Global food regulators summit 2024: Advancing food safety and innovation worldwide Global food regulators summit 2024: Advancing food safety and innovation worldwide Content Editor: Dr. Anamika October 10, 2024 Press Information Bureau Food safety, Food regulators, Food security, Nutrition The second edition of the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 was inaugurated by the Union Health Minister. The summit emphasizes collaboration and innovation , aiming to share insights and best practices for ensuring safe and nutritious food worldwide . It aims to establish a global platform for food regulators to share insights on food safety systems. Focus areas include addressing foodborne illnesses, nutraceutical safety, novel foods, and microplastics. New initiatives launched include the Food Import Rejection Alerts (FIRA) portal for notifying food import rejections and the Food Import Clearance System 2.0 (FICS 2.0) for faster processing and transparency. The State Food Safety Index (SFSI ) 2024 was released, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, and Nagaland leading the rankings. Click here to read more.

WHO alerts about Naturcold: a toxin contaminated cough syrup WHO alerts about Naturcold: a toxin contaminated cough syrup Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy August 3, 2023 Reuters Global health, Child health, Pharmacovigilance, WHO Following the deaths of six children in Cameroon in April this year, the government, with support from the WHO, traced the toxin responsible to cough syrup sold under the trade name Naturcold. While the origins of the company are yet to be traced, the toxin responsible for the contamination has been identified. 28% Diethylene glycol, as opposed to the permitted 0.1%, is reported to be the contaminant responsible. Pharmaceutical experts explained that when the price of propylene glycol increased in 2021, many manufacturers substituted it with a cheaper but toxic alternative, diethylene glycol, which has caused many such poisonings across the world.

Unraveling the silent symphony of air pollution and mental health Unraveling the silent symphony of air pollution and mental health Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti January 8, 2024 National Green Tribunal Environmental Health, Air Pollution, Mental Health The National Green Tribunal , on behalf of ICMR , released a report on the effect of air pollution on mental health and illnesses. Quoting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the report emphasized the correlation between particulate matter in the air and mental health illness. Fine and Coarse particulate matter (PM 2.5 AND PM 10 ) has been associated with a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Quoting published studies, the report also mentions the findings of studies conducted on pregnant women which have found a higher risk of depression following second-trimester exposure to NO2, PM2.5, and PM 10 . The report also underscores the relevance of effective measures to control air pollution.

7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah: Focus on addressing nutrition holistically Content Editor: Dr. Prachi September 13, 2024 at 1:00:00 PM Nutrition, Reproductive health, Anemia, Growth The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah launched on 31st August 2024, focuses on anemia, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, and Technology for better governance. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam promoted environmental sustainability through plantations at 13.95 lakhs Anganwadi centers. Key activity breakdown: 39 lakhs on anemia, 27 lakhs on Growth Monitoring, 20 lakhs on Complementary Feeding, and 18.5 lakhs on Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi. One key focus area, Technology for Better Governance, aims to help effectively implement and monitor nutrition indicators linked to the ICT application Poshan Tracker. The ministries of Education, Health, Rural Development, Ayush, and Panchayati Raj significantly contributed to Poshan Maah activities, including anemia camps, growth monitoring, complementary feeding, and environmental protection outreach. The campaign emphasizes reaching remote areas under the theme "Suposhit Kishori Sashakt Nari". Previous Next

WHO launches landmark Patient Safety Rights charter WHO launches landmark Patient Safety Rights charter Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet May 7, 2024 WHO News Section Patient Rights, Safety, International Health The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Patient Safety Rights Charter at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety, emphasizing the significance of patient safety within healthcare systems worldwide. This Charter, the first of its kind, outlines patients' rights in the context of safety and aims to guide stakeholders in shaping legislation, policies, and guidelines. Patient safety encompasses processes, procedures, and cultures that minimize risks of harm to patients, regardless of their demographics or status. The Charter delineates 10 crucial patient safety rights , including timely and appropriate care, safe healthcare practices, qualified staff, and patient and family engagement. The Charter aligns with global priorities identified in the Global Patient Safety Action Plan and the World Health Assembly resolution on patient safety. It aims to empower healthcare workers, leaders, governments, and patients alike to foster patient-centered healthcare systems and advocate for high-quality, safe healthcare. Click here to read more.

