• On 6th February, 2023 when two powerful earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, 3 truck load of relief materials were arranged at Hindon airbase consisting of life saving emergency medicines and protective items within 12 hours. 

• The consignment consisted of 5,945-ton emergency relief material which included 27 life-saving medicines, two kinds of protective items and three categories of critical care equipments, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore. 

• The consignment for Syria consisted of 72 critical care drugs, consumables and protective items of 7.3 tons, valued at Rs 1.4 crore. Relief materials sent for Turkey included 14 types of medical and critical care equipments, valued at Rs 4 crore.

Published on :

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• Use of mercury in skin lightening products is a serious public health issue requiring urgent attention. Limit of mercury in these products has been set at 1mg/1kg (1ppm) by Minamata Convention on Mercury. 

• Test of skin products from 22 countries have found that approximately 10% of these products exceeded limits of which many contained mercury around 100 times more than the approved amount. 

• The 14-million US$, "Eliminating mercury skin lightening products" project, led by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), with support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), brings Gabon, Jamaica and Sri Lanka together with an aim to enable policies towards best practices in cosmetic sector and phasing out mercury in skin products.

Published on :

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• The Lancet Global Health has published the first global study to provide estimates of the number of new cases of preventable NCDs, and associated public healthcare costs that would occur from 2020 to 2030, that could be prevented if levels of physical inactivity are reduced or eliminated. 

• The research findings estimated 499.2 million new cases of preventable major NCDs to occur globally by 2030, and put the global cost of inaction on physical activity at $47.6 billion per year. 

• Although 74% of estimated cases occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a larger portion of the economic cost (63%) would fall on high-income countries. 

• A population-attributable fraction formula was applied to outcomes of diseases such as cancers, stroke, hypertension, type-2 diabetes, dementia and depression. 

Published on :

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• “Swastha Mann, Swastha Ghar” is a year-long campaign from November 2022 to October 2023. It will promote the theme of Health and Wellness to commemorate the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. 

• As part of the ongoing campaign, Health Melas will be organized on 14th of every month in 1.56 lakh Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) across the country. 

• Activities like Yoga, Zumba, Teleconsultation, Nikshay Poshan Abhiyan, Non-Communicable Diseases screening and Drug Distribution, Sickle Cell Disease screening will be undertaken as part of these countrywide health melas. 

• This is in line with the new National Health Policy, 2017 which focuses on preventive and promotive healthcare, and the Fit India Movement, 2019.

Published on :

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

The Government has taken several steps to combat pollution in the country, which include:

1. Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards

2. Notification of Emission standards for industrial sectors from time to time

3. Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality Introduction of cleaner / alternate fuels like gaseous fuel (CNG, LPG etc.)

4. Launching of National Air Quality index

5. Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI fuel standards. 

Notifications of waste management rules/regulations which were issued include:

1. Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

2. E-Waste Management Rules, 2022

3. Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

4. Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016

5. Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016

6. Utilization of Ash from Coal and Lignite based Thermal Power Plant 2021.

Published on :

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• As per Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002, every physician should prescribe drugs with generic names legibly and preferably in capital letters. 

• The National Medical Commission Act, 2019, empowers the State Medical Councils/ Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Commission to take disciplinary action against a doctor for violation of the aforesaid Regulations. 

• To promote generic medicines at affordable prices, as on 31.12.2022, about 9,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) have been set up across the country. 

• Department of Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) has a mobile application named Janaushadhi Sugam, which assists users to locate nearby PMBJK, search Janaushadhi medicines, telephone numbers, etc. 

• Jan Aushadhi Diwas is celebrated every year on 7 March for further dissemination and spreading awareness about the Scheme.

Published on :

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

• Special pan India enforcement drives were conducted in months of July, October, November and December, 2022 by the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees to implement ban on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags having thickness less than one hundred twenty microns (effective from 1st July 2022). 

• For effective monitoring of the same, the following online platforms are operational:

1. National Dashboard for monitoring of comprehensive action plan implementation.

2. CPCB Monitoring Module for Compliance on Elimination of Single Use Plastic.

3. CPCB Grievance Redressal mobile application.

Published on :

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

• With an aim to make India the Global hub of "Shree Anna",  the year 2023 being the International year of Millets, India is planning to launch Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA). 

• Food security and nutrition being the top priority in agriculture at the G20 summit, MIIRA will aim to support research on millet crops and to connect millet research organizations across the world. 

• India will contribute the “seed money” while each G20 member will have to contribute to its budget in the form of a membership fee.

Published on :

Monday, February 13, 2023

• The Union government will be borrowing ₹13,879 crore from international agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency to strengthen health infrastructure. 

• The World Bank has approved ₹8,243 crore IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) loans for Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM). 

• The mission focuses on filling the infrastructure gaps by construction of rural and urban Health and Wellness Centres, Block Public Health Units and Integrated Public Health Labs in all districts.

Published on :

Saturday, February 11, 2023

• In an incident that took place at an oil mill in Andhra Pradesh, seven workers died of asphyxiation. One died while removing sludge from the edible oil tank whereas others died on attempting to rescue them. 

• A joint committee has been set up to conduct enquiry on the case. ₹ 25 lakh has been approved by the state government as compensation to the victim’s family members. The above incident raises questions on issues of occupational safety at the workplace and the consequences faced due to its lapses.

Published on :

Friday, February 10, 2023

• Announced by Former US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in partnership with Self Employed Women’s Association in Gujarat on February 5th 2023.  

• SEWA (founded by Elaben Bhatt, has 25 lakh women workers in informal sector as members, in 18 states) will work to tackle challenges of rising heat due to climate change. 

• This was done to advance the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) commitments made in 2022 to address critical global challenges like climate resilience, global health equity, inclusive economic growth and the global refugee crisis. 

• The CGI, Rockefeller Resilience Centre, Desai Foundation, the AI Gore Foundation, Council for Inclusive Capitalism and the American India Foundation will work with SEWA to address this challenge.

Published on :

Monday, February 6, 2023

• Delhi cabinet is likely to outsource the operation and management of 70 mechanical road sweepers, 210 water sprinklers, 250 integrated water sprinklers-cum-anti-smog guns for a project aimed at reducing air pollution costing ₹ 2000 crore. 

• The above three are more effective than manual sweeping in reducing air pollution. Anti-smog guns will be mounted on trucks fitted with water tanks spraying Treated sewage water. 

Published on :

Monday, February 6, 2023