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Hello Jammu News at 2:17:00 PM 0

United Nations, Sep 5: Insufficient physical activity is negatively impacting more than 1.4 billion adults globally, putting them at the heightened risk of deadly diseases, the WHO has warned in a new study published Wednesday.

There has been no improvement in global levels of physical activity since 2001 and some one-in-three women and one-in-four men globally are not active enough to stay healthy, according to the findings by the United Nations health agency.

The study, published in the Lancet Global Health journal, highlights the well-established benefits of being physically active, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, as well as breast and colon cancer.

Additionally, physical activity has positive effects on mental health, can delay the onset of dementia and help people maintain a healthy weight.

"Unlike other major global health risks, levels of insufficient physical activity are not falling worldwide, on average, and over a quarter of all adults are not reaching the recommended levels of physical activity for good health," the study's lead author Regina Guthold of the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

The study details the levels of insufficient physical activity in different countries and estimates global and regional trends.

Moreover, levels of insufficient physical activity are more than twice as great in high-income countries as compared to that of low-income nations, with a five per cent increase in higher income countries between 2001 and 2016.

There has been little progress in improving physical activity levels during that 15-year period, with data projecting that if these trends continue, the 2025 global activity target of a 10 per cent relative reduction in insufficient physical activity, will not be met.

Other main findings showed that by the end of 2016, in 55 of 168 countries, more than one-third of the population was insufficiently physically active, more than half of all adults in Kuwait, American Samoa, Saudi Arabia and Iraq were insufficiently active, while inadequate levels elsewhere of 40 per cent appeared in the US, 36 per cent in the UK and 14 per cent in China.

The greatest levels of insufficient activity comparing women and men appeared in South Asia (43 versus 24 per cent), Central Asia, Middle East and north Africa (40 versus 26 per cent), and high-income Western countries (42 versus 31 per cent).

It also found that around one-in-three women and one-in-four men worldwide did not reach the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.

Across regions, many individual countries recorded large differences in insufficient activity between women and men, such as 40 versus 16 per cent in Bangladesh, 31 versus 14 per cent in Eritrea, 44 versus 25 per cent in India, 48 versus 32 per cent in the US and 40 versus 32 per cent in the UK.

"Addressing these inequalities in physical activity levels between men and women will be critical to achieving global activity targets and will require interventions to promote and improve women's access to opportunities that are safe, affordable and culturally acceptable," said WHO co-author Fiona Bull.

The study is based on self-reported activity levels including at work, home and in transit, as well as during leisure time for those aged 18 and above, from 358 population-based surveys in 168 countries, consisting of around 1.9 million people. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 3:03:00 PM 0

Houston, Aug 23: Ambient air pollution shortens an average Indian's life by over 1.5 years, say scientists who suggest that better air quality could lead to a significant extension of human lifespan around the world.

Researchers said that if PM2.5 concentrations worldwide were limited to the World Health Organization's (WHO) air quality guideline concentration of 10 microgrammes per square cubic metre, the global life expectancy would be on average 0.59 year longer.

The benefit of reaching the stringent target would be especially large in countries with the highest current levels of pollution, with approximately 0.8 1.4 years of additional survival in countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.

This is the first time data on air pollution and lifespan has been studied together in order to examine the global variations to find out how they affect the overall life expectancy.

The researchers from University of Texas at Austin in the US looked at outdoor air pollution from particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 microns. These fine particles can enter deep into the lungs, and breathing PM2.5 is associated with increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, respiratory diseases and cancer.

PM2.5 pollution comes from power plants, cars and trucks, fires, agriculture and industrial emissions.

They found that the life expectancy impact of ambient PM2.5 is especially large in polluted countries such as Bangladesh (1.87 years), Egypt (1.85 years), Pakistan (1.56 years), Saudi Arabia (1.48 years), Nigeria (1.28 years), and China (1.25 years).

India had a life expectancy impact of 1.53 years, according to the study.

The team used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study to measure PM2.5 air pollution exposure and its consequences in 185 countries.

They then quantified the national impact on life expectancy for each individual country as well as on a global scale.

"The fact that fine particle air pollution is a major global killer is already well known," said Joshua Apte, who led the study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

"We were able to systematically identify how air pollution also substantially shortens lives around the world. What we found is that air pollution has a very large effect on survival -- on average about a year globally," said Apte.

In the context of other significant phenomena negatively affecting human survival rates, Apte said this is a big number.

"For example, it's considerably larger than the benefit in survival we might see if we found cures for both lung and breast cancer combined," he said.

"For much of Asia, if air pollution were removed as a risk for death, 60 year olds would have a 15 per cent to 20 per cent higher chance of living to age 85 or older," he added.

"A body count saying 90,000 Americans or 1.1 million Indians die per year from air pollution is large but faceless," said Apte.