Do digital payments have any effect on the morale of healthcare workers? Do digital payments have any effect on the morale of healthcare workers? Content editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal February 23, 2024 WHO News Section Healthcare workers, Digital payments WHO has been a leader among international organizations in transitioning from the cumbersome, less secure practice of paying salaries in cash. Over the last few years, the Organisation established its Digital Finance Team and joined the Better Than Cash Alliance to advance payment digitalization efforts. Since its inception in 2020, WHO's Digital Finance Team has designed and implemented digital payment systems in 24 African nations, including last year in Benin, Botswana, Madagascar, Rwanda, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Digital payments also save time and money for health campaign organizers by eliminating the need and price of carrying huge sums of cash and completing paperwork. Workers valued the security of not carrying cash, the ease of no longer having to travel to a location to get their paychecks, and, most importantly, the timeliness of payment. Click here to read more.

Matri Van: Towards making India a green economy Content Editor: Dr. Tanya July 8, 2024 at 3:45:00 PM Environment, Climate Change The National Mission for Green India is one of the eight missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC ). This green initiative shall help in the following ways: Achieving a Green Economy Adopting a sustainable lifestyle to fight the challenges of climate change Foster organic relationships between man and nature Adopting the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) Initiative Current Initiatives towards building a Green Economy by the Govt. of India include: Wildlife Preservation Initiatives such as the Cheetah relocation, Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Lion, and the Big Cat Alliance Intensive Afforestation drives such as MISHTI (M ission M angrove I nitiative for S horeline H abitats and T angible I ncome) and the “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam” Initiative, which advocates planting a tree in honor of your mother and motherland, make tree plantation drives an even more sacred process. International Solar Alliance The way forward for this initiative includes: Demarcation of areas in Nagar Vans for plantation Identification and distribution of seeds of Indigenous plant species area-wise across states and UTs. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Kerala ramps up efforts to combat amoebic meningoencephalitis Kerala ramps up efforts to combat amoebic meningoencephalitis Content Editor: Shayari Nag July 31, 2024 Social trends Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Parasitic infections, Water-borne Illnesses Kerala Health Minister Veena George convened a high-level meeting to address the recent death of a 15-year-old boy from amoebic meningoencephalitis. The meeting focused on a swift and coordinated response to prevent further cases. The infection was traced back to a muddy field where the boy had played, highlighting the disease's link to contaminated water sources. The key decisions undertaken were as follows: Intensified campaigns to educate the public , especially parents and children, about the risks associated with contaminated water and preventive measures. Enhanced surveillance and monitoring systems to detect and respond to potential cases promptly. Emphasis on ensuring the safety of drinking water sources and promoting hygienic practices. The meeting involved health officials, experts, and representatives from various departments, signifying a collaborative approach to tackling the issue. The incident underscores the importance of water safety and public health awareness , particularly in regions where such infections can occur.

New campaign to help smokers quit smoking New campaign to help smokers quit smoking Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal March 12, 2024 Center for Disease Control Tobacco And Smoking, Non-Communicable Diseases To help smokers stop smoking, the C enter for D isease C ontrol and P revention (CDC ) introduced the Tips from Former Smokers (Tips) initiative. This year, seven new people will appear in the advertisements , sharing their accounts of how smoking cigarettes and the diseases they cause have ruined their lives. The federal government funds Tips, the first nationally recognized tobacco education program that tells the stories of over 45 brave people from diverse backgrounds. These have been impacted by the serious long-term health effects of smoking and secondhand smoke exposure. Many stories are shown, with a focus on the detrimental effects of smoking menthol cigarettes.

India’s march towards ‘ TB Free’ status: the initiatives & achievements Content Editor: Dr. Sivanthiga December 3, 2024 at 3:02:54 AM Communicable disease,Tuberculosis,strategies,Initiatives A decline in TB incidence, increased diagnostic testing, improved financial assistance , integrated patient support and community involvement in the year 2023 as compared to the then status in 2015 were the achievements listed. India aims to reduce TB incidence by 80% and mortality rate by 90% and zero house-hold getting infected and suffering from catastrophic expenses. The global average in decline was 8.3% whereas India recorded a remarkable 17.7% decrease in incidence of Tuberculosis. The focus of National Strategic Plan (2017 to 2025) was on innovative diagnostics and comprehensive care. The program has addressed HIV, malnutrition, substance abuse and diabetes for enhanced outcome of TB treatment The NTEP conducted 68.3 lakh Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests and 1.83 crore sputum smear tests in 2023 thereby resulting in an increase in diagnostic testing. 1croreTB patients have been provided with rupees to 781 crores under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana. For TB care and awareness, the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan mobilized over 1.5 community workers. Click here to read more Previous Next