Navigating against the suicide clusters Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami March 13, 2024 at 2:45:00 PM Mental Health, Suicides, Global health There were almost 48,000 suicides in 2021 in the US and suicide was among the 10 leading causes of death there. A suicide cluster is defined as a group of suicides or suicide attempts occurring closer together in time, space, or both than would normally be expected in a community. Although they are responsible for only a small proportion of suicides, they can have a significant negative effect on a community as these pose unique challenges and are often widely sensationalized. Hence suicide clusters are rare but impactful. Two types of suicide clusters have been reported- the point cluster (localized) and mass (dispersed) clusters are identified. Three reports in this supplement focus on the following: Up-to-date research findings on suicide clusters, findings of subject matter, and public health experts who work in suicide cluster identification Potential methods and data sources that can be monitored for suicide clusters to analyze and confirm them Guidance for local leaders and public health experts to develop response plans for suicide clusters. Previous Next

"Left behind in pain"- Inequalities in access to palliative care reported by WHO "Left behind in pain"- Inequalities in access to palliative care reported by WHO Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy June 29, 2023 WHO news section Access to quality health care, palliative care, quality of life, WHO A report, titled “Left behind in pain ” was recently published by WHO, which deals with unequal access to morphine for medical use. This is often referred as “one of the most heinous, hidden inequalities in global health”. This difference in median consumption of morphine ranges from 5-63 fold between high and low-income countries. Steps to reduce this inequality consist of : Providing a package of essential medicines for palliative care. Improving governance. Providing stable funding. Training of healthcare workers for safe and timely access to morphine for those in need should be advocated for improving the quality of life.

Government of India provides data on current health infrastructure status under NPNCD Government of India provides data on current health infrastructure status under NPNCD Content Editor : Dr. Sathya Prashaath January 3, 2025 Press Information Bureau of India, Government of India (Release ID: 2086515). Non-Communicable Diseases, NP-NCD, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases Under NP-NCD, 770 District NCD Clinics, 372 District Day Care Centres, 233 Cardiac Care Units, and 6410 Community Health Centre-based NCD Clinics have been set up as of 20 December 2024, as informed by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. As directed in the NPNCD guidelines, these centres focus on curative services, while the community level outreach focuses on the prevention of and screening for common NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, and various cancers. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) play a crucial role in raising awareness and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Implications of the nOPV2 on the global polio scenario Implications of the nOPV2 on the global polio scenario Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy April 18, 2024 Plos One Outbreak, Polio virus, Vaccine A recent review discussed the implications of the nOPV vaccine on the global polio condition. The nOPV2 was authorized for emergency use in 2021 by the WHO as a strategy to reduce cVDPV outbreaks. The nOPV vaccine is genetically more stable and has a lower risk of reverting to neurovirulent strains. Following the vaccine's launch, 1 billion doses have been given, and the slope of the cVDPV outbreak has fallen. Currently, 35 countries have already used the new vaccine, 17 more have approved its use in case of need, and a further 20 have started discussions and preparations should they require it. Following its successful implementation, the vaccine has been transitioned from the WHO emergency use listing to WHO prequalification. However, challenges regarding optimization of the coverage and outbreak response still hamper polio eradication. Currently, the vaccine is being manufactured by a single company, and production expansion can help mitigate the challenges. Learning from the success of nOPV2, the process of developing nOPV for the other strains has begun. However, the ultimate strategy would be the replacement of all oral poliovirus vaccines with the inactivated polio vaccine under the immunization programme. Click here to read more

Another feather to ESIC’s hat Another feather to ESIC’s hat Content Editor: Dr. Sivanthiga January 25, 2024 Press Information Bureau Occupational health, Worker health ESIC was bestowed with the award, “ISSA Vision Zero 2023 .” “Vision Zero," a transformational approach, integrates the three dimensions of safety, health, and well-being to prevent accidents at work . ESIC earned this privilege because: They aligned prevention strategies , apart from providing post-accidental mechanisms for medical care and cash benefits, and succeeded in outreach in the field of safety and health at work. They improved administration and operational efficiency using IT-enabled initiatives , thereby improving service delivery.

