Effects of air quality on the lives of informal workers in Delhi Effects of air quality on the lives of informal workers in Delhi Content Editor: Dr. KH Reddy January 27, 2024 Social Trends Air Quality, Climate Change, Air Pollution, Urban Health, Environmental Health 90% of the respondents reported feeling unwell every time the air quality took a dip. 65% of those surveyed knew measures to curb dust and air pollution on construction sites , but only 32% worked at sites where these measures were being taken. Almost all (95%) of the workers feared losing their livelihood if they took a stand for better air quality. 40% of the respondents also strongly felt that the government shutting down construction sites was a constant cause of worry for them. Additionally, this population also faces issues like water pollution, toxic substance exposure from ragpicking, and poisonous gases from garbage burning. The study concluded that better measures have to be taken to curb pollution that will not raise job uncertainty among informal workers. The organizations emphasized on: Awareness campaigns for people living in informal settlements. Skill development workshops for ragpickers as an alternative income source.

03. National Bioenergy Programme - Union govt allocates total budget outlay of Rs 1715 Crores 03. National Bioenergy Programme - Union govt allocates total budget outlay of Rs 1715 Crores December 21, 2022 Press Information Bureau Environment & Climate Change The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has notified the National Bioenergy Programme on 2nd November, 2022. This programme has a provision of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for various components related to Power generation, Biogas/BioCNG generation and Briquette/Pellet manufacturing, wherein Biomass is one of the major feedstock material, which primarily shall be sourced from rural areas. The following components are proposed under the following components: Waste to Energy Programme Biomass Programme Biogas programme

Public Health Daily News Snippets WHO Bulletin Releases Special Edition on Traditional Medicine Ahead of Global Summit The WHO Bulletin published its first special issue on traditional medicine since 1977, featuring research and policy analyses. This release precedes the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine scheduled for December 2025 in New Delhi. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health, Traditional Medicine Integration Read More Global Summit in Geneva Intensified Efforts to Curb Toxic Mercury Pollution A major international conference was held in Geneva from 3rd to 7th November 2025 to strengthen the global fight against mercury pollution . Delegates collaborated to accelerate the phase-out of this toxic metal from products and industrial processes, aiming to protect human health and the environment. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : United Nations Environmental Health, International Policy Read More Fitness & Nation-Building: Insights from the National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 The first-ever National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 in Mumbai brought together policymakers, athletes, and industry leaders to reaffirm one message: India’s progress towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 depends on how seriously we take fitness today. With icons from sports and cinema joining the conversation, the conclave highlighted fitness as both a cultural shift and a public health necessity. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fit India Movement, Physical Activity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Viksit Bharat Read More Global Evidence Review of the Inequality- Pandemic Cycle: UNAIDS report The UNAIDS established the “Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemic ” in 2023. Its report “Breaking the inequality-pandemic cycle ” released in November 2025 is based on evidence from more than 1500 peer-reviewed literature and reports from government agencies and research institutions across multiple pandemics and its own empirical studies over the past 2 years. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2025 Pandemic preparedness, Social inequality, Global Health Read More Decomposition Analysis of Factors Driving Global Maternal Mortality Reduction A new Lancet Global Health paper highlights evidence that combining family planning with quality maternity services has driven a 41% global decline in maternal deaths since 2000. The study shows how contraception alone prevented more than 77,000 maternal deaths in 2023. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : The Lancet Global Health Maternal Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health, Gender Equality, Family Planning, Declining Global Maternal Mortality Read More Delhi’s Air Quality Sees Noticeable Improvement: CAQM 2025 Report The 2025 update from the C ommission for A ir Q uality M anagement (CAQM ) highlights significant enhancements in Delhi's air quality and a marked reduction in stubble-burning incidents in nearby states. The report offers data-backed evidence of collaborative efforts to reduce pollution through the use of cleaner fuels, improved waste management, and more stringent regulatory measures. Published on : Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Air Pollution, Environmental Health, Public Health Policy Read More Genomic Collaboration for a Safer Future: India and Italy Unite for Pandemic Preparedness The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) round table in New Delhi emphasized the power of genomic research and collaboration in strengthening pandemic preparedness. Experts called for sustained global surveillance and rapid translation of genomic data to safeguard public health. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Genomic Surveillance, Pandemic Readiness Read More WHO Unveils Global Agenda to Strengthen Paediatric Clinical Trials The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global research agenda to close gaps in evidence on child health. It prioritizes equitable, high-impact paediatric trials to ensure that treatments for children are safe, effective, and grounded in sound science. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Health Research, Pediatric Health, Clinical Trials Read More WHO refutes Tylenol-Autism Link: Urges Evidence-Based Care A statement by the current US President, which linked Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, prompted an immediate response from the World Health Organization. The WHO clarified that no scientific evidence supports this claim and urged reliance on medical guidance. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Maternal and Child Health, Health Communication, Global Health Governance Read More 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Climate Change and Health Impacts of climate inaction have led to a 23% increase in heat-related deaths since the 1990s. Food insecurity affected 124 million more people due to extreme weather in 2023, with losses reaching $1.35 trillion. Addressing climate change has prevented 160,000 premature deaths from coal pollution and supported 16 million jobs in renewable energy. With COP30 ahead, WHO, along with member states, plans to emphasize climate action and a swift transition away from fossil fuels. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Climate change, food insecurity, Sustainability Read More WHO Introduces New Global Framework to Enhance National Health Emergency Response The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global guide, the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, to bolster countries' readiness for health crises. Developed from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a standardized approach for managing emergencies. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health Security, Emergency Preparedness Read More Training Modules to Strengthen Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Response in India The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced three specialized training modules to enhance India’s capacity for managing chemical emergencies. This initiative aims to build a skilled, coordinated response system across healthcare and disaster management sectors. 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A 3-day workshop to boost the completion of ABDM integration Content Editor: Akhila Nandan August 24, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Health insurance, Ayushmann Bharath, Universal Health Coverage In order to boost the completion of ABDM integration, NHA and IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) organized a 3-day workshop from August 10 to 12 in New Delhi, which witnessed over 150 participants. This workshop was also conducted to enhance the Health Claims Exchange (HCX) specifications and e-claim standards for insurance companies and Third-Party Administrators As per the orders of IRDAI, all insurance companies are supposed to collect the ABHA numbers so as to ensure an affordable healthcare environment for the common man. It has also advised to join the National HCX, which will provide information regarding insurers, TPAs, claimants, etc. NHA and CDAC, Pune, provided technical assistance to help them achieve their goals. This intervention is believed to drink from the nectar of partnership and teamwork to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem. Click to read more Previous Next

