The Ayushman Bhav campaign was launched on September 13, 2023, to ensure last-mile delivery of services. 

This campaign was initiated to saturate every town/village with select healthcare services. 

The campaign components consist of: 

As of December 2023, the status of the campaign is as follows: 

The Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) Karmayogi Platform is the core of Mission Karmayogi.  

It is an online learning tool used to aid and guide government officials during capacity building.

Currently, 27 lakh+ users are registered under this and have access to over 818 courses. 

On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the portal launched a new accessibility widget.  

This initiative aligns with the platform’s commitment to create an equitable experience for all.   

The widget provides services that will ensure inclusiveness, such as: 

This is a step forward for PwD learners to navigate through the courses easily.

Over the last three years, the country has grappled with a rising stray dog menace.

There have been approximately six dog bites every minute.

As per the WHO Association for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI)-2004 study, India contributes 36% to global rabies deaths, earning the title of "Rabies Capital.”

Recent data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reveals 24.7 lakh dog bite incidents between January and October 2023.

Despite sporadic reports, data indicates a reduction in dog attacks since 2018.

In 2018, 75 lakh dog bite cases were reported, decreasing to over 72 lakh and 46 lakh in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

However, the number of dog bites per day has been increasing since 2021.

The government launched the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination in 2021 to address this concern.

Road traffic accidents continue to be the major cause of death among children and young adults aged 5 to 29.  

Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists account for more than half of all deaths, particularly in poor and middle-income nations.  

The Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, published this month presents a review of progress from 2010 to 2021.

It establishes the foundation for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 goal of lowering road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030.

This report reveals that the number of road traffic deaths has decreased marginally to 1.19 million per year, indicating that measures to improve road safety are having an effect.

However, the cost of mobility remains much too high, and immediate action is required if the objective of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030 is to be met.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the COVID-19 variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest due to its rapid spread, distinct from the parent lineage BA.2.86.

The global public health risk associated with JN.1 is currently considered low, but as winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, it could contribute to an increased burden of respiratory infections.

Despite this, current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death caused by JN.1 and other SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The WHO emphasizes the importance of preventive measures, including wearing masks, improving ventilation, practising respiratory etiquette, regular hand hygiene, vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza, staying home when sick, and getting tested for symptoms or exposure.

Health workers are advised to use universal masking in health facilities and appropriate personal protective equipment when caring for COVID-19 patients. The WHO will continue to monitor and update risk evaluations as needed.

Currently, some countries with the largest number of cases of the JN.1 variant are France, USA, Singapore, Canada and UK.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stresses the central role of health in national climate strategies ahead of Conference of Parties 28(COP28), emphasising the inseparable connection between climate change and human well-being.

WHO's "2023 review of health in nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies" highlights progress, with 91% of available NDCs now incorporating health considerations.

However, critical gaps persist, notably in addressing air pollution, as only 16% of NDCs set explicit targets for its reduction.

Health-specific climate action remains underfunded, with a mere 2% of adaptation funding allocated to projects safeguarding human health.

WHO urges increased multilateral climate financing for health initiatives and spearheads a dedicated Health day at COP-28 on December 3, 2023, emphasising the urgent need for global health-focused climate action at all levels.

At Conference of Parties 28(COP28), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the global health community spotlight the critical intersection of climate and health, advocating for swift action.

Amid escalating extreme weather events globally, the WHO calls on leaders to prioritise health in climate discussions, emphasising the foundational role of resilient health systems.

As climate change intensifies infectious diseases, urgent measures are imperative, including reducing emissions, greening the health sector, and boosting financing for climate-resilient health systems.

COP28 serves as a pivotal moment for a commitment to a healthier planet, recognizing the inseparable link between climate action and global health.

The legacy sought is a tangible move towards a sustainable and healthier future, solidifying the role of health in the climate change agenda.

In Sweden, University of Gothenburg researchers led an observational evaluation of the efficacy of primary COVID-19 vaccination (two doses followed by a booster) against long COVID among adults.

Of all participants vaccinated before infection, compared with the unvaccinated peers, a nearly four-fold difference was noticed(0.4% vs 1.4%).

In another study conducted in Pakistan, Aga Khan University researchers analyzed rates of persistent symptoms among 481 COVID-19-infected adults admitted to the university hospital from February to June 2021, with telephonic follow-up at 1 year.

Overall, 29.9% of patients had symptoms of long-term COVID-19, which were more common in those with severe or critical illness (35.5%) and the unvaccinated (37.9%).

The rising cases of COVID-19 in some states prompted the Health Minister to chair a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in India.

The health minister called on all states to enhance vigilance, maintain adequate supplies, and conduct regular mock drills.

India witnessed a steep rise in COVID cases, from 115 to 614 in two weeks.

Most cases ( 92.8%) remain mild, with no substantial increase in hospitalizations.

Certain states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Karnataka show heightened daily positivity rates.

A case of 𝐉𝐍.𝟏 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝟏𝟗 has been detected in Kerala and is under scrutiny, with no immediate concern.

Urgent directives have been issued to all states to remain prepared against new and emerging strains of the COVID-19 virus.

Emphasizing the need for collective efforts between the Centre and the states, he urged the states to ramp up testing and surveillance.