56-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health News Snippets 01-10th February, 2024 Breakthrough wound care: AIIMS Delhi's innovative healing device The latest among Indian innovations in healthcare is a cost-effective simple device that uses a combination of negative pressure wound therapy and oxygen delivery to enhance wound healing in trauma and burn victims. This device has shown promising results in a couple of trials and succeeded in reducing average wound healing time from 30 days to a mere 7-10 days. Notable features of this device include : Reduction of wound exudate and edema from the wound Reduction of wound infections and maintaining vascularity at the site Maintaining temperature pressure and moisture at a level favorable for wound healing . Content Editor: Dr.KH Reddy Ministry of Science and technology, Govt. of India Source : Published on : Friday, February 9, 2024 Health and Technology, Health Research Empowering women: India's labor ministry leads the way The ministry of labor and employment reinforced its drive to increase women in the workforce and support female entrepreneurs by establishing an environment that is safe, healthy, and supportive of women. Some of the pivotal components highlighted by the advisory include : Availability of canteens, creches, restrooms and first aid boxes at all workplaces and adequate accommodation for construction site migrant workers Medical practitioners to ensure healthcare ICC to effectively address sexual abuse complaints at earliest. Compliance to Equal Remuneration Act, Maternity Benefit Act & ESI Act The advisory instructs employers to be aware of these regulations and actively implement them thus safeguarding well-being and dignity of women in workplace Content Editor: Dr.KH Reddy Ministry of Labor and Employment Source : Published on : Friday, February 9, 2024 Gender equality, Pay parity, Women empowerment, Laws and legislations SuperAgers and their advanced cognitive capacities The cross-sectional study conducted by Batra et al characterized clinical and neuropsychological capacities among the residents of Delhi. Methods: The cognitive abilities of the participants were assessed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-IV India, Color Trails Test, Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Study Findings: Super Agers outperformed Typical Older Adults in all cognitive assessments ( P  < 0.001) and surpassed Younger Participants in BNT and WAIS-IV. Super Agers excelled in all cognitive domains demonstrating resilience to age-related cognitive decline. The above study shows that cognitive decline with aging cannot be generalized to all as it is linked to many clinical-social and lifestyle differences. Content Editor: Tanya Tanu Wiley Aging Machine Source : Published on : Friday, February 9, 2024 Geriatrics, SuperAgers, Mental Health Sleep woes: OSA symptoms and cognition link A cross-sectional study was done to find the association between OSA symptoms, poor sleep quality, and cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly urban populations; a total of 7505 adults were enrolled. Out of the total study population (with MMSE >26), 38.3% had a high risk of OSA symptoms 15.9% had poor sleep quality . OSA symptoms were negatively associated with cognitive domains of information processing, memory, and G-factor. Poor sleep quality was also associated with lower cognitive scores for G-factor, memory, and executive domains, but not with the information domain. Obstructive sleep apnea has been studied till now for its impact on quality of life and as a predisposing factor for many chronic illnesses. The above study adds to the evidence of its impact on sleep quality and cognitive function in India. Content Editor: Prayag Khandelwal International Journal of the Science and Practice of Sleep Medicine Source : Published on : Friday, February 9, 2024 Research Findings, Sleep patterns, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Combatting superbugs: NAP-AMR unleashes antimicrobial solutions The National Action Plan on Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR), led by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), was launched during the 12th five-year plan (2012-2017) in alignment with the Global Action Plan-AMR Recent initiatives include: Establishment of the National AMR Surveillance Network (NARS-Net) to gather quality data on AMR, An amendment to Drug and Cosmetics Rules for labeling medicine with withdrawal period of drug of containers for food-producing animals Guidelines on judicious antibiotic use for ailing animals Sensitization of State Drug Controllers/other stakeholders on drug prescription concerns Empowerment of State Licensing Authorities(SLAs) to enforce drug distribution compliance. Union Minister Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar communicated these updates in a Lok Sabha reply. Click here to read more Content Editor: Dr. Kishore Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Friday, February 9, 2024 Antimicrobial Resistance Charting a