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MARCH 2012 Get Previous Issues Free of Cost on Our Website: www.changetabloid.com HEALTH COVERAGE 2012: Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization India has declared year 2012 as the year of intensification of routine immunization. The present full immunization coverage of children is 61%. The key objective of this campaign is to improve full immunization coverage and reach all children, particularly in remote, inaccessible and backward areas as well as in urban slums. The strategies that are being deployed include: • Updating of Micro plans to cover all villages and hamlets in the country; • Special immunization drives in pockets of low immunization coverage; • Intensification of immunization activity by observing immunization weeks in low performing states; • IEC related activities for demand generation towards immunization; • Deployment of adequate number of Health workers; • Prioritization of areas with exclusive strategy for 200 districts poor performing districts in the country; • And Special focus on migrant and mobile populations. Government of India has also expanded the Universal Immunization Progranme (UIP) by introducing 2nd dose of Measles, Hepatitis B and Pentavalent vaccination: India has introduced second dose of measles vaccine in UIP. The target is to vaccinate more than 12 crore children through Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) in 14 states of which 3.4 crore children have already been vaccinated. This will prevent an estimated 1 lakh measles related death. Hepatitis B has been expanded and universalized across the entire country. Pentavalent, a combination vaccine against five diseases (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza B) has been introduced on pilot basis in 2 States – Tamil Nadu and Kerala – in mid December 2011. The initial response of the community has been very encouraging and more than one lakh children have been successfully vaccinated within the 1st month. In order to track every child for assured delivery of immunization services, a web enabled name based tracking system has been put in place with a database of more than 10 million children. Parents are being sent SMS alerts before the due date of vaccination and health workers are also now receiving the list of children due for vaccination through SMS. This is expected to improve immunization coverage substantially within the next one year and facilitate real time reporting on immunization coverage. Molecular Pathology Boon for Prenatal Diagnosis: Expert Around half a million newborns in India suffer from congenital genetic disorders every year – the highest in the world – but advances like molecular pathology have helped detecting these disorders at early stages, an expert said. “The number of children born with genetic disorders in India is highest in the world,” I.C. Verma, director, Sir Ganga Ram hospital, said at International Symposium on Molecular Pathology. However, because of advancements like molecular pathology, the cases of genetic disorders are being detected at an early stage. “There has been an increase in prenatal diagnosis in such cases and its success is above 30 percent,” Verma said. Molecular pathology is a discipline within pathology which focuses on the study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of molecules within organs, tissues or bodily fluids. India Declared itself Free from Bird Flu, H5N1 India became free from bird flu, H5N1. The government made a declaration to this effect on 4 January 2012. The states were advised to have strict surveillance, especially in the vulnerable areas bordering the infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds. WHAT IS H5N1 Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is also known as bird flu , A(H5N1) or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus .It can cause illness in humans and many other animal species. HIV Drug now Available as Oral Powder for Children The HIV drug Viread will now be available in powder form for HIV positive children after its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a biopharmaceutical company said. The move is expected to benefit millions of HIV positive children. The FDA also approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for an oral powder formulation of Viread for children ages 2-5. The active ingredient in Viread, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, is currently the most-prescribed molecule for adults receiving HIV therapy in the United States. In pediatric patients, the use of either the lower-strength tablets or the oral powder formulation of Viread is based on the patient’s age and weight. The safety and efficacy of Viread has not been established in children less than two years of age. For adults unable to swallow Viread tablets, the oral powder formulation equal to 300 mg may be used. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 2.5 million children under the age of 15 living with HIV worldwide, and more than 90 percent live in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO Recognizes Progress of Gulf States for Adopting Regional Strategy to Address Non communicable Diseases The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), whose Ministers of Health met in Muscat, Oman is the first regional entity to respond, at a heads of state level, to the UN General Assembly Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) by developing a regional strategy to address diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory disease. Putting Commitments into Action The strategy outlines a plan to put into action the commitments agreed upon in September in the UN General Assembly’s Political Declaration on NCDs. NCDs cause more than 60% of all deaths in GCC countries, and are caused by