Triple threat of water-related crises is endangering the lives of 190 million children - UNICEF Triple threat of water-related crises is endangering the lives of 190 million children - UNICEF Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal March 23, 2023 UNICEF News Section Environment, Sanitation, Global health According to a recent UNICEF assessment, 190 million children in ten African countries are most at risk from the combination of three water-related threats : insufficient water , sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) ; related illnesses ; and climate dangers . The global analysis done by UNICEF identifies the greatest threats to children and the areas in which remedies are desperately required to avert needless deaths. Across these 10 countries, nearly one-third of children do not have access to at least basic water at home , and two-thirds do not have basic sanitation services. A quarter of children have no choice but to practice open defecation . Three-quarters of children cannot wash their hands because of a lack of water and soap at home.

India Ageing Report 2023: Challenges and government initiatives for elderly welfare India Ageing Report 2023: Challenges and government initiatives for elderly welfare Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet March 13, 2024 Press Information Bureau Geriatric Health, Elderly care, Social scheme The "India Ageing Report 2023" by UNFPA and IIPS sheds light on critical issues facing senior citizens in India. Challenges include digital adoption, mental health stigma, and increased caregiving burden due to the aging population. Despite efforts by corporations and NGOs, poverty, lack of social security, and health disparities persist. The Government addressed these issues through constitutional provisions, laws like the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act , policies such as the National Policy on Older Persons , and various schemes like Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana . Collaboration with NGOs, training centers, and private sector CSR initiatives will further strengthen elder care efforts.

Hub & Spoke Model: A proposal to combat the rising cancer cases Content Editor: Dr. Tanya Tanu January 23, 2024 at 3:30:00 PM Hub & Spoke Model, Cancer, Non-Communicable Diseases, Universal Health Coverage The Hub and Spoke model has been proposed to distribute cancer care centers across India to improve accessibility and healthcare delivery. The Hub and Spoke model envisages a network of- Primary and secondary treatment centers will act as “spokes” where routine checkups, follow-ups, and supportive care can be provided; Tertiary centers will act as “hubs” for advanced care with a multidisciplinary team. This will curb the financial and logistical challenges involved in traveling large distances to seek healthcare facilities . In its proposal to the central government, the TMH considered: 30 to 40 hubs with specialised facilities to serve a population of five to six crore, Spokes to cater to approximately one crore population. Private institutes with advanced cancer care can also be introduced to further strengthen the model. Previous Next

02. Social Progress Index (SPI) for States and Districts released today - Puducherry tops the list February 12, 2023 at 3:33:37 PM National & Sub National Indictors Social Progress Index (SPI) for States and Districts made by the Institute for Competitiveness and Social Progress Imperative was submitted to Economic Advisory Council- Prime Minister. SPI is a comprehensive tool that can serve as a holistic measure of a country's social progress at the national and sub-national levels. The index assesses states and districts based on 12 components across three critical dimensions of social progress - Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. Previous Next

India’s Surveillance Systems on Alert Amid Global Respiratory Illness Trends India’s Surveillance Systems on Alert Amid Global Respiratory Illness Trends Content Editor: Dr. Subhana Siyad January 18, 2025 Press Information Bureau Respiratory Illness, Surveillance To address the growing number of respiratory disease cases in China, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW ) convened a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG ) meeting. The World Health Organisation (WHO) , Disaster Management Cell , Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) , National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) , and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) were among the organisations that sent experts to take part in the meeting. Following conclusions were drawn after the meeting: The surge in respiratory illnesses in China is linked to common seasonal pathogens like the Influenza virus, RSV, and HMPV, which are already circulating globally, including in India. India has a robust surveillance system in place for Influenza Like Illness (ILI ) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI ), which is not showing any concerning trends. As a precaution, the ICMR will increase HMPV testing . According to data from recent preparedness drills, India is prepared to deal with an increase in respiratory infections, and its health systems are alert to new threats.