"Saying that, on average, a population lives a year less than they would have otherwise -- that is something relatable," he said. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 8:21:00 PM 0

DC Kargil stresses line deptts to actively participate in MR campaign to achieve cent percent targets
KARGIL JULY 12: In connection with Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination Campaign to be launched in September-October 2018 in district Kargil, a training and sensitization for all TOTs and stakeholders was held here at Conference Hall Baroo Kargil.
Executive Councilor Health, LAHDC, Kargil Mohammad Hussain was the Chief Guest while as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) LAHDC Kargil, Vikas Kundal was the Guest of Honor on the occasion.
SMO, WHO, Dr Vikram Gupta, Chief Medical Officer Kargil, Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, senior officers of district administration, representatives from various organizations including Anganwadi Workers, ASHA workers, Kargil Buddhist Association and other concerned officers attended the training programme.
Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Councillor Health while highlighting the importance of acquiring complete knowledge about Measles-Rubella, its disease profile, disease definition, geographical distribution of measles, preventive measures and technical knowledge on how to inject Measles-Rubella vaccine called upon the concerned to put in place all required and timely measures in this pursuit. 
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner stressed upon all the line departments to actively participate in the campaign so that hundred percent targets will be achieved in this regard and also asked them to motivate other people to participate. He asked the NGO’s to come forward and ensure their participation in the campaign as he said that they can play a pivotal role in this regard.
Earlier, CMO Kargil briefed the workshop about the Measles Rubella vaccination campaign and the measures taken by the department for imparting training at block levels.
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Hello Jammu News at 7:34:00 PM 0


JAMMU, JUNE 13: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Ex-Services League (JKESL) led by President of the organization Maj Gen Govardhan Singh Jamwal, called on the Divisional Commissioner Hemant Kumar Sharma, here today.
The delegation apprised the Div Com about the bottlenecks faced by them in completing the project of Welfare Housing Organization (WHO) to raise two housing colonies at village Patti and Barn for war widows, widows and personnel/veterans of the three services. The delegation pointed out that the government approved project that started in the year 1998 is yet to complete.
Divisional Commissioner directed the revenue department to provide requisite support to JKESL for early completion of the project commissioned for the interest of war widows, widows and defence personnel/veterans.
  Assuring all out assistance to JKESL, Divisional Commissioner directed the ACRs of districts Jammu and Samba to give top priority to the project.
He gave a patient hearing to the other issues of veterans and assured them that appropriate action will be taken soon in this regard.
The delegation comprised of Col Kulbeer Jamwal, Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, Col SA Qureshi, Col Chaman Bhangotra and others.

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Hello Jammu News at 8:00:00 PM 0

BARAMULLA, JUNE 7: A day-long sensitization workshop on “Mission Indradhanush” under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in ‘Aspirational Districts’ was today organized here at Sherwani hall Baramulla which marks the participation of a huge gathering of health functionaries and others concerned.
The workshop was organized by Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization.
On the occasion, various speakers including some WHO experts presented the essential features of the programme and threw light on its various aspects. They provided necessary guidelines with regard to the conduct of assessment and other related components of the programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Medical Officer Dr Bashir Ahmad Chalkoo who was the chief guest at the event urged upon the field functionaries to work with added zeal so that all the objectives of the mission are achieved.
Deputy CMO Dr Jozi Bashir, during her address deliberated upon the essential components of the mission wherein she urged for achieving 100% target and to inculcate all the dropouts and left outs within its ambit. Dr Jozi said that ‘Mission Indradhanush’ immunization programme has been the thrust area of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which has been incorporated as a vital index in Aspirational District programme.
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Hello Jammu News at 12:32:00 PM 0