shared risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. “The regional strategy details what the six countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) will be doing to tackle NCDs during the next years in terms of reducing people’s exposure to causative risk factors and improving services to prevent and treat these leading health problems,” said Dr Ahmed Al Saidi, Omani Minister of Health who chaired the meeting. “It also highlights what the six countries will do to set targets and measure results, advance multisectoral action, and strengthen national capacity.” Reducing Premature Deaths The Oman meeting followed a two-day summit in December where heads of state of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf endorsed a regional approach to reduce premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases. Welcoming the announcement, WHO Regional Director- Elect of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region Dr Ala Alwan said, “We have the knowledge of what works to prevent and treat NCDs, a global public health and development problem of increasing significance to many countries. We are pleased to see the Gulf Cooperation Council countries taking concrete action to implement affordable best practices (called ‘best buys’) to curb NCDs and we hope other regions will take similar action.” “Up to 50% of people dying from these diseases in some of the Gulf countries die prematurely, before the age of 60 years. This initiative by the GCC should be a major landmark in stopping these premature deaths,” said Alwan. DRDO’s Rs.7 cr Tulsi Project finds Anti Radiation Properties of Tulsi Extracts in Animal Trials There are more revelations coming to light about the home grown tulsi plant’s medicinal values. In a recent research conducted by scientists at DRDO’s (Defence Research Development Organization) Institute of Nuclear Medicines and Allied Sciences and Department of Radiobiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, the scientists have successfully tested tulsi extracts on mice for its anti-radiation and anti-cancer properties. The DRDO is spending Rs.7 crore on the tulsi project. Earlier, the research students at the department of biotechnology of Vignan College in Guntoor, in Andhra Pradesh, had also revealed that Tulsi extracts had useful medicinal ingredients which can treat diabetics and cancerous ailments in humans. Now as the scientists have discovered one more medicinal value in tulsi extract which can be used as an anti-radiation agent, it is evidently proved that the ancient Indian tradition of growing tulsi (Ocimum Santum) in the backyard is not without scientific backing. With this new revelation, it can be said that tulsi plant is embedded with multiple medicinal values, as it can be used not only to treat diabetics, but also can be used for treating cancer and now as an anti-radiant substance. Research shows that the tulsi or Indian basil contains a chemical called glutathione which mitigates the ill-effects of radiation and can protect cells in patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. In fact when anybody is subjected to radiation, it affects the bone marrow first and thus the immunity level comes down. This will make the human body vulnerable for contracting diseases easily. Initially the scientists used tulsi extract on mice and they successfully found that the bone marrow of radiation exposed rodents was not affected and their immunity levels were intact. With this new success, the DRDO is now preparing a herbal concoction from tulsi that will serve to prevent and cure the ill-effects of radiation. Dr W Selvamurthy, chief controller (research and development) revealed that now DRDO is planning to take up human trials. “We need to conduct a few more tests and take up phase II trials before it is released for general use,” said Dr Selvamurthy. In fact, the research on the anti-radiation effect of tulsi in animals has been going on in India since the past 40 years and it is only in the recent years that scientist have been coming out with concrete evidence of tulsi’s mythic medicinal values. Health Scheme Approved for Nepal-domiciled Gorkhas The union cabinet approved the extension of the Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Nepal-domiciled Gorkha (NDG) pensioners in a decision expected to benefit around one lakh Indian exservicemen. There are about one lakh Indian exservicemen and 2.17 lakh dependents domiciled in Nepal who will benefit from the ECHS. They are so far entitled to medical treatment under ECHS at polyclinics and ECHS-empanelled civil hospitals in India. Considering the practical difficulties being faced by Nepal-domiciled Gorkha ex-servicemen in availing treatment, the government has decided to provide medical facilities to them in Nepal itself. The ECHS provides comprehensive and quality healthcare benefits to pensioner ex-servicemen residing in India. Extending it to Nepal for Nepal-domiciled Gorkha ex-servicemen would meet a long-standing need for providing healthcare to them. All other policies and procedures of ECHS which are applicable in India will also apply to pensioner NDGs ex-servicemen in Nepal. Infotech can Improve Healthcare in India: Nasscom Information technology (IT) can make healthcare accessible and affordable to more people in the country, industry lobby the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) said. “IT can provide access to healthcare facilities. Also, it can have a positive impact on affordability and effectiveness of healthcare in India,” Som Mittal, president of the IT-BPO sector apex body, said at the ‘Health 2.02 conference. Experts from the healthcare sector have come together for the first conference that emphasizes on innovation and IT in health services. In the country’s 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017), the Planning Commission is likely to increase the spending on healthcare to increase its affordability and accessibility. CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative and Detailed Coverage Every Month 20
