• Childhood obesity and overweight are pressing global concerns, with Australia witnessing a 24% prevalence among children recently.

• Fetal malnutrition is linked to later obesity risk, influenced by prenatal and postnatal environments.

• A secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) dataset was conducted to identify modifiable risk factors, like maternal dietary habits during pregnancy.

• BMI z-score and weight status were outcome variables, while prenatal maternal dietary exclusion (PMDE) and supplement use were risk and moderator variables.

1. No direct association was found between PMDE and the child's BMI z-score.

2. PMDE of certain foods had varied effects on weight status, with fish and egg exclusion associated with higher odds of unhealthy weight.

3. Prenatal dietary supplement use, especially folate and iron, moderated some associations, often increasing BMI z-scores and overweight/obesity risk.

4. Dietary supplements alone didn't significantly impact childhood obesity risk, potentially depending on the mother’s overall diet.

• These findings stress the importance of maternal nutrition during pregnancy and suggest possible adjustments to dietary recommendations for better child health outcomes.

Click here to read more

• Data from the World Bank climate database “Climatic Research Unit Gridded Time Series” and the “Global Burden of Disease Study” were analyzed to estimate the burden of stroke globally and its association with different climate conditions.

• The study found that more than 5 lakh deaths and 9 million DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) due to stroke were attributable to non-optimal temperature exposure.

• The age-standardized mortality rate was found to be higher in men (ASMR -7.70) compared to women (ASMR - 5.89).

• Central Asia has the highest-burden at a regional level.

• The stroke burden due to low temperatures was more prevalent than high temperatures, but the burden of higher temperatures has increased over the years with disproportionate effects on the lower socio-demographic index areas of Africa, and Central Asia.

• The study draws attention to the impact of climate change on stroke and the need for policy actions towards it.

• World Meteorological Day is celebrated each year on March 23rd to commemorate the origin of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

• In India, the School of Naval Oceanology & Meteorology (SNOM) and Indian Naval Meteorological Analysis Centre (INMAC) celebrated the day with a seminar on ‘At the Frontline of Climate Action’.

• Admiral R.R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, commented on the harsh reality of climate change and the need to work together globally for 'Achieving a Climate Smart Society'.

• He also shared the Navy’s commitment to adopting long-term sustainable policies and integrating climate change factors into security techniques.

• There was also a panel discussion on the ‘Effect of Weather and Climate Change on Naval Operations’ by those specializing in the field.

• An Indian-made application, INDRA (Indian Naval Dynamic Resource for Weather Analysis), was launched to help in rapid and precise weather forecasting for Navy operations.

• The 2nd EWG meeting encompassed discussions on:

1. Promotion of quality employment

2. Addressing smooth transition amidst digital and energy transformations.

3. Utilization of technology to improve quality of life

4. Emphasizing gender equity

• The Government of India took the following steps to promote gender equity in the workplace:

1.  Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: allows women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work with their consent at night. This provision has already been implemented in underground mines. 

2. The Revised Maternity Benefit Act, 2017:increased' maternity leave with pay protection' from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among working mothers.

3. One Nation, One Ration Card: allows migrants to access their entitled food grains from anywhere in the Public Distribution System network in the country.

4. e-Shram portal: launched to create a national database of unorganized workers, especially migrant and construction workers. This initiative, providing the e-Shram card, enables access to benefits under various social security schemes.

Click here to read more

• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nakrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 introduced three new criminal laws, which will be effective from July 1, 2024.

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 replaces the Indian Penal Code 1860, necessitating awareness among healthcare practitioners to avoid medicolegal issues.

• The new criminal laws are currently being communicated to all states and Union Territories.

• States and Union Territories are urged to conduct awareness campaigns to effectively communicate the key provisions of the three new criminal laws concerning medicolegal cases to all medical practitioners across clinical establishments within their jurisdiction.

• Previously, IPC 304A addressed negligent acts resulting in death, punishable by up to 2 years in prison.

• IPC 336 and 337 covered acts endangering human life or safety, carrying penalties of up to 2 and 6 months of imprisonment, respectively.

• IPC 338 dealt with causing harm due to negligence, with penalties of up to 6 months of imprisonment.

• However, revisions under the new laws have altered these penalties.

• Under the new Act, Section 106 addresses causing death by negligence, extending the punishment to 5 years with fines, particularly emphasizing a 2-year imprisonment for registered medical practitioners.

• Retaining the punishment of Section 304A for doctors, the new law extends liability to 5 years for others.