Juba, May 18: In South Sudan, food insecurity continues to deteriorate to Emergency (IPC Phase 4) due to displacement, restrictions on movement and trade flows, and limited access to normal livelihoods activities.
As measured on the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 63 per cent of the total population is expected to face severe food insecurity in the absence of comprehensive humanitarian assistance in the period May to July 2018 and nearly 261 500 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition, out of which at least 10 to 20 per cent are expected to develop medical complications associated with SAM.
To reduce the health impact of the current nutrition emergency in areas with the highest burden of acute malnutrition, WHO through its integrated health, nutrition and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions is improving the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications in stabilisation centers (SC).
“Treatment of acute malnutrition requires multi-sectoral approach, including the provision of quality healthcare services and supplies, safe water, improved sanitation and proper hygiene services”, says Marina Adrianopoli, Technical Officer for Nutrition at the WHO South Sudan.
In an effort to close child survival gaps, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the nutrition cluster is providing comprehensive training of trainers (ToT) on management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications (MC), water quality control system, psychosocial support to caretakers of admitted children and monitoring/supporting functionality and quality of SC services in former Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states.
This ToT which brought together 17 health workers from six nutritional stabilisation centers in Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap aimed at improving the quality of services in nutrition stabilisation centers and reducing the death rate resulting from the mismanagement of SAM cases.
The trainings are part of a programme designed by WHO in coordination with the health authorities and nutrition cluster to respond to the food security crisis and build the capacity of the Ministry of Health and partners nutrition cadres to roll out the new National Guidelines on Inpatient Management of SAM/MC, expand the training program using national facilitators and increase the efficiency and effective day-to-day running of stabilisation centers across the country.
Thanks to the continued support of our donor – the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF), “the trainings are lifesaving interventions for early identification, referral and timely treatment of malnourished children” says Mr Evans Liyosi, WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan. By the end of September 2018, about 4 704 children and care takers are expected to benefit from the services provided by WHO and partners.
In addition to the ToT conducted for partners operating in Unity, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap another three training courses on management of acute malnutrition with medical complications will be cascaded for a total of 80 participants from the former Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria States.
As a way of monitoring progress throughout treatment, WHO Stabilization Center Functionality Monitoring Tool, has been introduced to explore key aspects on the quality of care in stabilisation centers, to identify challenges in the delivery of inpatient medical and nutritional care, focusing on ward setup and structure, availability of supplies, job aides, equipment and staff.
The tool also helps to address challenges through immediate and medium-term actions and promotes results-oriented activities.
In order to provide treatment to severely malnourished children suffering from medical complications, WHO also distributes SAM kits to Wau Teaching hospital, Wau PoC clinic, and Raja Hospital to support affected population in counties with high rates of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM), in the former Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
The WHO SAM kit includes antibiotics, antifungal, de-worming, antimalarial and anti-scabies medicines, and a rehydration mix specific to treat cases of SAM. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:25:00 PM 0
Geneva/Kinshasa, May 18: One new case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been confirmed in Wangata, one of the three health zones of Mbandaka, a city of nearly 1.2 million people in Equateur Province in northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced the finding, after laboratory tests conducted by the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) confirmed one specimen as positive for EVD.
Until now, all the confirmed Ebola cases were reported from Bikoro health zone, which is also in Equateur Province but at a distance of nearly 150 km from Mbandaka. The health facilities in Bikoro have very limited functionality and the affected areas are difficult to reach, particularly during the current rainy season, as the roads are often impassable.
"This is a concerning development, but we now have better tools than ever before to combat Ebola," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO and our partners are taking decisive action to stop further spread of the virus."
WHO is deploying around 30 experts to conduct surveillance in the city and is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to engage with communities on prevention and treatment and the reporting of new cases.
"The arrival of Ebola in an urban area is very concerning and WHO and partners are working together to rapidly scale up the search for all contacts of the confirmed case in the Mbandaka area," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
WHO is also working with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and other partners to strengthen the capacity of health facilities to treat Ebola patients in special isolation wards.
As of May 15, a total of 44 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported: 3 confirmed, 20 probable, and 21 suspected.
WHO partners in the DRC Ebola response include: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Congolese Red Cross (Congo ICRC), the Red Cross of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC ICRC), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, UNOCHA, MONUSCO, International Organization for Migration (IOM), the FAO Emergency Management Centre – Animal Health (EMC-AH), the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance, the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the UK Public Health Rapid Support team, the EPIET Alumni Network (EAN), and the International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Emerging Diseases Clinical Assessment and Response Network (EDCARN).
Additional coordination and technical support is forthcoming through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and Emergency Medical Teams (EMT). UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:31:00 PM 0

Kolkata, May 16: Today, many people are unable to get tested for diseases because they cannot access diagnostic services.
Many are incorrectly diagnosed. As a result, they do not receive the treatment they need and, in some cases, may actually receive the wrong treatment.
For example, an estimated 46 per cent of adults with Type 2 diabetes worldwide are undiagnosed, risking serious health complications and higher health costs. Late diagnosis of infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis increases the risk of spread and makes them more difficult to treat.
To address this gap, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday published its first Essential Diagnostics List, a catalogue of the tests needed to diagnose the most common conditions as well as a number of global priority diseases.
“An accurate diagnosis is the first step to getting effective treatment,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “No one should suffer or die because of a lack of diagnostic services, or because the right tests were not available.”
The list concentrates on in vitro tests - i.e. tests of human specimens like blood and urine. It contains 113 products: 58 tests are listed for detection and diagnosis of a wide range of common conditions, providing an essential package that can form the basis for screening and management of patients.
The remaining 55 tests are designed for the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of “priority” diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus and syphilis.
Some of the tests are particularly suitable for primary health care facilities, where laboratory services are often poorly resourced and sometimes non-existent; for example, tests that can rapidly diagnose a child for acute malaria or glucometers to test diabetes. These tests do not require electricity or trained personnel. Other tests are more sophisticated and therefore intended for larger medical facilities.
“Our aim is to provide a tool that can be useful to all countries, to test and treat better, but also to use health funds more efficiently by concentrating on the truly essential tests,” says Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals. “Our other goal is to signal to countries and developers that the tests in the list must be of good quality, safe and affordable.” UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:11:00 PM 0


