4th wave of COVID-19 in India? Content Editor: Sangya Chaudhary March 21, 2023 at 3:27:40 PM COVID 19 A new rise in COVID-19 cases is being observed all over the country in the past few days. As many as 900 cases have been detected in the country in a single day. According to MoHFW, as of 21st March 2023, there are 6559 active cases of COVID-19 in the country out of which 699 new cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours. Similarly, on 20th March 2023, 918 new cases were recorded. The daily positivity rate is 0.71% whereas the current Recovery Rate is 98.79%. The maximum number of active cases is in Kerala (1796) followed by Maharashtra (1308) and the new variant is being considered the cause of this increase. The government has come up with new guidelines for prevention and containment and is encouraging the population to follow COVID-appropriate behavior which would be important to avoid a new wave of COVID-19 disease. Previous Next

ERIS- the latest COVID-19 variant. Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy August 24, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Vaccination, Covid-19, Viral disease, Global health ERIS, or EG.5.1, is a sub-variant of OMICRON XBB1.9., which has two additional spike mutations. ERIS caught the attention of WHO due to the rise in cases in the UK and the US. Hence, it was listed as a variant under monitoring. Internationally, ERIS was first reported in March 2023. The first case in India was reported from BJ Medical College, Pune, in May 2023. To date, this variant has been reported in 39 countries. The UK Health Security Agency reported that ERIS caused 14.5% of all UK COVID cases. Currently, this variant is spreading with a weekly growth advantage of 20%. This situation highlights the need for scaling up the pan-variant COVID-19 vaccines. Previous Next

National mental health conclave: A pivotal event in commemoration of world mental health day Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty October 28, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM National Days, Mental Health Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, participated in the National Mental Health Conclave held in observance of World Mental Health Day. Dr. Mandaviya praised efforts to make mental health care accessible nationwide , particularly in remote areas. He commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He highlighted the importance of the National Mental Health Survey, which revealed that 10% of the population grapples with mental health issues, placing a significant burden on individuals, society, and the economy. He emphasized the role of technology in mental health care, citing the success of the National Tele-Mental Health Program (Tele-MANAS). The program has counseled over 350,000 people and currently serves 2,000 individuals through 44 TeleManas Cells. Dr. Mandaviya inaugurated the Tele-MANAS logo and unveiled new facilities at NIMHANS. He also discussed integrating mental health services with primary health services through Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers and district-level initiatives. In total, there are 47 government mental health hospitals in the country. Previous Next

H5N1 outbreaks worldwide, India concerned H5N1 outbreaks worldwide, India concerned Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal May 10, 2023 The Hindu Infectious diseases, H5N1, Outbreak According to World Economic Forum, the virus is being detected among wild birds and other species. The Central government is on alert and is reviewing the situation daily. H5N1 has been detected by ICAR- National Institute of High Security Animal Disease, Bhopal in samples collected from Government Poultry Farm at Bokaro, Jharkhand. India has initiated the animal pandemic preparedness programme. Till now one case was found to be positive, out of 1500 samples checked from hotspots such as water bodies and poultry farms.

National webinar to raise awareness for criminal laws National webinar to raise awareness for criminal laws Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy July 10, 2024 Press Information Bureau Criminal laws, Awareness, Women and child development A national webinar was held to raise awareness and understanding of the three recently enacted criminal laws. Two webinars have been conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Rural Development. The webinar included the following: Opening address highlighting the key provisions of the laws In-depth insights into the positive impacts of these laws on women and children The event saw participation from around 50 lakh stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. This event aims to help individuals understand these laws, focusing on parts related to women and child protection, security, and safety. Click here to read more.

