What Tanzania’s COVID-19 vaccine reluctance means for its citizens and the world
Only a few months into the pandemic, the president declared Tanzania COVID-free following three days of national prayers. The argument was that …
Genes might be useful while treating kidney diseases
New study shows how genetic testing could be used to personalise diagnosis and manage kidney disease
Gaming: How much is too much?
The WHO's decision to list gaming disorder as a mental health condition has several gamers and experts debating on its acceptance and validity
Taxing sugary drinks can tackle obesity, diabetes: WHO
A new report by the international health agency proposes fiscal policies that lead to at least a 20 per cent increase in the retail price of …
World no tobacco day: Push for plain packaging to save lives
Plain packaging of tobacco products restricts advertising and promotion and increases the effectiveness of health warnings
WHO calls for moratorium on booster till 2021-end, ‘additional’ dose for high risk population
Currently, 20 per cent of the available vaccines are being used as boosters
Anaemia in women, children aggravated in 2019: NFHS-5
As many as 68.4% children and 66.4% women surveyed suffered from anaemia in 2019
OIE releases new strategy to fight antimicrobial resistance
Agency exhorts international community to come forward and outline a work plan
Countries promise commitment towards implementation of Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance
India outlines progress but a lot more needs to be achieved for comprehensive outcomes
Emerging drug resistance in eastern Africa hinders fight against malaria
Most of the countries in Africa are not on track to achieving the goal of eliminating malaria in the continent by 2030
World freed from toxic leaded petrol: A global win
While global eradication of toxic lead in petrol needs to be celebrated, this also reminds us how tough it is to undo wrong if the evidence of …
Different air under one sky: Almost everyone in South Africa breathes polluted air
Air quality is not monitored in most cities as they lack the resources to compile inventories
In a first, WHO commits to eliminate cervical cancer globally
The global health body aims to reduce more than 40% new cases by 2050 through vaccination, screening and treatment
Pollution in news on May 2
Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and developments on pollution
Depression, an invisible burden for TB patients; and we must urgently address this
The risk of people with mental disorders being prone to developing TB has often been overlooked
Depression single largest contributor to global disability, says WHO
The alarming thing is that the number of people with common mental disorders is increasing, particularly in low-income countries
World Health Assembly: health issues of women, children and elderly in focus
Health facilities available for older people are unequally distributed across the world
Vaccine inequity: Disparity in access to doses hits low-income countries, says WHO
Only 2 manufacturers are supplying key vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccines, measles and rubella-containing vaccines across the world
World Food Day: Looking for a new avatar in COVID-19 times
What we now need is smart, systemic action to get the food to those who need it and improve it for those who have it, says FAO Director-…
World Health Assembly: Political will needed to curb non-communicable diseases
Non-communicable diseases kill 41 million people each year, low and middle-class countries account for 80 per cent of these deaths
Your food might be growing in contaminated soil
Soil pollution poses a major risk to human health by impairing plant metabolism and making crops unsafe for consumption
What could have turned yellow fever outbreak into a global disaster?
Fast spread of yellow fever and lack of steady supply of vaccine had put WHO and global aid agencies in a spot
Yellow fever grips DRC, Angola
More than 11 million doses of the yellow fever vaccine have been sent to Angola since February this year and more than 2 million to DRC
Drinking very hot beverages can cause oesophageal cancer, says IARC
The cancer research organisation concluded that high temperatures, rather than specific drinks, are carcinogenic
WHO releases guidelines for multi-modal generative AI in healthcare, resonates with recommendations for other sectors
Rapid adoption of AI-driven models underscores need to weigh out their benefits and risks carefully