Cape Town, May 15: Lucky Nkosi, a young mother from Johannesburg in South Africa, is only 24 years old but already weighs 120kg (265lb).
Although she has been trying desperately to lose weight since her doctor warned her that her life is in danger, it remains a challenge.
"I can’t leave junk food because it’s the cheapest," said Nkosi, who eats fried and processed food every day.
South Africans are sub-Saharan Africa’s most obese people, mainly due to the rising popularity of processed food. Heart attacks, strokes and type two diabetes now kill more people than infectious diseases.
But Nkosi’s health situation could have been worse had the South African government not acted to limit trans fats in processed foods back in 2011.
"Trans fats are of particular concern because high intake is correlated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases," says Dr. Francesco Branca, Director of the WHO Department of Nutrition for Health and Development. "Trans fats are completely replaceable in foods, and mandatory national limits on industrially-produced trans fats are the most effective way to achieve elimination."
The trans fat content of any oils and fats cannot exceed two grams per 100 grams, according to South African legislation. Products with higher trans fats levels are prohibited from entering or being sold in the country.
Rebone Ntsie, Director of Nutrition at South Africa’s Department of Health (NDoH), says the legislation covers any oils and fats "either alone or as processed foods, which are intended for human consumption or assumed to be intended for human consumption, in the retail trade, catering businesses, restaurants, institutions, bakeries etcetera."
The regulations also require any product labelled as ‘trans fat-free’ to contain less than one gram of trans fats per 100 grams.
"We were not only the first African country, but also the first developing country worldwide to enact the trans fats legislation," said Ntsie.
South Africa’s trans fat control push started in 2008 when Dr Ruth Rabinowitz, an opposition Member of Parliament, proposed that industrially produced trans fats in prepared foodstuffs be outlawed.
Initially, the NDoH considered including trans fat as part of regulations dealing also with food labelling and advertising. But, according to Ntsie, "due to the important role that reduced trans fats play in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), NDoH decided that trans fats regulations should stand alone."
Daniel Matlala, Deputy Director for Food Control at NDoH, said that South Africa drew lessons from Denmark, which had enacted similar legislation.
In 2009, the NDoH held extensive consultations with industry, academia and civil society, as well as a stakeholder workshop to develop a working document. This led to draft regulations, which were published for public comment in March 2010.
"Support for the legislation was overwhelming," said Matlala.
The final Regulations Relating to Trans Fats in Foodstuffs – Regulation 249 – were signed into law in February 2011. Manufacturers and retailers were given six months to comply and reduce the trans fat content of their products to the required 2 grams per 100. The NDoH has been monitoring the labels of food products and it is satisfied that industry has complied.
"South Africa’s success with reducing trans fat is very important," said Dr. Branca of the WHO. "Restrictions on industrially-produced trans fat are often weaker in low- and middle-income countries. South Africa’s experience can help guide other countries to take action so the benefits are felt equally around the world."
Food science expert Nigel Sunley said that legislation was easy to introduce because the target was not big food companies but “the manufacturers of industrial fats, which is a consolidated industry with few players."
"There was a technological evolution in the food industry and the fat manufacturing companies managed to develop techniques of blending unsaturated and saturated fat to achieve the same functional properties previously generated (by trans fats)," he said. "The quantity of trans fats still being consumed in the country is likely very low, because next to nobody is manufacturing those fats any longer." UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 5:52:00 PM 0

Tehran, May 15: Iranian households use cooking oil. Lots of it, as of 2004, a government survey found that more than 12 per cent of calories consumed were from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, the main source of trans fats.
Trans fats included more than a third of the fatty acids in those oils, or nearly 5 per cent of daily calorie consumption—double the trans fat intake in the United States of America in 2007, according to a study published that year in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a WHO report on Tuesday said.
“Most of the food consumed in the Middle East/North Africa region is high in fat, trans fat and total saturated fat,” says Dr. Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, regional nutrition adviser for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. “Food produced in our region is different from what is produced in Europe and North America. It has higher trans fat and uses palm oil.”
Over the past few decades, Iran has seen a steady increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related risk factors. In 2010, Iran had the second-highest rate of CVD death and was third in trans fat intake out of 20 Middle Eastern and North African countries.
As cooking oil is used in such large quantities in Iran, it was among the first foods targeted for trans fat reduction. Between 2006 and 2013, trans fats were reduced in Iran from nearly 20 per cent in most edible oils and fats, to under 2 per cent.
According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran, fractionation of vegetable oil—a technology that does not change the chemical nature of the fatty acids through controlled separation of oil and fat fractions—has been a common practice in Iran to replace partial hydrogenation.
As in other countries, the changes were phased in and required government agencies, civil society and industry to work together. The health and agriculture ministries, Iran Food and Drug Administration (FDA), oil manufacturers, nongovernmental organisations and oil importers all collaborated to reduce trans fats.
In 2005, the National Standards Organisation of Iran, the government arbiter, mandated a 10 per cent cap on trans fats in corn oil, palm oil, frying oil and mixed liquid oils—a reduction from the previous 20per cent. Government organisations were mandated to use oils with less than 10 per cent trans fat content.
The trans fat standards were reduced to less than 5 per cent in fats and oils in 2011, and to less than 2 per cent in 2013, with a 2016 compliance deadline. The ultimate goal is to limit trans fats to less than 1 per cent by 2019. According to the Iranian FDA, that target had already been reached by 2018.
Iran’s FDA Post Marketing Surveillance results showed that average trans fat of almost all of frying and liquid oils was below 1 per cent and within the acceptable limit, according a report on Iran’s efforts by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute (NNFTRI).
While these measures reduced trans fat in cooking oil, regulations have not fully addressed trans fat in bakery products. The trans fat limit for margarine and shortening used in bakery products is 5 per cent, rather than 2 per cent. 
While there is still work to do to reduce trans fat in the food supply in Iran, the achievements so far have been impressive, particularly considering Iran had the highest recorded intake of trans fat in the world. 
“Iran has achieved a relatively safe position with trans fat levels in edible oils by regulating trans fats, using appropriate alternatives and by collaborating with food industries,” said Dr Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh. “As a pioneer in the region, Iran is now aiming to comply with WHO’s goal of to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 25% by 2025. We need to reach 0 trans fat to achieve this goal.” UNI


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Hello Jammu News at 5:50:00 PM 0

