Background: A series of measures have been suggested to reduce Covid-19 infection, including knowledge training for prevention and control, isolation, disinfection, classified protections at different degrees in infection areas, and protection of confirmed cases. Objectives: We conducted this study with an aim to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice among the general population regarding COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out by the Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar in the month of April 2020. The questionnaire had four segments to collect data regarding social-demographic details, knowledge regarding Covid-19, attitude and practice based questions. The questionnaire was shared via social media applications like face book and Whatsapp to reach the target population. Continuous variables were summarized as frequency and percentage. All the analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2016. Among participants who responded, 1252 (82%) were in the age group of 18–40 years and 912 (60%) from urban areas. Results: A total of 934 (61%) respondents had heard details on COVID-19 from the social media, 1358 (89%) knew all ways of coronavirus transmission, 602 (40%) felt that COVID-19 is a serious disease, 1184 (78%) responded that they totally agree with the lockdown decision, and 1296 (85%) responded that lockdown is helping in reducing the number of cases. The majority, i.e. 1318 (87%), followed advisories and reported washing hands with soap and water regularly, 1108 (73%) reported regularly wearing masks, 1344 (89%) reported following lockdown guidelines, and 1306 (87%) reported maintaining social distancing. The respondents exhibited good knowledge, positive attitude, and sensible practices regarding COVID-19. Conclusion: Our study showed that the respondents have exhibited good knowledge, positive attitude and sensible practices regarding covid-19 during the pandemic.

Pakistan confronts a severe mental health crisis that compels urgent action. Mental disorders constitute a burgeoning global burden, with depression alone accounting for a staggering 4.4% of worldwide Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) [1]. A stark inequity persists, with over 90% in low-and middle-income nations lacking access to mental health treatment, compared to over 50% receiving care in high-income countries [2]. These disparities emanate from a chronic underinvestment, with lowincome nations allocating a mere fraction, less than 1% of health budgets, to mental health [3].Pakistan mirrors these global inequities. With a paucity of just 0.19 psychiatrists per 100,000 people [4], and an underwhelming allocation of only 0.4% of the health budget for mental health [5], Pakistan grapples to meet the needs of an estimated 24 million individuals requiring mental health services [6]. Depressive, anxiety, and schizophrenia disorders are the most prevalent [7]. Stigma surrounding mental illness remains an entrenched societal challenge [8].Currently, Pakistan's mental health system operates primarily through tertiary care hospitals in major cities, with minimal integration into primary healthcare. Mental health services are largely concentrated in psychiatric departments of teaching hospitals, creating geographic and economic barriers for rural populations. The existing system relies heavily on psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, with limited involvement of general physicians, community health workers, or other non-specialist providers. Mental health education is notably absent from school curricula, and workplace mental health programs are virtually non-existent. Digital mental health solutions remain unexplored within the public sector, while community-based mental health services are severely limited. The proposed transformations would mark significant departures from this status quo through: task-sharing with non-specialist providers instead of exclusive specialist care; integration of services into primary healthcare facilities rather than tertiary hospitals alone; establishment of community clinics in place of centralized urban facilities; leveraging digital technology where traditional in-person care is the norm; and engaging community partners versus the current isolated clinical approach.To expand access, the WHO recommends strategies such as task-sharing care to nonspecialist providers, integrating services into primary care and educational institutions, developing community clinics, leveraging digital technology, and engaging community partners [9]. Pakistan could adapt approaches like training primary care workers in mental health protocols, building teacher capacity for school-based services, deploying lay counselors with specialist supervision, offering telemental health services, and engaging community health workers in outreach efforts [10].[Figure 1] telepsychiatry and digital tools, and address social determinants through campaigns on gender equity [11]. Organizations like Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL) advocate for policies, build workforce capacity, and scale up culturallyadapted interventions [12]. Digital startups like Sehat Kahani use telepsychiatry and mobile applications to bridge the workforce gap [13].A critical component in addressing Pakistan's mental health crisis is the implementation of comprehensive anti-stigma campaigns [14]. These initiatives should operate at multiple levels based on established evidence [15]:A. Community-level interventions [14,15] To comprehensively address the crisis, Pakistan must invest in scaling up its mental health workforce through training more specialists and task-sharing to non-specialists [3,16]. Integrating services into primary care and establishing community mental health centers is crucial for decentralizing access [9,10]. Increasing public mental health spending, developing sustainable financing mechanisms, and strengthening governance and policies are imperative [5,16]. Research on effective, contextuallyappropriate interventions should guide investments [14]. Developing quality monitoring mechanisms is key to ensuring standards of care [9].Addressing social determinants through multi-sectoral coordination and whole-ofsociety approaches involving government, private sector, and civil society is vital [14].Sustained political commitment and strategic investments enabling universally accessible, community-based mental healthcare are crucial for realizing wellbeing for all Pakistanis [15,16].In essence, Pakistan confronts a formidable treatment gap with escalating rates of mental illness amid extreme limitations in mental health system capacity.Comprehensive strategies are necessitated, spanning workforce expansion, service integration into communities, increased financing, anti-stigma efforts, school interventions, research, quality assurance, and multi-sectoral coordination. While challenges are immense, prioritizing community-driven, decentralized mental health systems can ensure no individual is left behind on the path to greater wellbeing.

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its vast impact illustrated by 770 million confirmed cases and 6.9 million deaths as of September 21, 2023, has exposed a critical challenge: the infodemic. Effective communication and health literacy are pivotal in addressing this crisis. This article emphasizes the urgency of combating health misinformation, highlighting its tangible impact on public health and social well-being. Trustworthy sources, especially government agencies and public health officials, played a central role in shaping public behavior. Clear, accurate, and consistent messaging became vital. Health literacy, a fundamental determinant of pandemic response, empowered individuals to understand and act upon health information. Approximately 36% of adults exhibited basic or below-basic health literacy skills, emphasizing its crucial role. Improving health literacy emerged as a strategic imperative, enabling informed choices and proactive health protection. The pandemic underscores the vital role of effective communication and health literacy in combating health misinformation, fostering informed decision-making, and safeguarding public health.

Background: In the era of new normal life after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), our children are experiencing the double threat of COVID-19 and Childhood Obesity (CO-BESITY). The rate of childhood obesity has been rapidly increasing in developed as well as low middle-income countries during the pandemic. Design and Methods: The current paper aims to identify the probable reasons of increase in childhood obesity during this pandemic and offers suggestions to reduce the burden of it. Literature search was done using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for the key terms “childhood obesity,” “obesity,” “pandemic,” and/or childhood obesity. All the relevant articles were included to support the argument for this viewpoint. Results: Childhood obesity is a complicated disorder having diverse outcomes. The incidence of childhood obesity is analysed from Bronfenbrenner's model of child development. The model examines an overabundance of bio-psycho-social backgrounds, risks, and probable outcomes on the development of a child. COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the ecosystem of this dynamic model and has created an economic and social-cultural crisis that has ignited a chain reaction of stressors upon children and their families. In this paper, we have described how this Bronfenbrenner's model of child development also known as the Bioecological Model can be effective for the estimation and prevention of childhood obesity. Conclusion: We propose that this Bioecological Model will help the children and their families further understand and manage the problem of childhood obesity during this pandemic on their own.