The Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched, the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra' aiming to cover every gram panchayat in the country.

Around 1800 beneficiaries share their stories under "Meri Kahani Meri Zubani (MKMZ)" initiative highlighting the role of Anganwadi Services on their lives.

The yatra educates the public about various schemes, encouraging eligible individuals to sign-up. Swasth Balak Spardha (SBS) is promoted during the yatra, celebrating healthy children to address nutrition issues positively.

Special curated IEC Vans publicized information on government schemes in local languages. 

The Anganwadi Services, initiated in 1975, target children (0-6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls with the target to curb malnutrition and its impact on mortality.

Mission Poshan 2.0 and Saksham Anganwadi, works towards malnutrition issues with strategies like ICT applications, convergence, community mobilization, and incentives.

The Cambodian Health Ministry Reported two cases of avian influenza in Kampot Province in late November, from the same village (but most likely no human-to-human transmission).

The first case, a 21-year old woman died while the second case, a 4-year old girl is being treated at the hospital. 

Genetic sequencing suggested that the older Asian clade - 2.3.2.1c, which has been circulating in the country’s poultry 2013-14 for over a decade is similar the present one spreading globally in wild birds and poultry and it's highly pathogenic.

The ministry launched an investigation to look for more cases, distribute oseltamivir to people at risk.

An International study undertaken by the Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, focused on the impact of four risk factors on mortality and Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to cancer across seven countries. 

The study found the following YLL from cancers: 

The study also demonstrated the disparities in YLL among countries, reflecting the differences in risk factors and cancer deaths in their population. 

The study underscores the importance of primary prevention of cancer as a key to reducing cancer mortality as well as its societal implications.

Around 𝟯𝟯𝟭,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗛𝗢-𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 M𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 V𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗥𝗧𝗦,𝗦 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗻 and an additional 1.7 million doses will be delivered to Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger and Sierra Leone.

Supported by 𝙂𝙖𝙫𝙞, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙑𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, these countries will start routine immunization from 1st quarter of 2024. 

The GSK-manufactured RTS,S vaccine follows a 4-dose schedule, which act against P. falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa.

Meanwhile, the 𝗥𝟮𝟭 vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India is under review by WHO for prequalification which is expected to be available in mid 2024.

WHO released new guidelines for the use of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and called for countries to consider this safe and highly effective prevention option for people at substantial risk of HIV infection.

CAB-LA is an intramuscular injectable, long-acting form of PrEP, with the first 2 injections administered 4 weeks apart, followed thereafter by an injection every 8 weeks.

It has been found that use of CAB-LA resulted in a 79% relative reduction in HIV risk compared with oral PrEP, where adherence to taking daily oral medication was often a challenge.

This new CAB-LA guidelines are based on a public health approach that considers effectiveness, acceptability, feasibility and resource needs across a variety of settings.

WHO and UN partners released the inaugural UN Decade of Healthy Ageing Progress Report 2021-30. 

The report featured a survey of 136 countries between late 2022 and early 2023 that over 20% improvements in various areas, including legislation against ageism and national programs for age-friendly communities.

Despite progress, less than one-third of countries reported sufficient resources for the decade's four key areas, such as 

National multistakeholder forums on ageing and health saw limited growth, with low and middle-income countries facing challenges despite projecting an 80% elderly population by 2050.

Dr. Tedros emphasized the need for increased political commitment, investment, trained healthcare workers, and involvement of older individuals in decisions with subsequent progress reports in 2026 and a final impact report in 2029.

The Union Health Ministry recently directed the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres to be renamed 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir' with the motto 'Arogyam Parmam Dhanam' (health is the greatest wealth).  

Following this there is news the National Medical Commission (NMC) joined the revamping drive this week by changing its logo to include a color picture of 'Dhanvantari' and the term 'Bharat' above it.

The doctor's community and the majority of public have criticized the needless move, senior officials at NMC maintain that the only change that has happened is that the black and white logo is now colored. 

The Indian Medical Association, Kerala chapter has stressed that Dhanvantari is a god of Hindu religion and so should not endorse it and have a secular symbol for health.

The ILO's latest report titled 'A Call for Safer and Healthier Working Environments,' stated that mining and quarrying, building, and utilities were the three most dangerous industries globally. 

ILO in its report reiterates that a strong and resilient National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) System based on social dialogue and involvement is a fundamental right to build a safe and healthy working environment. 

The report listed the top 10 reasons for occupational deaths wherein long working hours and toxic fumes and particles topped the list. 

The report stated that by 2016 there were twice the malignancies due to occupational chromium exposure than the year 2000 and asbestos exposure linked mesotheliomas has shot up by 40%. 

According to the ILO, 79 of the 187 member nations have accepted the International Labour Organization's Occupational Safety and Health Convention, while 62 have ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 but neither have been taken up by India. Now following the recent Uttarkashi tunnel incident, The Central Trade Unions had requested the Union government to ratify the ILO conventions.

The Union Cabinet, under the Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) has approved The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).  

India has Scheduled Tribe population of 10.45 crore as per the 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

Targeting the PVTG, the mission aims at improving their socioeconomic conditions using 11 interventions with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

An overall budget of ₹24104 crore is allocated for the mission, with specific cost norms for each activity.

Shenzhen's Metro station carbon coin initiative registered 14.6 million users, slashing 720,000 metric tons of emissions since August 2022.

Household carbon emission contribute over half of China's annual 10 billion metric tons of emissions, highlighting individual potential in emission cuts.

China's "Carbon Road for Everyone" promotes public transport usage, tree planting, and energy reduction among citizens in multiple initiatives.

Banks experiment with "personal carbon account" systems, the People's Bank of China's pilot "carbon to gold loan" in Quzhou, offering credit rating benefits.

A significant challenge with this initiative would be valuing CO2 reductions from various human behaviors like commuting, heating, or waste disposal.