Kyrgyzstan, May 15: Four additional countries in the WHO European Region have successfully added the inactivated poliomyelitis (polio) vaccine (IPV) to their routine immunization schedules this year.
With support from Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners, Turkmenistan introduced IPV on January 2, the Republic of Moldova on April 2, Uzbekistan on April 24 and Kyrgyzstan on May 2. 
Tajikistan plans to introduce IPV in June, a WHO European Region report on Tuesday said.
This progress means that IPV will now be routinely offered to children in every Member State in the Region, as prescribed in the global Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018.
Of the three known types of wild poliovirus, type 2 is no longer circulating and was declared globally eradicated in 2015.
As the next planned step, the remaining countries in the world using oral polio vaccine (OPV) were required to switch from trivalent OPV (containing all 3 poliovirus types) to bivalent OPV (bOPV – containing only types 1 and 3). The switch took place in a globally synchronized manner between April 17 and May 1, 2016.
OPV contains weakened forms of the live virus and is given in drops, while IPV contains inactivated forms of all 3 poliovirus types and is given by injection.
To maintain immunity levels to type 2 polio, countries that switched to bOPV were required to add at least 1 dose of IPV to their routine schedules as soon as possible following the switch. This would also help to mitigate risk of emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV).
Due to a shortage in IPV caused by the sudden increase in global demand, priority in supplying the vaccine was given to countries considered to be at high risk of circulation in the event of VDPV emergence. Introduction in countries considered to be at lower risk of transmission was postponed to 2018, when the supply situation would be stabilized.
All of the remaining five countries in the region using OPV were considered to be at lower risk and thus scheduled to introduce IPV this year.
Catch-up immunization activities are planned in each of these countries in early 2019 to ensure that all children born since the switch to bOPV receive their recommended shot of IPV.
The Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013–2018 calls for the gradual phasing-out of OPV. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:03:00 PM 0
 Kolkata, May 15 : The World Health Organizatio (WHO) released REPLACE, a step-by-step guide for the elimination of industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the global food supply.
Eliminating trans fats is key to protecting health and saving lives: WHO estimates that every year, trans fat intake leads to more than 500,000 deaths of people from cardiovascular disease.
Industrially-produced trans fats are contained in hardened vegetable fats, such as margarine and ghee, and are often present in snack food, baked foods, and fried foods. Manufacturers often use them as they have a longer shelf life than other fats. But healthier alternatives can be used that would not affect taste or cost of food, a WHO media statement here on Tuesday said
"WHO calls on governments to use the REPLACE action package to eliminate industrially-produced trans-fatty acids from the food supply,"said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Implementing the six strategic actions in the REPLACE package will help achieve the elimination of trans fat, and represent a major victory in the global fight against cardiovascular disease," he said.
REPLACE provides six strategic actions to ensure the prompt, complete, and sustained elimination of industrially-produced trans fats from the food supply:
Review dietary sources of industrially-produced trans fats and the landscape for required policy change.
Promote the replacement of industrially-produced trans fats with healthier fats and oils.
Legislate or enact regulatory actions to eliminate industrially-produced trans fats.
Assess and monitor trans fats content in the food supply and changes in trans fat consumption in the population.
Create awareness of the negative health impact of trans fats among policy makers, producers, suppliers, and the public.  UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 2:30:00 PM 0


Bauchi, May 11: The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are supporting the Bauchi State Government to immunize 6,00,000 people against cholera.
The oral cholera vaccination drive is part of efforts to control an ongoing cholera outbreak in the state. The drive will use vaccines funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. It will target people in 15 most affected wards in Bauchi Local Government Area (LGA), a WHO African Region report on Friday said.
The outbreak is concentrated mainly in the Bauchi LGA, the state capital, which accounts for 88 per cent of the cases reported and 76 per cent of all cholera related deaths in the state. Two vaccination rounds are planned. The first round began May 8 and will conclude May 13.
Since the outbreak began on February 27 last, the Bauchi State Ministry of Health has detected more than 2,348 suspected cases. So far 21 people have died, and 25 samples were confirmed by laboratory culture testing. 
People living in low income areas within the city and those in the rural areas with poor access to clean water are the most-affected by the outbreak. 
Within Bauchi LGA, most cases rely on drinking water from water vendors who fetch water from untreated sources. Cases in rural areas must rely on contaminated water sources after most hand pumps and wells are dried up. Evidence from the incidence rate suggests about 376,489 of the population in the LGA aged 15 years and above are at risk for cholera. 
“The State government, supported by WHO and other partners, is working jointly to control the outbreak through intensified surveillance for the early detection of suspected cases, improving water supplies and building sanitary latrines in affected communities,” said Commissioner for Health Dr. Zuwaira Ibrahim Hassan. 
“The State Government is also providing oral rehydration therapy for the affected people and also putting out massive cholera prevention messages for the general public.” 
WHO is coordinating the health sector response through enhanced surveillance, training of health workers and transportation of samples to laboratory.
“We have trained more than 500 health workers, printed and distributed case definitions to health facilities,” said Dr Adamu Ningi, WHO State Coordinator. “We have also concluded plans with the state to conduct a mass cholera campaign in the affected LGAs.” UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 4:32:00 PM 0


