International Labour Organisation, African Union Development Agency, and WHO collaborate to protect African health workers International Labour Organisation, African Union Development Agency, and WHO collaborate to protect African health workers Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal April 19, 2023 WHO International Health, legislation Latent tuberculosis affects 54% of healthcare professionals in low- and middle-income nations, which is 25 times more than the overall population. Health professionals were at a 21-32 times greater risk of contracting the disease during the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014-2016 than the overall adult population. Health workers in Africa face high levels of workplace violence and harassment, highest in South Africa. Only eight of Africa's 55 nations have created policy instruments for Occupational Health and Safety of Health Workers as of yet. By strengthening political commitment and capacities to safeguard the health, safety, and wellbeing of health professionals in Africa, the combined AUDA-NEPAD/WHO/ILO project seeks to address these issues.

India Tops Global Preterm Births at 3.2 Million claims WHO Report on Preterm Birth Prevention. Content Editor: Dr. Deepika Bishnoi June 4, 2023 at 7:31:09 PM Global Health, Public Health, Neonatal Mortality, Preterm, Under 5 deaths Findings of the WHO Landmark Report on Preterm birth prevention: Preterm birth rates remained largely unchanged from 2010 to 2020 . Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children under five . Minimal progress with an average annual reduction of preterm birth rates of about 0.5% . Maternal Covid-19 infection potentially increases the risk of preterm birth . Higher rates of preterm births among infected mothers in both low and high-income countries . Long-term Effects and Disabilities: Preterm birth is the fourth leading cause of loss of human capital worldwide. Survivors may face respiratory, cardiac, and neurodevelopmental challenges . Disabilities can range from mild to severe, including conditions like diplegia. Even babies born a few weeks preterm can experience learning and behavioral disorders . United Nations aims to reduce neonatal and under-five mortality rates. Improvement in quality newborn and young child care is crucial to achieving the targets. Challenges in meeting the targets for under-five and neonatal mortality identified by the WHO . Previous Next

The New digitial vaccination database - U-WIN to be launched in India The New digitial vaccination database - U-WIN to be launched in India January 24, 2023 Times of India NIP, Digital Health, Vaccination After Co-win, Government of India launched U-Win app for routine immunisation and pregnant women registration. It has been launched in a pilot mode in two districts of each state and Union Territory. Pregnant women and children, vaccine acknowledgement and immunisation card linked to ABHA ID (Ayushmann Bharat Health Account). Beneficiaries would be able to book slots for vaccination in advance through U-Win. It also serve as effective surveillance tool too.

How does use of different antibiotic treatments impact sepsis outcome? How does use of different antibiotic treatments impact sepsis outcome? Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy May 30, 2024 JAMA Internal Medicine Antibiotic resistant, Sepsis, Research findings A retrospective cohort study at the University of Michigan examined hospital admissions from July 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018, including a piperacillin-tazobactam shortage from June 12, 2015, to September 18, 2016. The study focused on adult sepsis patients treated with a combination of vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam, or cefepime. Primary and secondary outcomes included the following: 90-day mortality Organ failure-free days Ventilator-free days Vasopressor-free days The study involved 7,569 patients, with 4,523 receiving vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam and 3,046 receiving vancomycin and cefepime. Analysis showed no significant differences in patient demographics or initial health status between the groups. However, piperacillin-tazobactam was linked to a 5.0% absolute increase in 90-day mortality and fewer days free of organ failure, ventilator use, and vasopressor use. The findings suggest that for patients with suspected sepsis and no apparent need for anti-anaerobic coverage, piperacillin-tazobactam is associated with higher mortality and longer organ dysfunction compared to cefepime. This raises concerns about the broad use of empirical anti-anaerobic antibiotics in sepsis treatment. Click here to read more.

Spike in XDR Shigella cases in the United Kingdom Content Editor: Dr. Aneesh January 25, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Drug Resistant , Shigella , Gastrointestinal Infection There has been an increase in 53% of XDR strains of Shigella sonnei cases with non-susceptibility to multiple groups of antibiotics in the UK . The groups of antibiotics that were found to be resistant in the United Kingdom are: Penicillins. 3rd generation Cephalosporins. Aminoglycosides. Tetracyclines. Sulphonamides. Quinolones. Azithromycin. Although Shigellosis is commonly associated with exposure to food or water that human feces have contaminated, cases have been reported across England, mainly in men who have sex with men (MSM). Shigellosis is a highly infectious gastrointestinal condition with mild diarrhea to moderate dysentery symptoms. There is a concerning rise in cases of this antibiotic-resistant strain, which would mean difficulty in treating the patient. The practice of good hygiene after sex is one of the protective factors. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), further cases are very likely to occur, particularly among MSM. This may not be restricted to the affected countries but may also involve other member states because of the interconnected nature of MSM sexual networks in Europe. ECDC is also encouraging member states to ensure that antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Shigella is done for appropriate antimicrobial treatment. Click here to read more Previous Next

