Empowering women on track: Creating safe and brighter futures in Indian railways Empowering women on track: Creating safe and brighter futures in Indian railways Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay October 21, 2023 The Hindu Gender in health, Occupational health, Public Health The Ministry of Railways is planning to provide respite to women track maintainers and assistant loco pilots by taking account of their requests for a change in job category. This initiative follows persistent representations made by trade unions to emphasize the challenges encountered by women employees in these roles. The Railway Board has communicated with general managers of all Zonal Railways, requesting data on female track maintainers and assistant loco pilots. The National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) advocated for a one-time option for women to change their job category, prompting the Railway Board to begin gathering information on such requests. Major concerns were related to inadequate facilities, particularly during pregnancy. The female employees also pointed out concerns regarding extended periods of sitting. The move aims to address these issues and aligns with the demands presented by unions, including the All-India Railway Men's Federation.

Stagnant progress in Anemia Content Editor: Dr. Nikhil Kumar Khatri Global health • Anaemia is a critical health concern mainly occurred due to iron deficiency with severe consequences like developmental issues, risk of infections and death. • Anaemia is affecting children and women, with 40% of children aged 6 months to 5 years, 36% of pregnant women, and 30% of women aged 15-49 years experiencing it in 2019. • The 2023 World Health Statistics report suggests reduction rate of anaemia since 2000 has been only 0-1% annually. • Measuring anaemia accurately is challenging, particularly in young children due to costs and complex logistic tests. • To address anaemia effectively, there is a need for updated surveys covering all age groups, especially adolescents. • A holistic approach is necessary, addressing poverty, food insecurity, healthcare access, education, climate change, and gender inequality. • Swift action, by local communities and supported by global leadership in supplementation, nutrition education, screening and treatment is essential to address anaemia, and improve public health worldwide. Previous Next

Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 - takes action on eliminating urban garbage dumps Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 - takes action on eliminating urban garbage dumps Content Editor: Dr. K. H. Reddy May 8, 2023 Press Information Bureau Environmental health, Sustainability, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 Under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, many cities have ingeniously revitalized neglected places into social hubs. Bhopal converted 37 acres of dumpsite into a gorgeous green zone welcome post for the city. Navi Mumbai took a unique route and built a multi-sports arena with safety nets in the free space under the Sanpada flyover. Surat and Patna converted their dumping grounds into biodiverse, sustainable open parks with benches made of discarded tires, tins, etc. These initiatives make the environment clean and green, promoting the health and well-being of the urban residents.

Green cover: A dust mitigation strategy. Green cover: A dust mitigation strategy. Content Editor: Dr. Aishwarya April 22, 2024 Social Trends Environmental Health, Dust Mitigation, One Health. MCD recommends planting of trees in schools, open areas and on the roadside this year. The horticulture department has released notices for the zonal offices to detail on their specific measures to implement the task. MCD also aims to carpet or repair 50km of internal roads by Oct as part of dust mitigation measures. Work is being implemented under non-plan head, funds received from MLAs or M ukhyamantri S adak P unarniraman Y ojna, said by officials. Water sprinklers, jet machines and anti-smog guns are being sprayed to mitigate dust pollution.

OptiBP- Smartphone App for Blood Pressure estimation OptiBP- Smartphone App for Blood Pressure estimation Content Editor: Dr. Ranjitha R May 9, 2023 WHO - News Section Digital Health, Research finding, WHO A multi-country study assessing the accuracy of an app, OptiBP, which estimates blood pressure through the camera of a smartphone by reading optical pulse waves was rolled out. It was identified by WHO as innovative health technology for low-resource settings , that will be incorporated into the health system during routine antenatal care. It will be one of the digital health interventions for health system strengthening but needs evaluation and evidence for its appropriate integration. The study will evaluate these tools effectiveness and accuracy in as many contexts as possible in future.