Mogadishu, May 9: Flash and river floods, caused by heavy rainfall, in Somalia have affected more than 6,95,000 people, and displaced nearly 2,15,000 of these, in the last few days. 
Most flooding occurred in the regions of Bakool, Banadir, Bay, Hiraan, Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Middle Shabelle, a WHO report on Wednesday said.
One of the worst-hit areas includes Belet Weyne, Hiraan, in the Hirshabelle State, where more than 120 000 people — some of whom have already been displaced from their original homes — were forced to flee riverine villages after the Shabelle River burst its banks, destroying houses and crops. 
As part of an immediate response, WHO, in close collaboration with the Federal Government’s Ministry of Health, airlifted and prepositioned 30.1 tonnes of emergency medical supplies to Belet Weyne, Baidoa and Kismayo to treat illnesses commonly spread during emergencies.
These provisions include basic, essential, medical drugs, oral rehydration supplies (ORS), water-testing kits and cholera treatment supplies. Similar medical supplies will soon be sent to the South West and Jubaland states. 
However, WHO estimates an additional US$ 2 million will be required to purchase and distribute emergency supplies to other flood-affected areas. These resources would also fund staff needed to deliver services; monitoring and response to disease outbreaks; and the coordination of all these efforts. 
“Once heavy rains pour into the river basins of Ethiopia and Somalia, this spells danger for communities living along the Shabelle and Jubba rivers. The flooding has taken a toll on people living in Gedo, Hiraan, Lower Shabelle, Lower Jubba and Middle Shabelle,” said Dr Fawziya Abikar, Minister of Health, Federal Government of Somalia. 
At the onset of the floods, Hassan Ali Khayre, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, briefed international development and humanitarian partners on the heavy flooding and its impact, and requested for emergency assistance to the flood-affected population. 
However, the needs are outrunning the support available. “Urgent action is needed to respond to this emergency,” warned Dr Ghulam Popal, WHO Representative for Somalia. “A well-coordinated response by authorities, and local and international organizations averted a cholera epidemic last year. We need a similar response again, now, to save livelihoods and prevent the spread of diseases among an already vulnerable society.” 
The Somali Health Cluster, a group of international and national agencies working jointly to improve health in the country, also called for national and regional partners to convene coordination meetings to discuss ongoing response activities and gaps, as well as to scale up the provision of lifesaving health and nutrition services to the people in need. 
Flooding can trigger the transmission of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever, and contaminate water sources. To respond to and manage any resulting disease outbreaks in a timely manner, health authorities and WHO have alerted the Early Warning System in Somalia and WHO’s communicable disease surveillance officers to look out for the emergence of any waterborne or vector-borne diseases.
Senior Ministry of Health and WHO officials have conducted joint missions to Belet Weyne and Baidoa to meet state and local health authorities, and gather crucial information on the situation. 
Urgent needs of the afflicted communities include shelter, food, health, nutritional supplies, access to water and sanitation, latrines, mosquito nets and tents. 
Short-term forecasts made by the UN Food and Agriculture-managed Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) suggest river levels inside Somalia are expected to continue rising in the coming days with more cases of flooding along the Juba and Shabelle rivers.
Somalis have suffered from natural calamities and civil strife over the years and endured drought, disease outbreaks, and insecurity among other challenges. This has resulted in malnutrition, poor access to health, and prevalent poverty all across the country. UNI


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Hello Jammu News at 3:57:00 PM 0


Geneva/ Sana’a, May 9: Despite ongoing civil unrest and instability, Yemen’s Trachoma Elimination Programme launched its first large-scale treatment campaign, targeting approximately 450 000 people in areas at high risk for the disease.
Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness and Yemen has one of the highest prevalence levels in the Middle East.
“Despite delays, we were able to implement the programme in six districts of Ibb and Al Hudaydah governorates, thanks to support from the World Bank, Sightsavers1 and medicines donated through the International Trachoma Initiative” said Dr Nevio Zagaria, WHO Representative in Yemen.
“The success of this campaign depended on the support of the population and of entire affected communities, as well as partners, through close coordination with other ministries and actors involved in trachoma elimination,” Dr Zagaria said.
The campaign, from May 2‒ , was conducted by trained health workers and volunteers who also distributed WHO-supplied facial kits, comprising face towel and soap, to encourage hygiene and facial cleanliness.
Yemen completed a series of trachoma surveys under the Global Trachoma Mapping Project from 2013 to 2015, covering 70 districts across the country. The surveys determined that more than 2.7 million people in 30 districts require public-health interventions to address transmission of the bacteria that cause trachoma and its associated morbidity.
WHO recommends implementation of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement) to achieve elimination of the disease as a public-health problem.
“The surveys revealed that the prevalence of active trachoma exceeded 10% in several areas of the country, with the highest estimates in Ibb and Al Hudaydah. The two governorates were therefore prioritized for the first mass treatment intervention” said Dr Zagaria. “If all goes well and, depending on the security situation, the current campaign will be repeated annually for three years, after which an impact survey needs to be done.”
In an additional 24 districts, the prevalence of active trachoma2 is above 5%, requiring large-scale antibiotic treatment, supported by awareness and educational campaigns.
Trachoma, which affects mainly people living in areas deprived of water and sanitation, puts more than 190 million people at risk across 39 countries. It is also responsible for the blindness or visual impairment of around 1.9 million people worldwide.
The SAFE strategy recommended by WHO to prevent and treat trachoma is guiding international efforts to eliminate the disease as a public health problem. In its earlier stages, trachoma can be treated with oral antibiotics taken once a year, usually for 1–3 years.
Azithromycin is the antibiotic of choice for treatment of trachoma. Pfizer markets azithromycin (Zithromax) and donates it for trachoma elimination through the International Trachoma Initiative.
Yemen has seen success with previous mass treatment interventions for lymphatic filariasis as the country currently awaits validation of their claim to have eliminated the disease as a public health problem.
With the support of WHO and partners including the World Bank and The End Fund, the country is also tackling other neglected tropical diseases through integrated mass treatment campaigns using donated medicines.
In April 2018, an integrated large-scale treatment campaign covered 86 districts in 14 governorates of the country, targeting over 4.8 million people for two diseases (schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis) and more than 500 000 people for one disease (onchocerciasis).
The campaign was run by more than 6000 teams, comprising 14 000 team leaders and medicine distributors, involving a total of 15 million tablets (albendazole, ivermectin and praziquantel). UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:53:00 PM 0

