India at the 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting in Brasilia India at the 2nd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting in Brasilia Content Editor: Dr. Tanya Tanu April 13, 2024 Social Trends Occupational Health, Employment Working Group The 2nd EWG meeting encompassed discussions on: Promotion of quality employment Addressing smooth transition amidst digital and energy transformations. Utilization of technology to improve quality of life Emphasizing gender equity The Government of India took the following steps to promote gender equity in the workplace: Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 : allows women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work with their consent at night. This provision has already been implemented in underground mines. The Revised Maternity Benefit Act, 2017 :increased' maternity leave with pay protection' from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for all women working in establishments employing 10 or more workers. This is expected to reduce the motherhood pay gap among working mothers. One Nation, One Ration Card : allows migrants to access their entitled food grains from anywhere in the Public Distribution System network in the country. e-Shram portal : launched to create a national database of unorganized workers, especially migrant and construction workers. This initiative, providing the e-Shram card, enables access to benefits under various social security schemes. Click here to read more

Polio control in Somalia: The current status and challenges Polio control in Somalia: The current status and challenges Content Editor: Dr. Ghurumourthy July 22, 2024 WHO News Section Polio, Vaccine preventable diseases, Surveillance, Elimination Efforts to eradicate polio have faced significant challenges, despite effective vaccination and surveillance strategies. In Somalia, ongoing civil unrest since 1991 has severely disrupted public health initiatives, resulting in low vaccination coverage—47% for OPV and 42% for IPV. From January 2017 to the present, 39 cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV-2) have been reported across 14 of 20 regions, with 87% of cases occurring in the politically unstable South-Central regions. Approximately one in six children under five years old remains inaccessible for vaccination. Through AFP surveillance, there were 1,921 cases of non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (NPAFP), with 231 children unvaccinated, 95% of whom were from the South-Central region. Environmental surveillance from 2018 to 2023 indicated that 90% of poliovirus detections occurred in Banadir state. The WHO, through regular vaccination campaigns and supplementary immunization activities, strives to improve coverage and address these challenges. To enhance vaccination efforts in areas with stringent security constraints, priorities include humanitarian aid and quality improvement measures. Strengthening vaccination programs in these regions is crucial to achieving polio eradication and preventing further outbreaks in Somalia. Click here to read more.

India’s stand at COP29: Advocating fair climate action and financial support India’s stand at COP29: Advocating fair climate action and financial support Content Editor: Dr. Sivanthiga December 5, 2024 Press Information Bureau Climate change, Climate finance, COP The highlights of the CoP29 held at Baku,Azerbaijan on 21 November,2024 are: Disappointment with focus shift: India was disappointed with Capital CoP29 for mowing the focus from climate finance to mitigation initiatives. Alignment with developing countries: Having highlighted the difficulties faced by the global South, India sided with like-minded developing countries. Rejecting attempts to renegotiate ‘just transitions’ : India maintained its stand that developed nations must take the lead in efforts to mitigate the effects of the crisis. India’s criticism on new Chapeau : India stood a critique against the new chapeau on enhancing action for not being integrated with continuing budgetary needs and talks. Demand for adequate climate funding : In order to take effective action, India stressed the need for $1.3 trillion in climate funding, mostly in the forms of grants. Emphasis on adaptation goals: To ensure that all nations receive support for climate action. India called for clear indicators for adaptation goals. Click here to read more.

Wasting antibiotics: A prescription for trouble Wasting antibiotics: A prescription for trouble Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay September 23, 2023 Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Hospital Waste Management A study at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta revealed that over two years, 58,607 antibiotic doses were wasted, costing $255,503. The top 10 wasted antibiotics included some in shortage, emphasizing the need for waste reduction. Ampicillin was documented as the most wasted antibiotic; the other major drugs were clindamycin and cefazolin. The majority of the waste was accounted for in the first two days of admissions. While this study was conducted in a single setting, antibiotic waste is a concern in pediatric settings due to weight-based dosing. Antibiotic waste affects patient care quality and adds financial burdens. The following strategies can help reduce waste: Optimizing empiric treatments Early discharge planning Improved communication Hospitals can reduce their carbon footprint by minimizing drug waste , which contributes to healthcare-associated emissions. Reducing antibiotic waste requires: Systematic changes Focus on high-turnover services Discharge planning.

Hurricanes elevate risk of Cholera, Zika, West Nile virus Hurricanes elevate risk of Cholera, Zika, West Nile virus PHC Editor November 8, 2024 Social trends Hurricanes, Infectious diseases, Cholera, Zika, West Nile virus, Vibrio vulnificus. Hurricanes can lead to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, Zika, West Nile virus, and Vibrio vulnificus (flesh-eating bacteria) due to flooding and infrastructure damage. Floodwaters often contain sewage and contaminants, facilitating the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera. Standing water from floods creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of Zika and West Nile virus transmission. Exposure to contaminated water can lead to infections by Vibrio vulnificus , a bacterium that can cause severe illness or death. Public health officials emphasize the importance of avoiding contact with floodwaters, using insect repellent, and ensuring access to clean water to mitigate these risks.