• In a mission to combat climate change, the CJI, Dr. D.Y.Chandrachud, discussed the following in his recent judgment on the protection of Endangered Species:-

1. The rising poor air quality associated with fossil fuels and reducing reliance on them will bring down greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Increasing energy security by harnessing solar photovoltaic power in the Indian peninsula, with emphasis on regions positioned as prime areas such as Gujarat and Rajasthan (4-7 kWh per sq m per day).

• Multiple initiatives taken by the country are as follows:

1. ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’

2. Green Grids Initiative

3. International Solar Alliance (COP21, Paris 2015), plans to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070.

• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) states India has the 4th largest installed capacity of renewable energy.

• The National Action Plan on Climate Change includes the National Solar Mission as a key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels by at least 50%.

Click here to read more

• The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) mentioned in its epidemiological outbreak report mentioned cases of avian influenza.

• They also emphasized the need to establish measures for prevention and response to curtail the spread. 

• An outbreak of cases was seen in Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, the Falkland Islands, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.

• The report was published at the end of March 2024 and emphasized the need for:

1. Intersectoral coordination to promote epidemiological and virological investigations

2. Preparedness for emergencies and especially for the pandemic potential of the outbreak

3. Delegation of teams for Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCE) and collecting relevant information to look for patterns

4. Public messaging and social communication for preventive behavior change

5. Surveillance of Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and Influenza Syndrome (ILI)

Click here to read more

• Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) 2013 categorize drugs into scheduled and non-scheduled formulations.

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) annually revises the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

• Recent media reports falsely claimed a significant 12% hike in medicine prices starting in April 2024.

• However, for 2023, WPI (Wholesale Price Index) increased by a negligible 0.00551%, resulting in no change in ceiling prices for 782 medicines up to 31.3.2025.

• Fifty-four medicines may see a small hike of Rs. 0.01, but companies may choose not to implement it.

• Manufacturers of non-scheduled formulations cannot increase MRP by more than 10% in the preceding 12 months under DPCO 2013.

Click here to read more

• The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, leads efforts to reduce drug demand through the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), providing financial aid to states, NGOs, and hospitals.

• NAPDDR supports various initiatives, including:

1. Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs),

2. Community-based Peer-led Intervention (CPLI) programs,

3. Outreach and Drop-In Centers (ODICs),

4. Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs),

5. District De-Addiction Centers (DDACs).

• Activities include-

1. Geo-tagging facilities for easy access,

2. A toll-free helpline (14446) for counseling and referral purposes, and

3. The development of Navchetna modules for education.

• The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched in 2020, aims to raise awareness across all districts, targeting educational institutions, vulnerable populations, and service providers.

• Achievements include sensitizing over 10.73 crore people, involving 3.29 lakh educational institutions, and training over 8,000 Master Volunteers (MVs).

• Partnerships with spiritual/social service organizations further support NMBA's goals, with recent initiatives enhancing its impact.

• Outreach efforts, including social media campaigns, a mobile application, and a national online pledge, have successfully relayed the message.

Click here to read more

• The Union health minister stressed the importance of continuity in IEC efforts to prevent and better manage heat-related illnesses.

• Dr Mandaviya also remarked on the lack of requisite data and the need to create a central database recording heat wave pattern distribution, and cases of heat-related illnesses and deaths.

• This will thus help policymakers create a realistic picture of the health situation to manage.

• States and district-level authorities were asked to take the following steps to ensure adequate management:

1. Implement SOPs for Heatstroke

2. Surveillance

3. Re-evaluate local-level preparedness, stock of essential medicines, ice packs, and ORS sachets at public health facilities.

Click here to read more.

• While Boreal pox was first identified in Fairbanks Alaska, the Department of Health of Alaska wanted the terminology of the virus to reflect the scope of identification outside of Alaska.

• Hence, after coordination with the CDC and WHO, from April 2024, Alaska pox will be referred to by its new name, Boreal Pox.

• The first six cases were from Fairbanks itself, while the latest was reported this year from the Kenai region of Alaska.

• No human-to-human transmission has been observed with Boreal pox but epidemiologists report that canine and feline pets may have a role in its transmission.

• Symptoms of this infection include skin lesions like pustules, swollen lymph nodes, and joint/muscle pain.

Click here to read more.

• ZTCC (Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre) was set up in Mumbai by the state government in 1999, which promotes brain-dead donor donations and coordinates the distribution of deceased donors between various hospitals.

• So far, there have been 659 brain-dead donors who have benefitted 1884 patients in Mumbai.

• However, a 24-year review of cadaver or deceased organ donations in Mumbai shows that only 10% of those registered (18,226 patients) for a transplant could get an organ.

• Almost 70% of them needed a kidney.

• ZTCC advises people to have a signed donor card.

• It also concluded that cadaveric donations can be increased by having new regulations and the appointment of transplant coordinators.

Click here to read more