Geneva/Brazzaville, May 9: The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur Province.
The outbreak declaration occurred after laboratory results confirmed two cases of EVD on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Health of Democratic of the Congo (DRC) informed WHO that two out of five samples collected from five patients tested positive for EVD at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) in Kinshasa. More specimens are being collected for testing, a WHO report on Wednesday said.
WHO is working closely with the Government of the DRC to rapidly scale up its operations and mobilize health partners using the model of a successful response to a similar EVD outbreak in 2017.
“Our top priority is to get to Bikoro to work alongside the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and partners to reduce the loss of life and suffering related to this new Ebola virus disease outbreak,” said Dr Peter Salama, WHO Deputy Director-General, Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Working with partners and responding early and in a coordinated way will be vital to containing this deadly disease.”
The first multidisciplinary team comprised of experts from WHO, Medecins Sans Frontières and Provincial Division of Health travelled today to Bikoro to strengthen coordination and investigations.
Bikoro is situated in Equateur Province on the shores of Lake Tumba in the north-western part of the country near the Republic of the Congo. All cases were reported from iIkoko Iponge health facility located about 30 kilometres from Bikoro. Health facilities in Bikoro have very limited functionality, and rely on international organizations to provide supplies that frequently stock out. 
“We know that addressing this outbreak will require a comprehensive and coordinated response. WHO will work closely with health authorities and partners to support the national response. We will gather more samples, conduct contact tracing, engage the communities with messages on prevention and control, and put in place methods for improving data collection and sharing,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.
HEALTH-CONGO-EBOLA TWO LAST Geneva/Brazzaville
This is DRC’s ninth outbreak of EVD since the discovery of the virus in the country in 1976. In the past five weeks, there have been 21 suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in and around the iIkoko Iponge, including 17 deaths.
“WHO is closely working with other partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières, to ensure a strong, response to support the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prevent and control the spreading of the disease from the epicentre of iIkoko Iponge Health Zone to save lives," said Dr Allarangar Yokouide, WHO Representative in the DRC. 
Upon learning about the laboratory results today, WHO set up its Incident Management System to fully dedicate staff and resources across the organization to the response. WHO plans to deploy epidemiologists, logisticians, clinicians, infection prevention and control experts, risk communications experts and vaccination support teams in the coming days.
WHO will also be determining supply needs and help fill gaps, such as for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). WHO has also alerted neighbouring countries.
WHO released US$ 1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support response activities for the next three months with the goal of stopping the spread of Ebola to surrounding provinces and countries.
The last Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo occurred in 2017 in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province, in the northern part of the country and was quickly contained thanks to joint efforts by the Government of DRC, WHO and many different partners.
An effective response to the 2017 EVD outbreak was achieved through the timely alert by local authorities of suspect cases, immediate testing of blood samples due to strengthened national laboratory capacity, the early announcement of the outbreak by the government, rapid response activities by local and national health authorities with the robust support of international partners, and speedy access to flexible funding.
Coordination support on the ground by WHO was critical and an Incident Management System was set up within 24 hours of the outbreak being announced. WHO deployed more than 50 experts to work closely with government and partners.
The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50 per cent. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:49:00 PM 0