Sustainable Future: Key Highlights from the Interim Budget 2024-25 The Ministry of Finance unveiled a progressive Interim Budget 2024-25, prioritizing comprehensive development and green initiatives. The Rooftop Solarization and Muft Bijli scheme, aligned with the Prime Minister's commitment, aims to provide one crore households with up to 300 units of free electricity monthly , fostering savings, electric vehicle charging, and creating employment opportunities. In the pursuit of 'net-zero' by 2070 , Finance Minister Sitharaman introduced strategic measures, including offshore wind energy funding, coal gasification, CBG blending, and support for biomass machinery. The Electric Vehicle Ecosystem will be strengthened, encouraging e-bus adoption through a secure payment mechanism. A groundbreaking Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry scheme promotes eco-friendly alternatives, envisioning a shift towards regenerative manufacturing principles for a sustainable future. As the government charts a course toward a sustainable and inclusive future, the Interim Budget 2024-25 stands as a testament to its commitment to green growth, renewable energy, and transformative initiatives for a resilient and environmentally conscious India. Content Editor: Dr.Manjeet PIB Source : Published on : Thursday, February 8, 2024 Health Budget Need to reduce the OOPE among breast cancer patients Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide , and it poses a significant economic burden on patients and health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries. A recent study published in The Lancet examined the cost of breast cancer treatment, out-of-pocket payment, and reimbursement in a cohort of 429 patients who sought treatment at a publicly funded tertiary cancer care hospital in India. The study found that the average total cost of breast cancer treatment was ₹258,095 (US$3531), of which 72.2% was paid out-of-pocket by the patients. The study also revealed that only 8% of the patients received full reimbursement and that the reimbursement from various sources was insufficient to prevent high out-of-pocket payments. The study suggested that there is a need to increase the insurance coverage and the reimbursement limits for breast cancer treatment in India, as well as to include cancer treatment in social health insurance schemes, to reduce the financial hardship of cancer patients. The study is the first to longitudinally capture the costs incurred by patients undergoing breast cancer treatment in India, and it provides valuable insights for health policy and planning. Content Editor: Dr Sathya Prashaath The Lancet Source : Published on : Thursday, February 8, 2024 Breast cancer, Health Economics Urgent appeal by WHO "Disruptions to essential health services often mean the difference between life and death for those facing emergencies," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. The funding will encourage direct access to healthcare for communities in hard-to-reach areas, in partnerships with local organizations, and share information about document outbreaks and attacks on health workers. Distribution of funding, as announced: African Region - US$ 334 million Eastern Mediterranean Region - US$ 705 million European region - US$ 183 million Western Pacific Region - US$ 15.2 million South-East Asia Region - US$ 49 million Americas Region - US$131 million. Content Editor: Dr.Sakshi Aggarwal WHO news Source : Published on : Thursday, February 8, 2024 Appeal for funding in healthcare by WHO Cameroon kickstarts the world’s first Malaria Vaccination Drive In a historic move, Cameroon has become the first country to start vaccinating children against malaria as part of its national immunization program. This initiative began with the administration of the RTS,S or Mosquirix vaccine developed by GSK, marking a significant step in the fight against malaria - a disease that has long plagued Africa, particularly its young population. RTS,S is the first antimalarial vaccine to be recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine will be provided free of charge to all infants up to the age of six months old . The vaccine, which has been over 30 years in the making, was initially part of a pilot program in selected African countries. However, it is now set for a wider distribution across the continent. The first recipients of the vaccine were a pair of twins, whose mother, Helene, expressed her commitment to ensuring her children receive all four doses of the vaccine and take other preventive measures like sleeping under a mosquito net. This groundbreaking initiative is not limited to Cameroon, as other African countries like Benin, Burkina Faso, and Liberia are also finalizing their malaria vaccine rollouts, with support from WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, and other partners. Content Editor: Dr Sathya Prashaath BBC world Source : Published on : Thursday, February 8, 2024 Malaria,Infectious disease, High court's judgement on organ donation rules In a court ruling, the