MARCH 2012 For More Current Coverage and Daily Updates Visit Our Website: www.changetabloid.com ENVIRONMENT|WILD LIFE COVERAGE UN Launched Unique Online Database for Businesses The UN has launched a new online database to showcase successful strategies that businesses and communities are using to adapt to climate change while simultaneously increasing their profits and using their resources more efficiently. The database, which can be accessed through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website, features more than 100 examples from companies such as Coca-Cola, Levi’s, Microsoft and Starbucks, which share the details of their business-friendly adaptation practices. “By showcasing private sector adaptation success stories, we intend to help both communities and businesses become more climate-resilient and to put the benefits and business sense of adaptation firmly on the agenda of the private sector,” said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “Climate risks which affect communities around the world are always also business risks,” she added. Examples of best practices in the database include efforts to make drinking water clean and safe in developing countries and efforts to improve the yield of coffee beans in regions that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The database also covers activities such as the development of climate-friendly goods and services and climate proofing the supply chains of companies. “The initiatives detailed in the database both show how the private sector can secure early advantages by adapting without waiting for absolute policy certainty at the international level, and how governments and the private sector can work together to respond to climate change now,” she said. “Public-private partnerships and cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders is becoming increasingly important to ensure successful implementation.” Rudrasagar Development Scheme Approved Planning commission od India on 19 January 2012 approved investment clearance for the scheme – Rudrasagar Drainage Development Scheme, Tripura. The scheme is an estimated to cost of Rs. 14.8978 Crore (Rs Fourteen crore, Eighty Nine Lakhs and Seventy Eight Thousand Only). The project is to be completed by the financial year 2012-13 and Plan account would be closed by 31st March 2013. The implementation of the scheme will restrict water spread area of the lake during monsoon and maintain water level of 13 m during winter and maintain water level of 11 m for boosting the ecology of the area. An area of 2200 ha with a population of 1000 will benefit from the scheme. IMD Installed Doppler Radar System in New Delhi Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on its 137th foundation day (15 January 2012), installed C-Band Polarimetric Doppler Radar system at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi. This system uses advanced data to give information in severe weather condition like rain, hailstorms and dust storms. With the installation of this radar, IMD will be able to cover the entire NCR more accurately to give to the residence of Delhi more accurate information about rainfall, about wind, about heat, about dust storms about hail storms. This will impact the traffic movement in the city, it would avoid traffic jams, and people will know exactly what is going to be happening into the course of between 15 minutes to 2 hrs. India has the most Toxic Air: Study It is official: India has the world’s most toxic air. In a study by Yale and Columbia Universities, India holds the very last rank among 132 nations in terms of air quality with regard to its effect on human health. India scored a miniscule 3.73 out of a possible 100 points in the analysis, lagging far behind the next worst performer, Bangladesh, which scored 13.66. In fact, the entire South Asian region fares badly, with Nepal, Pakistan and China taking up the remaining spots in the bottom five of the rankings. These rankings are part of a wider study to index the nations of the world in terms of their overall environmental performance. The Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network have brought out the Environment Performance Index rankings every two years since 2006. In the overall rankings — which takes 22 policy indicators into account — India fared minimally better, but still stuck in the last ten ranks along with environmental laggards such as Iraq, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. At the other end of the scale, the European nations of Switzerland, Latvia and Norway captured the top slots in the index. India’s performance over the last two years was relatively good in sectors such as forests, fisheries, biodiversity and climate change. However, in the case of water — both in terms of the ecosystem effects to water resources and the human health effects of water quality — the Indian performance is very poor. The Index report was presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where it’s being pitched as a means to identify the leaders and the laggards on energy and environmental challenges prior to the iconic Rio+20 summit on sustainable development to be held in Brazil this June. India Opposes UN Panel’s ‘back door’ for Green Caps A high-profile panel of the United Nation Secretary General (UNSG) on Global Sustainability has recommended that the world adopt sustainable development targets. The move has been opposed by India and several other developing countries as creating a backdoor for caps on emissions and green targets, while breaching the firewall between developing and