WHO calls for equitable access to healthcare for people with TB and diabetes. WHO calls for equitable access to healthcare for people with TB and diabetes. Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy November 29, 2023 WHO News Section Healthcare Equity, Diabetes, Tuberculosis , Public health According to the WHO Global TB Report 2023, diabetes is one of the major determinants of TB, accounting for nearly 400,000 TB episodes globally. Diabetes increases the risk of TB and increases the likelihood of unfavorable TB treatment outcomes, such as death. This highlights how important it is to guarantee that patients with diabetes and tuberculosis have access to essential care. During the September 2023 United Nations high-level meeting on tuberculosis (TB), the member states pledged to facilitate: Universal access to high-quality tuberculosis services Action against all TB determinants and drivers, including non-communicable diseases like diabetes They also vowed to support the theme of this year's World Diabetes Day, "equitable access to essential care," by committing to systematic screening, prevention, treatment, and care for TB as well as for related medical conditions like diabetes.

World Environment Day focuses on Mission LiFE World Environment Day focuses on Mission LiFE Content Editor: Dr Nivetha S May 12, 2023 Press Information Bureau Environmental day, Climate change World Environment Day 2023 – Mission LiFE This year, on account of World Environment Day on June 5, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will be celebrating the same highlighting the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) across the country. The initiatives include: Swachhata Actions by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in collaboration with the National Zoological Park. Mask Making activities, conducted by RMNH , Mysore -NMNH-MOEFCC along with a green pledge. Awareness talks on Water pollution, Save water, the Significance of Marine Ecosystems, and Climate by RGRMNH . The Director , of Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) gave an awareness talk on themes like ‘Save water’ and ‘Say no to plastics’ . ‘Signature campaign’ and ‘Green Pledge’ by NCSCM as a part of a world bank workshop where international delegates shared their experiences on coastal management and sustainable agricultural practices and emphasized the need to live in harmony with nature.

Swachh survekshan 2024: Focus on bulk waste generators Swachh survekshan 2024: Focus on bulk waste generators Content Editor: Dr. Anamika July 23, 2024 Press Information Bureau Waste Management, Sustainability The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA ) launched the third quarter (Q3) of Swachh Survekshan 2024, which focused on waste management at Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) . The first two quarters involved citizen feedback on city cleanliness, the third focused on assessing processing facilities , and the fourth included field assessments on all indicators . BWGs generate 30-40% of urban waste, including residential complexes, commercial entities, and public institutions. Mandates include waste segregation, biodegradable processing, and separate Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste management. Q4 of Swachh Survekshan 2024 is expected to complete the assessment cycle in September – October 2024. Click here to read more.

Dietary disparities among healthy individuals and patients of chronic kidney disease Content Editor: Dr. Manu Goel April 5, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Non Communicable Diseases, Nutrition, Hypertension, Chronic Kidney Disease A study conducted at PGIMER, Chandigarh, on the dietary intake of protein, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium among healthy individuals and patients suffering from Stage 2-4 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) , recently released its findings as follows - The protein intake per kilogram of body weight was higher in healthy subjects than in patients. Salt consumption was above the WHO-recommended dietary allowance in the majority of healthy individuals and patients. Meanwhile, among the sexes, men consumed more of all the nutrients measured in the study compared to women. The authors state that while salt consumption levels have lowered compared to previous studies, they are still beyond the recommended allowance , indicating a need for unfinished public health education on such issues Click here to read more. Previous Next

Cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis A vaccine: Findings from a study in Kerala Cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis A vaccine: Findings from a study in Kerala Content Editor: Dr. Anamika August 8, 2024 PLoS One Hepatitis A, Cost-effectiveness, Health economics, Research findings A study was done in Kerala to analyze the cost-effectiveness of the hepatitis A vaccine. The study evaluated three strategies for hepatitis A vaccination, which include the following: 1. No vaccination 2. Hepatitis A vaccination without screening 3. Hepatitis A vaccination following screening for HAV antibodies The study included live attenuated and inactivated hepatitis A vaccines, using a Decision-tree and Markov model. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness, the study included direct medical, non-medical, and indirect costs related to HAV infection. The results of the study are as follows: Both vaccines, with or without screening, were found to be cost-saving. Vaccination with either was found to save 1.18% to 2.12% of the government budget. The screening strategies offered additional savings. An additional budget of ₹1,992 million and ₹6,328 million was needed for the administration of live attenuated vaccine and inactivated vaccine, respectively. Results aligned with studies from other middle-income countries, supporting the integration of vaccination into public health programs. Click here to read more.