Two decades of inactivity: A global analysis of adult physical activity trends Two decades of inactivity: A global analysis of adult physical activity trends Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal July 3, 2024 The Lancet Global health Physical inactivity, research findings, Lifestyle A new study published in The Lancet Global Health Journal analyzed data from 507 population surveys across 197 countries, revealing trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022. There were 5.7 million participants in the research. Major findings include: 1. Global inactivity rose from 23.4% in 2000 to 31.3% in 2022. 2. Over half (52%) of countries showed increasing inactivity. 3. Women were 5% more likely to be inactive than men. 4. Inactivity is significantly rising among those over 60. The study concluded that, at current trends, global targets for reducing inactivity by 2030 won't be met (except possibly in Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa). There is an urgent need to prioritize strategies that promote and encourage physical activity across all demographics. This necessitates collaborative efforts from policymakers, public health professionals, and community leaders to create environments that make physical activity accessible, attractive, and equitable for everyone, regardless of sex, age, or location. Click here to read more.

Defeating Malaria: 18 Million Doses of Life-Saving Vaccine Set to Soar Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma July 24, 2023 at 2:28:06 PM Malaria, Vaccination, Global Health, Primary prevention, Communicable diseases RTS, S/AS01, which has already been administered to 1.7 Million children, will be distributed throughout 12 African countries. Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Uganda will receive 18 million doses. The rollout is part of WHO's Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), which receives funding from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and Unitaid. RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix), is a lyophilized vaccine given intramuscularly to children older than 5 years in a four-dose regimen. Previous Next

First-Ever WHO Position Paper on RSV Immunization Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay June 20, 2025 at 6:09:29 PM International Health News, RSV Immunization WHO’s first-ever position paper on RSV immunization provides guidance for two preventive measures: a maternal vaccine (RSVpreF) and a long-acting monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) . RSV is responsible for around 0.1 million deaths and 3.6 million hospital admissions each year in under-5 children; nearly half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries where supportive care is limited. Maternal vaccine (RSVpreF): Administered during the third trimester, thereby sending protective antibodies to the fetus. It received WHO prequalification in March 2025 , allowing procurement by UN agencies. Monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab): Given as a single injection to newborns—ideally before hospital discharge or at the first postnatal visit—nirsevimab provides at least five months of protection, covering a typical RSV season. In areas with defined seasonality, infants up to 12 months can receive one dose before their first RSV season. WHO advises every country to introduce either the maternal vaccine or nirsevimab, based on health system capacity, cost-effectiveness, and expected coverage. WHO highlights that these immunization strategies can significantly reduce RSV-related hospitalizations and deaths. This position paper will guide policymakers, immunization program managers, and funding bodies on integrating RSV prevention into existing schedules. Previous Next

Update on the regulation of the Government and Private medical institutions in India Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy Medical education, Laws and Regulations In December 2022, under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act 2019, the Government of India established the Medical Assessment and Rating Boarding (MARD). The functions of the board included assessing and rating all medical institutions (Government and Private) regarding their compliance with the regulations laid down by the NMC. Similarly, in 2010, The National Council for Clinical Establishments was constituted under the Clinical Establishments (CE) Act. The council was responsible for the overall registration and regulation of Government (except the armed forces) and Private clinical establishments. Under this act, the CE is required to fulfill the minimum requirements of- Facilities and services Personnel Maintenance of records If the registration requirements are not met, it also allows for the cancellation of hospitals' registrations. Previous Next

Britain Unveils the World's largest Genome Project Britain Unveils the World's largest Genome Project Content Editor: Dr Himabindu Reddy December 11, 2023 Nature Public health, Genetics, 100k Genome Project, In 1996, Iceland's deCode genomics provided the first push for programs wishing to employ large-scale population genetic studies for precision medicine and public health. It also significantly influenced the standards by which researchers handle large-scale genomic data and initiated conferences on bioethical issues surrounding genomics. The success of deCODE, combined with the increased availability of sequencing technologies, brought about a slew of population-scale genome initiatives around the world, one such being the UK's '100k Genome project' whose results were nearly 20% actionable resulting in direct healthcare benefits for participants. In India, the IndiGen initiative provided insights into the context of many treatable genetic illnesses and also the effectiveness and toxicity profile of medications . The GenomeIndia effort is working on a broader endeavour to sequence 10,000 complete genomes from various demographic groupings.