rich countries that is enshrined in the Rio declaration and the UN convention on climate change. The report, released on 30 January 2012, is seen as a key input to the world leaders’ summit Rio+20 to be held in Brazil later this year, which will review global efforts in achieving ‘sustainable development’. A proposal in the run-up to the Rio+20 meeting suggesting that all countries adopt green targets to achieve over a fixed time along the lines of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) had been opposed by India. The UNSG panel has supported a similar proposal. While the earlier proposal had been more direct in demanding standardized targets for all countries on securing a percentage of renewable energy in the power mix of countries and caps on emission and reduction of subsidies to fossil fuels, the report does provide caveats at other points. But the reference to specific goals, which are universal in nature, goes against the Indian position that the Rio declaration countries signed 20 years ago enshrines the principles of ‘common and differentiated responsibilities’ and such targets would override these. India is wary that they impinge upon economic development and make way for rich countries to force costly technology in the name of green economy. The panel also recommends that a post-2015 global framework for sustainable development should “incorporate near-term benchmarks while being longterm in scope, looking ahead to a deadline of perhaps 2030”. The similarity of looking for a post-2015 global environmental regime with a weakened firewall between rich and poor countries - akin to the European Union’s push in the Durban climate talks last year - has also not gone unnoticed in the policy circles in India. ‘Extinct’ Monkey Rediscovered in Indonesia Jungle Scientists rediscovered a large grey monkey-the Miller’s grizzled langur- in the dense jungles of Indonesia. The monkey was believed to be extinct. The monkey has black face framed by a fluffy, Dracula-esque white collar. It has hooded eyes and a pinkish nose and lips. The animal one roamed the north-eastern part of Borneo, as well as the islands of Java and Sumatra and the Thai- Malay peninsula. The area once the habitat of these monkeys had been destroyed by human encroachment, conversion of land for agriculture and mining and fires. Over 1.20 Lakh Migratory Birds Descend on Pong Dam In Himachal Pradesh, more than 1.20 lakh migratory birds from Siberia and Central Asian countries descended on Maharana Pratap Sagar, popularly known as Pong Dam Lake, in Kangra district. Although, 415 species of migratory birds had landed at different places of the Pong Dam over the past 10 years, it is for the first time that ‘salcaded duck’ has arrived in this wetland. The migratory birds from trans-Himalayan regions had started reaching the Pong Dam wildlife sanctuary in October 2011. Besides a maximum of 25000 bar-headed geese, various other species landed in good numbers, including common pochard, ruddy shell ducks, Eurasion wigeon and pintail. The Wildlife department, in collaboration with the Bombay National History Society, put 15 collar bands and seven transmitters on 22 migratory birds with an objective to get their location details, flying path and breeding grounds to understand their migration routes. New Earthworm Species Discovered in Port Blair The researchers identified a new species of earthworm in Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar islands. The species was named Moniligaster ivaniosi, after the name of the college. The new species has unique features, which includes three pairs of genital apertures and a black line running along the middle region. The unique morphological features of the worm, especially the reproductive structures were attributed to the geographical isolation of Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Indian Ocean. Moreover, the new species shows distinct differences from the nearest related species, M. ophidioides M. grandis and M. sapphirinaoide. The specimen of the new species was deposited at the Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode. ‘The Hoff’ Crab is New Ocean Find UK scientists discovered new crab species on the Southern Ocean floor. The new crab species was named the Hoff because of its hairy chest. The Hoff lives around volcanic vents off South Georgia. The animal has yet to be formally classified. It is, however, a type of yeti crab. Yeti crabs were first identified in the southern Pacific and are recognised for their hairs, or setae, along their claws and limbs that they use to cultivate the bacteria which they then eat. However, the new species found around the vents that fill the East Scotia Ridge are slightly different in their appearance. The novel types of starfish, barnacles, sea anemones, and an octopus are also found in the region. There were as many as 600 animals found per square metre. The UK robotic submersible, Isis, was employed to investigate the ridge near Antarctica. The region is dotted with hydrothermal vents (cracks in the volcanic rock where mineral-rich, hot waters flow from below the seabed to sustain an extraordinary array of organisms). The data transmitted through this advanced radar system is more accurate than the conventional radar, and avoids the need to monitor radar parameters, and its fine tuning. It also detects difficult aviation hazards Vent systems in other parts of the world are occupied such as bird flocks, aircraft and icing conditions. This by animals like tubeworms, mussels, other types of crab, facility will be installed in other 8 cities in due course and shrimps. These animals were not found in the East of time. Scotia Ridge. CHANGE THE ONLY CONSTANT THING : We Bring You More Informative and Detailed Coverage Every Month 21
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