South East Asia in Action South East Asia in Action Content Editor: Dr. Ghurumourthy WHO News Section Neglected Tropical disease, Infectious disease, Vaccine preventable disease Bangladesh has become the first country to eliminate the kala-azar. 70% of the global cases were observed in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. India is next in queue to eliminate the kala-azar. Also, the Maldives was the first country to interrupt the transmission of leprosy. Achievements of the other Southeast Asian countries includes: 5 out of 11 member countries—Bhutan, DPR Korea, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste—have achieved the regional target of measles and rubella elimination. Korea opened an account recently by achieving 99.8% vaccine coverage. 4 out of 11 member countries—the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Bangladesh—have eliminated lymphatic filariasis Nepal and Myanmar have eliminated trachoma. India has been verified as yaws-free.

DBT in partnership with WIPO launches Global Health Innovation Fellowship DBT in partnership with WIPO launches Global Health Innovation Fellowship Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda October 30, 2023 Press Information Bureau Global Health, Health Technology, Health Innovation, Public Health The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have collaborated to launch a Global Health Innovation Fellowship to boost MedTech startups and innovations among youth . This fellowship will be implemented across various DBT bio-design centers in India, including those at IIT Delhi, AIIMS, IITB, Hinduja Hospital, and Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology, presided over the event’s launch, highlighting that it aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to find scientific solutions for unmet health-related needs and challenges. The program received 157 applications from young professionals worldwide, including from low- and middle-income countries. Recently, the DBT partnered with more than 20 technical and medical colleges nationwide to expand the Biodesign program. India's biotech sector is expanding exponentially, as it incorporates three biotech startups daily intending to provide viable technological solutions and contribute to the "Make in India" initiative. It is anticipated to create more than 10 million jobs by 2025. Furthermore, DBT, with its PSU-BIRAC, is working synergistically with various stakeholders to promote the growth of biotech startups in India.

Policy Concerns Over ‘Mittayi’ Project for Childhood Diabetes Care Policy Concerns Over ‘Mittayi’ Project for Childhood Diabetes Care Content Editor : Dr. Harshita September 21, 2025 PHC Editorial Bureau NCD in children, health insurance, type 1 diabetes Parents of children with Type 1 diabetes in Kerala have raised concerns about the state’s Mittayi project, which aims to support young diabetics with insulin pumps and monitoring systems. Children with Type 1 diabetes are excluded from insurance coverage because of age limitations, as most private and government-approved plans provide coverage for juvenile diabetes only after the age of 18. Despite the initiative being in place, many families are facing long delays or limited access- only a small fraction of the estimated 1,500–8,000 eligible children have received insulin pumps. The annual budget cap and strict eligibility criteria, including income limits, are seen as barriers. Meanwhile, rising costs for sensors and equipment continue to strain households trying to manage their children’s care effectively. For further reading, click here

WHO highlights climate change's impact on malaria and neglected tropical diseases WHO highlights climate change's impact on malaria and neglected tropical diseases Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet May 30, 2024 WHO News Section Neglected tropical diseases, Research, Environment, Climate change This scoping review, which includes 42,693 articles , has been published in collaboration with Reaching the Last Mile (RLM) , and is published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The key Findings by the WHO task force on Climate change, NTDs & malaria are- Climate Impact on Disease Spread: Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are expanding the geographic range of disease vectors like mosquitoes, increasing the risk of malaria and NTDs in new regions. Vulnerable Communities: Shifts in disease prevalence and intensity are most acutely felt in communities already disproportionately affected by these diseases. Urgent Need for Comprehensive Models: Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of WHO’s Global NTD Programme, emphasized the necessity for standardized models to predict climate change effects on these diseases. However, a few research gaps were found, which include- Focus on Low-Disease Burden Countries: Most research has been conducted in countries with high access to quality healthcare, neglecting regions with significant disease burdens. Lack of Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies : Only 34% of the studies reviewed addressed mitigation strategies, and a mere 5% focused on adaptation methods. This critical and timely review highlights alarming trends and serves as a call to urgent action. Click here to read more.

Effectiveness of the Monkeypox vaccine: Findings from a study Effectiveness of the Monkeypox vaccine: Findings from a study Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy June 18, 2024 Center for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccination, Infectious disease, Mpox The JYNNEOS vaccine, a two-dose series designed to prevent smallpox and mpox, has demonstrated effectiveness in real-world applications, especially during the recent global mpox outbreak, which has primarily impacted MSM, transgender, and nonbinary individuals. Despite most recipients receiving both doses in 2022, only 25% of the at-risk population is fully vaccinated. A study examining mpox cases from May 2022 to May 2024 found that 75% occurred in unvaccinated individuals, while only 0.8% occurred in fully vaccinated persons. Fully vaccinated people experienced fewer severe symptoms and had lower hospitalization rates than their unvaccinated counterparts. Among fully vaccinated individuals, most cases appeared a median of 266 days after the second dose. There was no significant difference in infection timing between those who received intradermal and subcutaneous doses. Although breakthrough infections were noted, particularly in a 2023 cluster in Chicago, these were infrequent and less severe. The CDC advocates for continued monitoring and vaccination, emphasizing that the two-dose regimen offers substantial protection and should be complemented with other preventive measures. Click here to read more.