Delhi High Court directed the Union of India to frame detailed guidelines on what constitutes "exceptional medical ground" in the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Rules, 2014, clause 5(3)(g) . In view of a petition, the Court has decided on 30th January 2024 that the above guidelines shall be framed within 2 months . The petition was about a 17 years 4-month-old girl who was medically fit to donate a part of her liver to her father, a chronic patient of NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) requiring a liver transplant for survival Content Editor: Dr.Urmimala Judgement in the High Court of Delhi Source : Published on : Thursday, February 8, 2024 Organ and Tissue Donation Dismissal of plea for late-term abortion On January 31, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of a 26-year-old widow seeking late-term pregnancy termination, emphasizing the need to prioritize the protection of the fetus's right to life. Termination was denied due to the gestation period exceeding the 24-week limit permitted by Rule 3(B) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Rules. The Court suggested adoption if she wished, on grounds of mental trauma following the birth of the newborn. Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale referred to the medical board's findings of no abnormalities in the fetus. AIIMS recommended extending the pregnancy by two to three weeks for maternal and fetal well-being. Seeking court permission, a medical board was formed to assess her health condition. Content Editor: Dr.Pradipta.S Social Trends Source : Published on : Monday, February 5, 2024 MTP act, Abortion Progress of the National Sickle Cell Anemia Mission As per the MoHFW health expert committee, SCD is one of 10 special problems affecting tribal people making it a public health concern To address this problem, MoHFW in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the Mission to eliminate SCD by 2047 The Mission objectives emphasize strategies based on three pillars Health Promotion – Awareness & Genetic Counselling Prevention – Universal screening & Early detection Holistic Management & Continuum of Care As per recent updates, more than 1 crore population have been screened in 6 months with the Mission focusing on screening 7 crore in 3 years. Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Kishore Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Monday, February 5, 2024 Tribal Health, Sickle Cell Anemia, Noncommunicable diseases Food safety: A collective responsibility The FSSAI launched an awareness campaign among the various markets in Delhi. The awareness campaign was launched with a particular focus on the detection and mitigation of pesticide residues. The highlight of the event was the “Food Safety on Wheels” initiative , a mobile lab equipped with rapid testing kits that can help in the detection of pesticide residues. The attendees of the campaign were also sensitized regarding the following: Harmful effects of pesticide residue. Importance of FSSAI licensing or registration. Artificial ripening of fruits and wax coating. Availability of various laboratories for food testing. The event emphasized the importance of collective responsibility with the mantra, “Food safety is everyone’s responsibility.” Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : April 24, 2024 Food Safety, Hygiene, Pesticides Food safety: A collective responsibility The FSSAI launched an awareness campaign among the various markets in Delhi. The awareness campaign was launched with a particular focus on the detection and mitigation of pesticide residues. The highlight of the event was the “Food Safety on Wheels” initiative , a mobile lab equipped with rapid testing kits that can help in the detection of pesticide residues. The attendees of the campaign were also sensitized regarding the following: Harmful effects of pesticide residue. Importance of FSSAI licensing or registration. Artificial ripening of fruits and wax coating. Availability of various laboratories for food testing. The event emphasized the importance of collective responsibility with the mantra, “Food safety is everyone’s responsibility.” Click here to read more. Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Wednesday, April 24, 2024 Food Safety, Hygiene, Pesticides Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 24-30th September, 2023 (5) View More 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 24-30th September, 2023 (5) View More 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 24-30th September, 2023 (5) View More March 27 - 31, 2023 (15) View More March 6 - 12, 2023 (24) View More February 23 - 25, 2023 (3) View More February 15 - 16, 2023 (8) View More March 20 - 25, 2023 (18) View More March 1 - 5, 2023 (8) View More February 20 - 22, 2023 (2) View More February 07 - 14, 2023 (5) View More March 13 - 18, 2023 (8) View More February 26 - 28, 2023 (15) View More February 17 - 19, 2023 (3) View More February 01 - 06, 2023 (5) View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE