National birth defect awareness month 2024: A call to action National birth defect awareness month 2024: A call to action Content Editor: Dr. Tanya Tanu April 2, 2024 Social Trends RBSK, Birth Defects, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram In RBSK children are screened at four levels: Delivery points: Comprehensive Newborn screening Home visits by ASHA: Screening for visible birth defects Anganwadis: Biannual screening of children (6 weeks to 6 years) Government schools: Annual screening of children (6 years to 18 years) The theme of National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024 is “Breaking Barriers: inclusive support for children with birth defects”. Birth defects contribute to 4.9% of defects in neonatal mortality, as per Cause of Death Statistics 2017-19 SRS Report. Even though the proportion of child mortality due to these defects is lower when compared to other infectious diseases, RBSK aims to ensure the complete health of the child. This year, emphasis is being placed on pre-pregnancy care, as this period also has an impact on the growing fetus. Currently, about 160 crore children have been screened under the RBSK.

Govt. of NCT, Delhi to add happiness curriculum for school students Govt. of NCT, Delhi to add happiness curriculum for school students Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary March 21, 2023 SCERT, Govt. of Delhi Education, Mental Health, Happiness Curriculum State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the Government of NCT, Delhi, has launched the Happiness Curriculum (introduced in 2018 by His Holiness Dalai Lama) for students from Nursery to Grade 8 to create confident, mindful, responsible, and happy individuals who collectively build a happy and harmonious society. The objectives of the curriculum are to develop self-awareness, critical thinking, effective communication, empathy, life skills, social awareness, and human values. The curriculum is based on co-existential philosophy (Madhyasth Darshan) and aligns with the National Curriculum Framework 2005 and is created by a team of professionals, including mentor teachers and counselor psychologists. It’s based on the pillars of happiness, which include reflection on the relationship between feelings, thoughts, behavior, and their impact on oneself, family, society, and the environment including mindful activities, stories, reflective questions, and self-expression to enhance students' awareness, mindfulness and deepen learning. The Happiness Curriculum is impacting 8 lakh students and 21000 happiness teachers who experience a daily 40 minutes happiness class , creating a paradigm shift in searching for happiness externally through senses to be able to ensure it within oneself through learning and awareness, ensuring continuity of values.

Women’s welfare gets a boost: Gender budget up by 38.6% Content Editor: Dr. Sathya Prashaath February 27, 2024 at 3:14:40 PM Ministry of Women and Child Development, Women’s welfare The Gender Budget, which allocates funds for schemes and programs that benefit women and girls, has increased by 38.6% compared to the previous year. 43 Ministries/Departments/UTs have reported a total of Rs. 3.09 lakh crore in the Gender Budget Statement 2024-25, which is 6.5% of the total Union Budget. Ministry of Power and Ministry of Civil Aviation have reported in the Gender Budget Statement for the first time. The increase in the Gender Budget reflects the Government's commitment to empower women and girls and ensure their equal participation in the development of the country. Previous Next

Radon and its effects on health Content Editor: Dr. Gopika February 19, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Occupational Hazards, Radiation, Cancer Radon is the 2nd chief cause of lung cancer deaths, after cigarette smoking, in the US Exposure to radon leads to lung cancer in non-smokers & smokers alike. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , radon is the chief cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is accountable for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year Radon is an odorless, invisible, radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water. It gets inside buildings through small fissures and crevices. When inhaled, it gets trapped in the lungs and eventually increases the risk of cancer. In the US, 1 in 15 homes has high radon levels. Studies have shown a conclusive association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. EPA recommends establishing a radon reduction system if levels are equal to or higher than 4pCi/L. In 2009, WHO launched an international radon project to help countries promote awareness and encourage actions to reduce risks related to radon Click here to read more Previous Next

Incentive-based policy reduces antibiotic prescriptions in children in Japan Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav January 4, 2025 at 5:50:53 PM Antibiotic resistance, International health A 2018 Japanese policy offering financial incentives for not prescribing antibiotics to children aged 3 and younger with viral infections aimed to address Japan's high rates of inappropriate antibiotic use, as highlighted by a 2015 global survey. The study, following over 165,000 children, reported: 44.9% reduction in antibiotic prescriptions within the first month, with a sustained 19.5% decrease over 48 months. Broad-spectrum antibiotic use dropped by 24.4%. Physicians were incentivized with ¥800 per case to avoid unnecessary antibiotics, coupled with educating caregivers on viral infections. The policy did not result in higher healthcare costs or adverse outcomes. This evidence supports incentive-based strategies as effective tools for reducing unnecessary antibiotic use while empowering healthcare providers and educating the public. Previous Next

WHO says, JN.1 a Variant of Interest (VOI) Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary December 25, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM COVID 19, International Health The W orld H ealth O rganization (WHO ) has designated the COVID-19 variant JN.1 as a separate variant of interest due to its rapid spread, distinct from the parent lineage BA.2.86. The global public health risk associated with JN.1 is currently considered low, but as winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, it could contribute to an increased burden of respiratory infections. Despite this, current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death caused by JN.1 and other SARS-CoV-2 variants. The WHO emphasizes the importance of preventive measures , including wearing masks, improving ventilation, practising respiratory etiquette, regular hand hygiene, vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza, staying home when sick, and getting tested for symptoms or exposure. Health workers are advised to use universal masking in health facilities and appropriate personal protective equipment when caring for COVID-19 patients. The WHO will continue to monitor and update risk evaluations as needed. Currently, some countries with the largest number of cases of the JN.1 variant are France, USA, Singapore, Canada and UK. Previous Next

National Push for Enhanced Healthcare Resilience Against Fire & Disasters National Push for Enhanced Healthcare Resilience Against Fire & Disasters Content Editor: Dr. Shayari May 24, 2025 Press Information Bureau Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness Union Health Minister Mr. JP Nadda inaugurated the 2nd National Workshop on ‘Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response’ and ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’. He emphasised the urgent need for improved capacity building and awareness across all levels of the healthcare delivery system. Key Takeaways: All healthcare personnel, in both public and private sectors, require robust and comprehensive training for disaster response. Mr. Nadda highlighted the necessity of regular fire safety audits to prevent incidents. He warned that insensitivity towards preparedness can lead to carelessness and devastating "sparks of disaster.” An iGOT (I ntegrated G overnment O nline T raining) e-learning course on ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ was launched on the iGOT Karmayogi platform (igotkarmayogi.gov.in) , which is the dedicated portal for online training for government employees. The workshop aims to develop actionable strategies for more resilient healthcare services nationwide.

Salmonella: An adulterant Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy May 4, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Adulterant, Food-borne disease The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has declared Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products with over 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram. This decision is part of a broader strategy to reduce Salmonella-related illnesses from raw poultry in the U.S., with plans to expand the policy to additional poultry products. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted this policy as a key enhancement to food safety, initiated under President Biden's administration. FSIS will enforce strict pre-production testing and prohibit the use of contaminated lots in product manufacturing, starting 12 months after the policy's publication. This move addresses persistent health risks and aligns with the USDA's commitment to consumer protection and fair labeling practices. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Three-Step approach - the anganwadi protocol for divyang children Three-Step approach - the anganwadi protocol for divyang children Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty December 13, 2023 Press Information Bureau Health Programme Protocol, Anganwadi Centres Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani recently launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children. This protocol, part of the POSHAN Abhiyan , adopts a three-step approach : Screening for Early Disability Signs Community Inclusion, and Referral support through ASHA/ANM/ RBSK teams. It addresses education and nutrition needs, providing Swavlamban Cards for empowerment. This protocol marks a significant stride in creating a nurturing environment for divyang children, fostering inclusion, and celebrating diversity.