Innovative hearing solutions: Piezoelectric implants Innovative hearing solutions: Piezoelectric implants Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay April 20, 2024 Press Information Bureau Health technology, Hearing loss, Implants The Department of ENT at Command Hospital (Southern Command) in Pune has successfully performed two piezoelectric Bone Conduction Hearing Implants (BCI). These procedures were conducted on a 7-year-old child with congenital ear anomalies and severe hearing loss and an adult with Single Sided Deafness (SSD), making it the first government hospital in India to achieve this feat. The designated Neurotology Centre of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), has been offering implantable hearing solutions for years. The piezoelectric BCI system is crucial for patients with conductive/mixed hearing loss who aren't candidates for cochlear implants or benefit from hearing aids or middle ear surgery. The surgeries were performed by Lt Col (Dr) Rahul Kurkure, under the guidance of Col (Dr) Nitu Singh, at the helm of Command Hospital (SC), Pune, led by Maj Gen B Nambiar, the success was praised by high-ranking officials. Click here to read more

A systematic review reveals the risk factors of psychiatric symptoms in long COVID-19 Patients Content Editor: Dr. Sowmiya April 14, 2023 at 3:19:47 PM Long COVID-19, Mental health A systematic review of 23 studies provides an overview of psychiatric symptoms in Long COVID-19 patients and the risk factors associated with it. The most prevalent reported psychiatric symptoms, from the most to the least reported, were anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), poor sleep qualities, somatic symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Being female and having previous psychiatric diagnoses were risk factors for the development of the reported symptoms. Detailed screening for mental disorders and early intervention is recommended to improve the quality of life of patients with Long COVID-19. Previous Next

11 critical interventions for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti December 6, 2023 at 2:57:41 PM Tribal Health, Intersectoral Co-ordination, PM JANMAN The Union Cabinet, under the Development Action Plan for the Scheduled Tribes (DAPST) has approved The Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN). India has Scheduled Tribe population of 10.45 crore as per the 2011 census, out of which 75 communities located in 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Targeting the PVTG, the mission aims at improving their socioeconomic conditions using 11 interventions with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water, and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. An overall budget of ₹24104 crore is allocated for the mission, with specific cost norms for each activity. Previous Next

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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Deadly Mpox outbreak in the Dominican Republic of Congo Deadly Mpox outbreak in the Dominican Republic of Congo Content Editor: Dr. Niharika April 3, 2024 Center for Disease Research and Policy International Health, Disease Outbreak, Monkey Pox The Mpox outbreak in the DRC , ongoing since 2023, has now spread to 23 of the 26 provinces of the country. The country is also struggling with outbreaks of cholera, measles, anthrax, and plague. The setting of massive floods and the world’s second-biggest human displacement has made the condition more difficult. The DRC outbreak, caused by the Clade 1 virus , differs from the globally circulating strain. It is more virulent and has a higher c ase-f atality r ate (CFR) - a CFR of 7%, much higher than the global rate of 0.2%. It has sexual spread - involving heterosexual transmission. Two-thirds of those affected are children, with a higher CFR of 10%. Meanwhile, diagnostic challenges remain. Only 389 cases in DRC have been lab-confirmed, gene deletions affect the diagnostic abilities of other countries. There is a possibility of geographic extension , hence strict control measures are to be put in place . Click here to read more

A Landmark Shift in Public Health as World Health Assembly Adopts First-Ever Global Pandemic Treaty. Content Editor: Dr. Harshita May 28, 2025 at 3:37:53 PM Pandemic preparedness, Treaty, WHO, Health system strengthening The first pandemic agreement was adopted on May 20, 2025 , following a vote by member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO ), with 124 in favor, none opposed, and 11 abstaining. The Intergovernmental Negotiation Body was set up in December 2021 to create the draft agreement. The agreement establishes key principles for enhanced international collaboration during pandemics. It aims to reinforce the global health infrastructure to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to future health emergencies. A major focus is on equitable and timely access to essential medical tools such as diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments . The treaty addresses disparities seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, where wealthier nations had an excess supply of vaccines while many faced shortages. The agreement tackles key issues such as intellectual property and pathogen sharing , establishing a benefit-sharing system and promoting stronger pandemic preparedness through the One Health approach . It seeks to build globally distributed research and development and manufacturing capacity , ensuring fair access to health tools, unlike during COVID-19, when production was limited to a few countries. National sovereignty is preserved as the WHO has no authority to override domestic laws or impose specific pandemic measures. Previous Next

Nigeria grapples with newborn antibiotic resistance crisis Nigeria grapples with newborn antibiotic resistance crisis Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal August 12, 2024 Nature Communications Antibiotic Resistance, One Health, Public health Colistin is among the few antibiotics that are still useful in treating illnesses like pneumonia and eliminating microbes. The World Health Organisation considers it to be extremely significant for human medicine. The study, recently published in Nature Communications Journal, surveys the presence of mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr) genes in Nigeria, a country with limited clinical use of colistin. 4907 rectal swabs were collected from mothers and neonates across three hospital sites in Nigeria, 47 of which (40 from mothers and seven from neonates) carried mcr genes across a range of bacterial species. The mcr genes were found in 46 Enterobacter species, and single isolates of Shigella, E. coli, and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae. Although the prevalence during the 2015-2016 collection was low, the diversity of mcr-gene types and the range of bacterial species are concerning. The introduction of colistin in medical settings could rapidly select and expand resistant isolates. Click here to read more.

Outbreak of Diphtheria in Guinea Content Editor: Dr. Ghurumourthy D November 9, 2023 at 1:30:00 PM Global Health, Communicable disease, Vaccination The World Health Organization (WHO) was informed by the Ministry of Health on September 5, 2023 , about an outbreak of diphtheria in Guinea. Between July 4 and October 13, 2023, 538 cases were documented in the Kankan district of Guinea's east-central region. There are 520 suspected cases and 18 confirmed cases , with 58 fatalities , including 13 confirmed cases (an 11% case fatality rate). The bulk of the incidents involved children aged 1-4 years. In total, 58 deaths were reported, 13 of which were among confirmed cases, and 461 contacts are being tracked. Sixty-two percent of the reported cases are female. The 1-4 year age group accounted for the greatest proportion of reported cases (82%), followed by the 5-9 year age group (5%), and those aged 10 and up (5%). None of the 538 cases had been immunized . According to WHO/UNICEF forecasts, immunization coverage with diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine in Guinea is 47% for 2022 and has stayed below 50% since 2014. This falls short of the 80-85% coverage required to keep the community safe. Given the continually low vaccination coverage , WHO considers the risk of diphtheria in Guinea to be high. Previous Next

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Calls for Community Action Nationwide Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Calls for Community Action Nationwide Content Editor: Dr. Anamika July 12, 2025 Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Drug abuse prevention, Substance use disorder On 26th June 2025, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment held a national event in New Delhi to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The Ministry led efforts through the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan , active in every district, focusing on youth, schools, and community participation. Over 15.78 crore individuals were reached , supported by thousands of trained volunteers . Digital tools like a mobile app and interactive website enhanced outreach. Mass awareness events and pledges built momentum , transforming the Abhiyaan into a collective movement against substance abuse nationwide.

Silent killer: WHO Highlights global drowning crisis Content Editor: Dr. Dheena January 3, 2025 at 4:14:25 PM Drowning, Preventive Care The World Health Organization (WHO) released its first-ever global report on drowning prevention , revealing that 3 lakh lives were lost to drowning worldwide in 2021, averaging 30 deaths every hour . A disproportionate 92% of fatalities occurred in low- and middle-income countries , with South-East Asia accounting for 28% of the global burden. The report highlights that children under five are most vulnerable , constituting 24% of drowning deaths. Despite a 38% global decline in drowning rates since 2000, the progress has been uneven, with the WHO’s South-East Asia Region witnessing only a 48% reduction. WHO emphasized that nearly all drowning deaths are preventable. Key measures include integrating swimming lessons into school curriculums, improving flood risk management, and training bystanders in rescue techniques. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus urged countries to prioritize drowning prevention, emphasizing its potential to save millions of lives and avert an estimated $4 trillion in economic losses by 2050. Click here to read more Previous Next