5,17,238 children under five. On the 13th, 14th and 15th, 11,200 medical staff will cover households that missed the drops. Officials identified 164 high-risk areas. DMHO Dr Venkati and DMO Dr Ramulu attended the meeting.
Water available to passengers at stations in the Vijayawada railway division is completely safe to drink, according to a quality-testing report by South Central Railway officials. Of 633 samples collected across 99 stations, none showed traces of harmful bacteria. In 9,571 chlorination tests at 83 stations, 9,565 met prescribed standards, a pass rate of 99.93%. Minor deviations at six locations were corrected immediately. Vijayawada Junction underwent 127 bacteria and 1,249 chlorine tests.
Mangayyammaraopeta Urban Primary Health Centre in Pithapuram was selected for the Swachh Andhra Award in the urban primary health centre category in Kakinada district, as part of Swachh Andhra programmes held to mark Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. Medical officer Dr Y. Vinay received the award from MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao and District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad at the Kakinada Smart City meeting hall. DMHO Dr Anitha, DIO Subbaraju, DMO Dr Prabhakar and DPMO Lakshmi congratulated the staff.
District Collector Bhavesh Mishra has directed medical officers to increase the number of normal deliveries at the government Maternal and Child Health hospital. He made a surprise inspection on Wednesday, examining all departments, records and registers, and spoke to patients about medical services and facilities. He said doctors and staff must be available 24 hours and that tests and medicines be given free. He also ordered that CC cameras work continuously and newborn care get special attention. Supervisor Saroj and officials Gopal Singh and Ramesh took part.
Blood donation can save many lives during emergencies, Mancherial Additional Collector (Local Bodies) P. Chandraiah said. Marking National Voluntary Blood Donation Day, a donation camp was held Thursday at the Integrated District Offices Complex in Naspur by the Indian Red Cross Society–Mancherial district blood bank centre. He said donated blood is valuable for thalassemia, sickle cell and anaemia patients and accident victims, and urged youth to come forward. Frequent blood and platelet donors were honoured with certificates and mementoes.
District Collector Hanumantha Rao has issued show cause notices to 82 staff of the Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district government hospital. Action was taken against 19 employees absent from duty without permission and 63 who did not follow timings. He made a surprise inspection of the hospital on Thursday, examining it for three hours. He expressed displeasure at the contractor over incomplete works and at sanitation staff over poor sanitation, spoke to four emergency ward patients and said quality must not be compromised.
Contract employees of the AP Medical and Health Contract Employees JAC, Palnadu and Vinukonda team, held a candlelight rally in Vinukonda urging the government to resolve pending issues. Their demands include regularisation, implementation of 100 percent gross salary, Rs 50 lakh ex gratia, paid medical leave, health cards and the option of mutual transfers. Leaders warned of a large-scale agitation otherwise. APNGO and other unions voiced support. JAC state vice chairman P. Sivaramakrishna, district chairman Nagaraju Kumari, Shanta Raju, joint secretary Koteswara Naik and state coordinator Satish took part.
Six students fell ill due to suspected food poisoning at Uppalchiluka UPS in Penuballi mandal of Khammam district on Wednesday. The school served upma with groundnut chutney in the morning and rice with sambar at 12 noon. Soon after, Sravanthika, Manoj Kumar, Naveen, Shiva Kesava, Lakshminarayana and Udayasri suffered vomiting and stomach pain. Teachers shifted them by auto to Penuballi area hospital. Lanka Sagar PHC medical officer Kiran said their condition is stable. MEO Mohan Rao has begun an inquiry.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurates the 1,082-bed Dr Marri Chenna Reddy Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences at Sanathnagar in Hyderabad at 4:30 pm on August 17, The Hindu reported. Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha will attend. Officials said services begin with about 582 beds, with the rest ready by October. Built on 22.6 acres at a cost of Rs 1,070-1,126 crore, it has 37 departments, 15 operation theatres and 2,360 sanctioned posts.
A medical camp was held at the Adoni municipal office on Wednesday, where sanitation staff underwent health examinations. Kits were distributed to the workers after the check-ups. The municipal commissioner said full-body medical examinations were conducted for staff working in the drainage and septic tank sections. He said the camp was organised keeping the health of the sanitation workers in view.
A free cancer awareness and screening camp was inaugurated by Chintalapudi MLA Songa Roshan Kumar at the Lotus Hospital premises near Anthoni Nagar in Chintalapudi town panchayat. Organised by the Mission Hope voluntary organisation, Chintalapudi Lions Club and Lotus Hospital, with specialists from Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospitals and Research Institute, Hyderabad, the camp runs from the 26th to the 28th of this month. The MLA advised women above 30 to undergo regular medical tests.
Stray dog attacks are increasing in Telangana's Mulugu district. Health department records show 632 cases registered at the district GGH, area hospital, CHCs and PHCs between April 2025 and March 2026. Officials said 17 cases were recorded at PHCs in April this year. Children under 10 form the largest share of victims. Mandal-wise figures include Wajedu 103, Mangapeta 76, Tadvai 70 and Govindaraopet 52. Residents allege Supreme Court directions on dog control remain unimplemented and that panchayat and municipal officials are ignoring the problem.