As per the National Family Health Survey-3 2005-06, the percentage of underweight children below 5 years among scheduled tribes is 54.5% as against the National average of 2.5%  for all category of children. Madhya Pradesh Happens to be the worst affected State and Sikkim is placed at the best place with only 19.7 per cent ofunderweight  children compared to the National average of 42.5 per cent.  The State-wise details of underweight children below 5 years in the country as well in Scheduled tribes is as under:

M/s Livzon Pharmaceutical Group Inc, Guangdong, 519020, China filed a patent application No: EP1849473 titled “Chinese traditional medicine composition for treatment of avian influenza, method for preparation, and application thereof” on 19-01-2007. On 25-02-2010 European Patent Office (EPO) after examination conveyed their intention to grant the patent to M/s Livzon. On 27-04-2010 Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), unit jointly set up by the Department of AYUSH and CSIR made a submission to EPO on the basis of available prior art references from Ayurveda & Unani text books the details of 4 medicinal formulations where Pudina & Kalamegha have been used for the treatment of Influenza, epidemic fever, stating that these uses have been known for hundreds of years in the Ayurveda & Unani systems of medicine.

KEY FACTS

About 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace.

According to WHO estimates, more than 107 000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposure.

Current Affairs WaterProblems: Nearly 1.44 lakh rural habitations across the country with ground-water based drinking water sources are affected by chemical contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, salinity, iron and nitrates. These habitations remain to be covered with safe drinking water supply.  State-wise and UT-wise distribution of the remaining quality affected habitations are at Annex-1.The consumption of drinking water with excess arsenic and fluoride over a prolonged period could result in various diseases. Bacteriological contamination of drinking water could result in diseases like diarrhoea and dysentery.

A draft National Policy on Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (drugs) abuse and Rehabilitation on the recommendations of National Consultative Committee for De-addiction and Rehabilitation (NCCDR), is being formulated.

There is no authentic data to conclusively indicate that the use of alcohol and drugs has been rapidly increasing in the country. However, a sample survey is being conducted in the States of Manipur and Punjab and the city of Mumbai, through National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), on pilot basis to ascertain the extent and trends of substance abuse.

There is no new criteria by WHO to control the problem of malnutrition. However,

WHO has proposed new WHO Child Growth Standards to identify malnutrition inchildren. These Standards have been adopted by Government of India w.e.f. 15.8.08 following the recommendations of the National Workshop on the Adoption of new WHO Child Growth Standards organized jointly by Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with WHO and UNICEF collaboration on 8-9 February, 2007 at New Delhi.

Current Affairs Health: A 45 million Pound partnership between Department of Bio-Technology, Government of India and Wellcome Trust, UK has been announced to support the development of innovative healthcare products at affordable costs. Two other new India-UK joint research projects – “Bridging the rural/urban divide” to provide technological solutions to improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants in both countries and multi disciplinary research partnerships to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell technologies were also discussed when Sh. Prithviraj Chavan, Minister for Science and Technology met David Willets, Minister of State for Universities and Science, UK, in New Delhi .

Ten steps to successful breastfeeding highlighted during World Breastfeeding Week

During World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries, WHO reiterates its call on health facilities and health workers to implement ten steps to help mothers breastfeed successfully and improve their babies’ health and chances of survival.

Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. It is safe, gives babies the nutrients they need for healthy development and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses.

Malnutrition is not a major cause of infant death though it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. As per the latest data available from Registrar General of India (RGI) for the period 2001-03, 2% of the total infant deaths were due to nutritional deficiencies.

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS), Registrar General of India (RGI), the Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 57 per thousand live births in the year 2006 to 53 per thousand live births in the year 2008.

Current Affairs Medical and health:

The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda & Siddha  and  Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, which are autonomous organizations under the Department of AYUSH have claimed such Patents.  A total number of 7 claims have already been finalized as per details given at Annexure – I.  In addition, a total number of 32 claims, as per details given at Annexure – II, are in various stages of finalization.

Currents Affairs health in India:

It is estimated that the number of persons suffering from chronic non communicable diseases is increasing and overall non communicable diseases constitute more than 40% of all deaths in the country. However, it is not possible to define the number that die due to a lack of palliative care, which essentially aims to improve the quality of life of patients through treatment of pain and related problems.

Currents Affairs health in India:

A statement showing central assistance or grants provided to States/UTs under the NationalProgramme for Control of Blindness during the last three years and the current year is given at ANNEXURE-I.

A statement showing central assistance provided to States/UTs under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme during the last three years and the current year is given at ANNEXURE-II.

Under the National Programme for Control of Blindness, following guidelines have been issued for utilization of the Central assistance or grants provided under the programme:

Current Affairs Health:

The institutional delivery for the last 3 years state-wise is annexed.

Under the National Rural Health Mission, Government of India has taken several steps  for public private partnership   including in the pockets  where Government facilities are less  such as :

Accreditation of Private Health Facilities for conducting institutional delivery under Demand Promotion Scheme i.e. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY).

Current Affairs Health:

However, it is estimated that 10.43 lakh nurses would be required by 2012 in the country. Taking into account 3.72 lakh  nurses  available and 3.13 lakh nurse likely to be trained with the existing capacity, there would be shortfall of 3.50 lakh nurse.

The following steps have been initiated to bridge the shortfall: -

Current Affairs Foreign Affairs

A 45 million Pound partnership between Department of Bio-Technology, Government of India and Wellcome Trust, UK has been announced to support the development of innovative healthcare products at affordable costs. Two other new India-UK joint research projects – “Bridging the rural/urban divide” to provide technological solutions to improve the quality of life of rural inhabitants in both countries and multi disciplinary research partnerships to develop the next generation of environmentally friendly fuel cell technologies were also discussed when Sh. Prithviraj Chavan, Minister for Science and Technology met David Willets, Minister of State for Universities and Science, UK, in New Delhi last evening.

current affairs health

– Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone.

Current Affairs Health :

The UN General Assembly recognised access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. After more than 15 years of debate on the issue, 122 countries voted in favour of a compromise Bolivian resolution enshrining the right, while 41 abstained. The text “declares the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life.”

Replacing traditional foods with imported, processed food has contributed to the high prevalence of obesity and related health problems in the Pacific islands. Jane Parry reports.

Scattered across the Pacific Ocean are thousands of islands which make up three regions known as Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Beyond the image of white sandy beaches and carefree lifestyles, the Pacific islands are facing serious health problems, the prime culprit being imported foods.

Even though India achieved the goal of elimination (i.e. point prevalence rate of less than 1 case per 10,000 population) of leprosy as a public health problem at national level in December 2005, higher prevalence of leprosy is reported in some areas. Therefore, new cases of leprosy occur due to long incubation period of disease and relatively higher prevalence of leprosy in certain areas of the country. However, new leprosy cases are showing a declining trend i.e. from 1.61 lakh cases in 2005-06 to 1.34 in 2009-10.

The government is aware that a number of pregnant women have been testing positive for HIV/AIDS in North India.

Besides the presence of high risk groups (Female Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men and Injecting Drug Users) in North India, single male migration to areas with higher HIV prevalence is fueling the HIV epidemic. These migrant acquire HIV infection by indulging in risk behavior – unsafe sexual practices and injecting drugs at their destinations and further infect their wives on return.