South-East Asian nations commit to making medicines accessible to all
A ‘Delhi Declaration’ was signed by 11 countries of the region with an aim to make healthcare affordable and accessible to its 2 …
Ebola re-emerges in the Democratic Republic of Congo
36 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo less than two weeks after the WHO declared an end to the outbreak
India sees 1.75 million dog bites every year, yet we face up to 80% shortage of anti-rabies vaccines
The government is dragging its feet over controlling dog population, vaccinating them or even making enough shots available for victims
How the DRC’s Ebola crisis has led to children dying from measles
Community mistrust towards the outbreak response team; high levels of insecurity due to battles between army and armed groups
WHA comes to an end with resolutions to improve universal health care
Members endorse improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services in health facilities around the world
World has failed to respond to accidents and diseases at work
In 2017, 2.7 million workers died from work-related injuries and diseases, up from 2.4 million workers in 2014. With a nearly 20 per cent rise in …
Scarred: The COVID-19 pandemic destroyed human capital. Its impact will haunt our future
The economic impact caused by a collapse of human capital could affect the world for upto a decade, according to a new World Bank report
Nigeria becomes second country to approve Oxford’s malaria vaccine
After Ghana, Nigeria’s approval of malaria vaccine will help world achieve WHO goal of reducing malaria cases, deaths by 90% by 2030
Measles cases triple in a year: WHO
More than 180 countries reported 364,808 measles cases between January 1 and July 31 2019. In the same period last year, 129,239 cases were …
Dutch invention dubbed the world’s largest vacuum cleaner for outside air
It is capable of filtering out 100 per cent of fine particles and 95 per cent of ultra-fine particles
At least 20,000 hidden cases of leprosy identified in less than a month
The leprosy drives aim at covering all districts in high-burden states with a prevalence rate of over one leprosy case in a population of 10,000
Phasing out environment-friendly transport in Kolkata
The state government is also trying to phase out tram lines laid in the city in 1903. Earlier, it banned cycles on more than 174 roads
Refrain from religious profiling of COVID-19 cases: WHO in context of Tabligh
Govt of Indian gives statewise distribution of Islamic sect cases; That isn't helpful, says World Health Org
Merck signs deal with UN-backed MPP for global access to COVID-19 drug
The agreement will help create broad access for the drug use in 105 low- and middle-income countries, including India, subject to regulatory approval
European Medicines Agency asks EU to decrease use of antibiotic colistin
The update comes after a new mechanism of resistance to the bacteria was found in pigs and humans samples
Africa reported 30% of global acute public health events in last 2 decades: WHO
Infections were main cause for public health emergencies in last 2 decades; Climate-led natural disasters fuelling acute public health events
Fine particulate air pollution shortens average Indian’s life by 5.3 years: University of Chicago
Nearly 40% of India’s population concentrated in Indo-Gangetic Plain to be affected most due to air pollution
WHO, US CDC are now tracking new COVID variant BA.2.86
Also called BA.X, lineage now under WHO’s variant under monitoring list
Venoms of 26 deadly snakes in sub-Saharan Africa classified
Snakes considered most important medically; Classification to help develop effective anti-venoms
COP27: Africa desperately needs a ‘loss and damage’ finance facility; here is why
The continent has limited socio-economic capacity and is ill-prepared to adequately respond to climatic disasters, build resilience and adapt …
Deluged Pakistan faces significant health threats, WHO warns
Threats include malaria, dengue fever, polio, diarrhoea, COVID-19 and cholera; Maternal health to be affected and domestic violence will rise, UN says
African health ministers adopt PEN-PLUS strategy against non-communicable diseases
Stretegy will help bridge access gap in treatment, care of patients with chronic & severe NCD
How African countries coordinated the response to COVID-19: lessons for public health
Decentralisation strategies and innovation played key roles in coordination. Financing was a challenge to coordination
Ghana reports first-ever suspected cases of Marburg virus disease
Second time the disease with high fatality rate has been detected in western Africa; WHO confirmation awaited
West Africa records 1st death from ‘highly infectious’ Marburg virus
Case fatality rate of the infection is 24-88%