"TAG" meet for Global Arbovirus Initiative "TAG" meet for Global Arbovirus Initiative Content Editor: Dr. Akhila Nandan August 7, 2023 WHO news section Global Health, Communicable disease The first in-person meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) under the Global Arbovirus Initiative was held in Ghana on June 20-22,2023. The Highlights were: Integration of all the aspects of epidemiological, entomological, and laboratory data regarding arbovirus transmission. Strengthening and building collaborations for vector control and surveillance. Strengthening genomics. Innovative ideologies to strengthen the barriers against arbovirus. New partners to enhance the partnerships in the smooth conduct of GLAI.

“Shaping Academic Excellence for VIKSIT Bharat @ 2047” UGC's one day workshop. “Shaping Academic Excellence for VIKSIT Bharat @ 2047” UGC's one day workshop. Content Editor: Dr. Anamika December 28, 2024 Press Information Bureau of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India National Education Policy 2020, PM-USHA, WISE-KIRAN, DIKSHA, , VIKSIT Bharat@2047 "Shaping Academic Excellence for VIKSIT Bharat @ 2047 ," a One-Day Workshop for women leaders organized by the U niversity G rants C ommission (UGC ), was opened in New Delhi by the Union Minister for Education. The workshop aligned with National Education Poilcy 2020 , promoting women's empowerment in education and leadership. Initiatives like PM-USHA (P radhan M antri U chchatar S hiksha A bhiyan, focused on gender inclusivity and equity in higher education), WISE-KIRAN (W omen i n S cience and E ngineering-KIRAN ), and DIKSHA (D igital I nfrastructure for K nowledge Sha ring) were highlighted. The workshop focused on fostering women’s roles in education and nation-building. Click here to read more.

India takes lead in tackling NAFLD: Revised guidelines released India takes lead in tackling NAFLD: Revised guidelines released Content Editor: Dr Dheena October 5, 2024 Press Information Bureau Non Communicable Diseases, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, National programme The Union Health Ministry unveiled revised operational guidelines and a training module for NAFLD , highlighting India’s commitment to tackling this major non-communicable disease. Union Health Secretary emphasized NAFLD’s link to metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes, describing it as an emerging public health concern (out of 10 persons 1 to 3 persons will be having Fatty liver or related disease). The updated documents aim to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers —from community health workers to medical officers—to ensure early detection and comprehensive care . The importance of empowering grassroots workers was underscored. The strong connection between liver health and other NCDs was emphasized. This initiative reflects India’s proactive approach to addressing the silent epidemic of NAFLD through a multidisciplinary and evidence-based framework. Click here to read more.

Plan for the forthcoming respiratory virus season: Guidelines for vaccinations Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav July 5, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM COVID-19, Influenza, Pneumonia, Vaccination Those six months of age and older are urged to obtain the vaccines. Individuals receiving solid organ transplants between 18 and 64 can now select off-label for an adjuvanted or high-dose flu vaccine. In addition, the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) overwhelmingly decided to suggest Merck's novel 21-valent (21-strain) pneumococcal vaccine as a choice for persons 65 years of age and older who have not had a vaccination or whose immunization history is unknown. Additionally, the committee advised a single dose of the vaccine for patients with specific underlying medical disorders ages 19 to 64. This recommendation applied to individuals who had not gotten a dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccination and those who began their series with PCV13 but had not obtained all necessary doses of PPSV23. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Updated guidelines for preventive treatment of TB by WHO Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal March 7, 2024 at 1:30:00 PM Communicable diseases, TB, TPT To decrease the burden of such a highly infectious disease, WHO has issued some revised guidelines for Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT). Based on the outcomes of two randomized controlled trials conducted in South Africa and Vietnam, the main update is a recommendation to treat contacts of patients with multidrug- or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) with a 6-month regimen of levofloxacin as TPT. A new strategy for managing TPT in contacts has been implemented, along with improved drug dosages for TPT regimens containing levofloxacin and rifapentine. Screening procedures to rule out tuberculosis (TB) before initiating TPT and the use of TB testing have also been integrated . Scaling up TPT is considered a critical component of the WHO's End TB Strategy. Previous Next