Nobel prize winners 2023 unveiled Nobel prize winners 2023 unveiled Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti October 18, 2023 The Nobel Prize Global Health, Vaccinology Biochemist Katalin Karikó and immunologist Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology this year. They received it for their contribution to mRNA vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karikó worked towards introducing in-vitro mRNA in clinical practice or therapy, while Weissman researched the importance of dendritic cells in immune surveillance. Their efforts together led to the development of base-modified mRNA. The base modification resulted in: Reduced inflammatory responses Increased protein production. Their pioneering research was published in 2005, following which mRNA vaccines were developed against diseases such as: The Zika virus MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2

Tracking mental health indicators: An IIT Jodhpur Study Content Editor: Dr Tanya Tanu Mental Health, Universal Health Coverage The secondary data analysis conducted by IIT Jodhpur based on the mental health parameters extracted from the NSS data has the following main findings: Self-reporting of mental disorders is 1.73 times higher among the richest as compared to the poorest in India Only 23 % of the patients hospitalized for mental disorders had health insurance coverage at the national level. The private sector is the major mental health provider , accounting for 66.1 % of outpatient care and 59.2 % of inpatient care. The average out-of-pocket expenditure for hospitalization and outpatient care was significantly higher in the private sector than in the public sector. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the local sociodemographic context while designing strategies to reduce the disease burden of mental disorders. Read more Previous Next

National Task force to study mental health among medical students Content Editor: Dr. Immanual Joshua March 5, 2024 at 1:30:00 PM Mental health, Suicide, Depression The task force has been asked to suggest evidence-based strategies for ensuring mental health among medical students after reviewing the existing literature. It has been asked to study the existing literature and submit a comprehensive report outlining key findings and actionable recommendations for promoting the mental health of medical students by 31st May 2024. The committees will visit such institutes and colleges where previous cases of suicides have been reported. The task force will convene regular meetings and ensure the timely generation of the report. Click here to read more Previous Next

Long-acting cabotegravir for HIV prevention : WHO recommendation Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy December 7, 2023 at 3:21:52 PM AIDS, WHO, Infectious diseases 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. Previous Next

Innovative Mango-flavored Tablet Shows Promise in Combating Intestinal Worm Infections Innovative Mango-flavored Tablet Shows Promise in Combating Intestinal Worm Infections Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay January 28, 2025 Lancet Randomised Control Trial, Infectious Disease, New Drug, International Health News A randomized trial published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases revealed that a mango-flavored tablet combining ivermectin and albendazole is more effective against soil-transmitted helminth (STH ) infections, especially Trichuris trichiura (whipworm), than albendazole alone. The study, involving 1,001 children in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mozambique, showed cure rates of 97.2% for a three-dose regimen (FDCx3) and 82.9% for a single dose (FDCx1) , compared to 35.9% for albendazole alone . The treatment was safe, with mild gastrointestinal side effects resolving within 48 hours, and was well-accepted by children for its taste, smell, and texture. The fixed-dose combination (FDC ) also holds promise for treating Strongyloides stercoralis , which is resistant to albendazole but responsive to ivermectin. Researchers believe this FDC could enhance STH control efforts, supporting mass de-worming programs and individual treatments, potentially redefining global elimination goals. Further studies are planned to evaluate its broader implementation in endemic regions Click here to read more.

Policies on Decriminalization of Small Usage Drug Addicts in Punjab Content Editor: Sumana mukhopadhyay July 17, 2023 at 12:05:15 PM Substance abuse , deaddiction, Rehabilitation, Legislation The government has decided to focus on a new integrative and multidirectional regulation regarding decriminalising drug use and paying attention to the addicts for proper patient care to achieve CM Bhagwat Mann’s “Rangla Punjab” dream. Drug use is still condemned legally. The emphasis will be : to detect addicts using small amounts and enable deaddiction. putting them up for rehabilitation and skills development instead of punishment. strong penalties for smugglers and dealers . Discussions have happened between various ministries and departments to collaborate and plan for providing services. Previous Next