Global Summit Highlights AI’s Role in Sustainable Development Goals Global Summit Highlights AI’s Role in Sustainable Development Goals Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay July 15, 2025 United Nations Artificial Intelligence, International Health News The AI for Good Global Summit 2025, hosted in Geneva on 8th July 2025 by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) , brings together global leaders, technologists, youth, and civil society to explore how artificial intelligence can advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while addressing its risks. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin warned that the greatest danger lies not in AI replacing humanity , but in rapidly embedding AI across society without public understanding or adequate regulation . Concerns over emerging “agentic AI” systems capable of autonomous decisions include bias, inequality, energy use, and lack of oversight . The summit features over 200 tech demonstrations, from flying cars to AI-driven disaster tools. Workshops tackle AI applications in healthcare, education, ethics, and governance. On AI Governance Day, global regulators will confront the fact that 85% of countries still lack dedicated AI policies. Health is a key focus, with WHO leading discussions on AI innovations in low-resource healthcare and traditional medicine. Youth robotics teams and startups compete with AI solutions for climate resilience and education, while the AI for Good Awards celebrate impactful public-benefit projects. The summit underscores a shared goal: directing AI to serve people and the planet responsibly.

Harvard Chan School launches LGBTQ health center of excellence amidst pride month celebrations Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy June 18, 2024 at 3:00:00 PM LGBTQ, Equity, Non-discrimination On June 4, during Harvard Chan School's Pride Month celebration, the LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence was officially launched. The LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence at Harvard, in partnership with the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, aims to address health disparities faced by LGBTQ individuals, such as higher rates of mental and physical illnesses. The LGBTQ Health Center of Excellence, led by Brittany Charlton, aims to increase research funding, improve data collection, and train new researchers through scholarships and specialized courses. This initiative is timely, given the surge in anti-LGBTQ legislation. The center will also focus on disseminating research and promoting effective communication on LGBTQ health issues , leveraging community strengths to achieve its goals. Click here to read more. Previous Next

A report on the nutrition performance of food companies. A report on the nutrition performance of food companies. Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti November 27, 2023 Access to Nutrition Initiative Nutrition With the ever-rising sales of packaged and processed food products, the need to ensure healthier standards also increases. The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) published the "India Index 2023" report. This report evaluates India's 20 largest food and beverage companies' performance. The index assessed the nutrition policies and practices of the companies using indicators across seven categories. The findings are as follows: Less healthy food products generate 76% of the revenues Half of the manufacturers follow a nutrition strategy Only 12% of the products are suitable for marketing to children. The report includes recommendations for companies, investors, and policymakers to transform markets for nutrition.

Global Summit Highlights AI’s Role in Sustainable Development Goals Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay July 19, 2025 at 4:47:46 PM Artificial Intelligence, International Health News The AI for Good Global Summit 2025, hosted in Geneva on 8th July 2025 by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) , brings together global leaders, technologists, youth, and civil society to explore how artificial intelligence can advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while addressing its risks. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin warned that the greatest danger lies not in AI replacing humanity , but in rapidly embedding AI across society without public understanding or adequate regulation . Concerns over emerging “agentic AI” systems capable of autonomous decisions include bias, inequality, energy use, and lack of oversight . The summit features over 200 tech demonstrations, from flying cars to AI-driven disaster tools. Workshops tackle AI applications in healthcare, education, ethics, and governance. On AI Governance Day, global regulators will confront the fact that 85% of countries still lack dedicated AI policies. Health is a key focus, with WHO leading discussions on AI innovations in low-resource healthcare and traditional medicine. Youth robotics teams and startups compete with AI solutions for climate resilience and education, while the AI for Good Awards celebrate impactful public-benefit projects. The summit underscores a shared goal: directing AI to serve people and the planet responsibly. Previous Next

Cashless treatment: the way ahead to reduce mortality from road accidents? Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy April 6, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Road traffic accidents, Prevention, Golden hour The Ministry of Roadway Transport and Highways launched a pilot programme to provide cashless treatment to victims of road accidents caused by motor vehicles. This programme aims to create an ecosystem for the timely treatment of victims and reduce fatalities caused by road accidents The pilot programme is being initiated in Chandigarh and the National Health Authority will be the implementing agency. The features of this programme are as follows: 1. Victims are entitled to cashless treatment up to a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs per accident per person for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident. 2. Applicable to all road accidents caused by the use of motor vehicles on any category of road. 3. AB PM-JAY packages for trauma and polytrauma cases will be co-opted. 4. The claims raised by hospitals for providing treatment will be reimbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. Based on the outcomes of this programme, further expansion across the country will be planned. Previous Next