Social Injustice and Health: A Global Call for Urgent Action Social Injustice and Health: A Global Call for Urgent Action Content Editor: Dr. Sampriti May 22, 2025 CIDRAP International Health news A recent global report by the World Health Organization (WHO ), as reported by CIDRAP (May 9, 2025), has highlighted the severe impact of social injustice on public health , stating that it is responsible for widespread mortality. The report reveals significant disparities in life expectancy, with individuals in the poorest countries living 33 years less than those in wealthier nations. Furthermore, children in low-income countries face a mortality rate 13 times higher before the age of five compared to their counterparts in more affluent regions. Although there has been a global decline in under-five and maternal mortality since 2000, these disparities persist. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequities by creating unequal access to healthcare and increasing sovereign debt. The report emphasizes that social determinants , such as living and working conditions, are the primary drivers of these preventable health disparities and presents 14 key global recommendations for reform. The report highlights four key areas of focus: Tackling economic inequality by investing in social infrastructure and universal public services, Addressing structural discrimination , Navigating the challenges and opportunities of climate change and digital transformation to systematically advance health equity, and Establishing governance frameworks to enhance the coherence and impact of actions. Click here to read more.

Record breaking high temperature in China Content Editor: Dr. K. Hima Swetha July 31, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Global Health, Climate Change, Environment The temperature in China hit a new record of 52.2 degrees Celsius in the North-western part of the country. The authorities have asked the individuals at Sanbao Village, which lies on the outskirts of Turpan City, to stay at home and have ordered special vehicles to spray water on major roads. In some parts of Turpan City, ground surface temperatures had touched 80 degrees Celsius. Scientists have noted that the temperature in the Northern Hemisphere has continued to be record-setting high, which is further exacerbated by climate change. Furthermore, the Chinese authorities have given warnings about “multiple natural disasters” and advised people to take extra precautions this summer. Previous Next

Obesity: A significant contributor to comorbidities Obesity: A significant contributor to comorbidities Content Editor: Dr Prayag Khandelwal January 23, 2024 Journal of The Association of Physicians of India Obesity, Non-Communicable Diseases More than 650 million people live with obesity across the world. It is predicted that by 2030 that 20% of women and 14% of men will have obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2] implying, over 1 billion people will have obesity. A national cross-sectional study was recently done, which evaluated data from 100,531 adults in a cluster random sample across India. According to the report, the prevalence of obesity in the country is 40.3%, with a higher prevalence in: Women Urban residents, Individuals over 40 years of age. It is estimated that between 2010 and 2040, obesity rates will triple, while the number of overweight people between the ages of 20 and 69 will be more than double. Compared with Caucasians, Asian Indians have a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and cardiovascular problems at lower BMI levels, a well-known concept of thin-fat phenotype. Abdominal obesity is highly prevalent among Asian Indians and is an important cause of the rapid increase in non-communicable diseases and their consequences.

Uniting forces against superbugs: Sanofi-Janssen's power duo to tackle resistant ExPEC Uniting forces against superbugs: Sanofi-Janssen's power duo to tackle resistant ExPEC Content Editor: Dr. Rashmi Verma October 19, 2023 The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Vaccination, Public Health There has been a surge in the multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia Coli (ExPEC). Hence, to develop a commercial vaccine for extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), Sanofi partnered with Janssen and invested $175 million upfront. The surge in multidrug-resistant ExPEC strains has led to higher mortality rates, reflecting the challenges in treatment. Rising cases of invasive E. coli disease threaten older adults; Also, multidrug-resistant strains exacerbate mortality, underscoring treatment challenges. Recognizing this pressing issue, Sanofi's partnership with Janssen aims to deliver superior healthcare solutions, including a commercial vaccine for extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). This collaboration will address the rising impact of ExPEC-related sepsis and mortality. And it also aligns with efforts: To ease the burden on healthcare systems To improve public health To enhance the well-being and longevity of the global elderly population.