Geneva, May 9: With monsoon hitting Bangladesh, WHO warns that life-saving health services for 1.3 million people—Rohingya refugees and host communities— living in Cox’s Bazar are under serious threat, unless urgent funding is secured.
Scaling up health operations since September 2017, WHO and health partners have supported the Government of Bangladesh in saving thousands of lives of refugees who crossed over from Myanmar in large numbers in a very short span of time. Given the high risk of outbreaks among the refugees in overcrowded, unsanitary camps, WHO prioritised disease control from the outset.
WHO rapidly set up a vital disease early warning system, and together with government and partners administered over 3 million doses of life- saving vaccines against deadly diseases such as cholera, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. When an outbreak of diphtheria was detected, WHO responded rapidly, bringing in international experts, emergency medical teams and medicines and medical supplies.
To protect communities from a potential cholera outbreak during monsoon season, WHO and partners began a massive oral cholera vaccination campaign on 6 May. Nearly one million Rohingyas and their host community will be targeted. This is the third oral cholera vaccination campaign that builds on two rounds of vaccination last year that reached around 900,000 people.
WHO and partners have been constantly working towards scaling up delivery of other essential health services for the refugees. For example, a mother now knows that when her child falls ill, there is a clinic to which she can go and receive care for her child.
WHO is supporting the expansion of the district hospital in Cox’s Bazar so that it can better respond to the additional patient load of the refugees. WHO also established a much-needed laboratory at the local medical college. Services for reproductive health, mental health and chronic diseases continue to expand.
“Collective efforts are being made with the Government of Bangladesh and other health partners to meet urgent needs of the Rohingya refugees. This is a very difficult emergency setting, but we have so far been able to avert a major public health crisis. These collaborative efforts need to continue and to be strengthened further in view of the risks in the ongoing rainy season,” said Dr Roderico Ofrin, Regional Emergency Director.
But these gains are at imminent risk – and the health of refugees remains under threat. The first reported landsides occurred in Camp 4 in Ukhia killing one person and injuring two, which is a clear sign that the monsoons have arrived in Bangladesh, and preparedness efforts must be accelerated.
HEALTH-MONSOON-Rohingya refugees TWO LAST GENEVA
Nearly 65 of the 226 health facilities in the camps are at risk of flooding and landslides. Many more may become unreachable. WHO is also concerned about increased risk of diseases such as diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses and malaria, in crowded camps when health services may be less accessible. Water and sanitation conditions still remain far from optimal and will only get worse with flooding. The cyclone season also looms.
For the past few months, WHO and partners have been preparing for the monsoon and cyclone seasons by mapping out health facilities at risk of floods and landslides, prepositioning medical equipment and supplies, further strengthening preparedness for outbreaks and training mobile medical teams for immediate deployment.
The other major risk is lack of funding. In spite of the extraordinary generosity of the Government of Bangladesh and the remarkable efforts of health partners, resources are incredibly scarce.
The Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, an overall response plan of all agencies, was launched seeking for US$ 113.1 million for the health sector. So far, only 3.4 per cent of the funds have been secured. For 2018, WHO has appealed for US$ 16.5 million, but has not secured the funding yet.
“Without funding, Cox’s Bazar remains a fragile operation and we risk losing the huge gains made so far. WHO’s future response plans are entirely dependent on donors. We have enough resources to run our operations until the end of June, which is when the rainy season will be in full swing. And we are not alone, many of our partners are in a similar dire financial situation, said Dr Richard Brennan, Director of Emergency Operations.
The international community must urgently find the funds to support the refugees and their host Bangladesh at this critical time,” Dr Brennan added. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 7:53:00 PM 0



Kolkata, Apr 26: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus: the virus is primarily spread when an uninfected (and unvaccinated) person ingests food or water that is contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.
The disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation and poor personal hygiene.
Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause debilitating symptoms and fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure), which is often fatal.
Hepatitis A occurs sporadically and in epidemics worldwide, with a tendency for cyclic recurrences. The hepatitis A virus is one of the most frequent causes of foodborne infection. Epidemics related to contaminated food or water can erupt explosively, such as the epidemic in Shanghai in 1988 that affected about 300 000 people.
Hepatitis A viruses persist in the environment and can withstand food-production processes routinely used to inactivate and/or control bacterial pathogens.
The disease can lead to significant economic and social consequences in communities. It can take weeks or months for people recovering from the illness to return to work, school, or daily life. The impact on food establishments identified with the virus, and local productivity in general, can be substantial.
Geographical distribution areas can be characterized as having high, intermediate or low levels of hepatitis A virus infection.
In developing countries with poor sanitary conditions and hygienic practices, most children (90%) have been infected with the hepatitis A virus before the age of 10 years. Those infected in childhood do not experience any noticeable symptoms. Epidemics are uncommon because older children and adults are generally immune. Symptomatic disease rates in these areas are low and outbreaks are rare. UNI


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Hello Jammu News at 1:06:00 PM 0



Cairo/Geneva, Apr 25: As the international community comes together in Brussels to show support for Syrians and for a political solution to the conflict, WHO calls for increased investments in health to protect the lives of almost 17 million vulnerable men, women and children inside Syria and in five major neighbouring countries.
Every day, Syrians are dying of conditions that are easily treatable. Inside the country, critical shortages, insecurity and disrupted systems have left millions of people in need of health aid.
Meanwhile, Syrians who have fled to neighbouring countries find themselves just as vulnerable, with the vast majority living below the poverty line and unable to afford life-saving health care, a WHO
Eastern Mediterranean Region report on Wednesday said.
Seven years into the crisis have left 11.3 million people inside Syria in need of life-saving and life-sustaining humanitarian health aid, while fewer than half of all public health facilities are fully
operational. Indiscriminate attacks on health care continue; in 2018 alone, there have been 8 health workers killed or injured and 74 verified attacks on health facilities.
Throughout the country, people are unable to obtain basic, life-saving health care services without being exposed to significant risks on a daily basis. These include almost 2.3 million people in
hard-to-reach and besieged areas. Hundreds of seriously ill and wounded people living in besieged areas have been denied the right to leave to obtain life-saving health care. Many of them have died as a result.
Newly accessible areas are often contaminated with explosive hazards, and those who chose to return to their homes may be more at risk of injuries, exacerbated by the lack of basic health care services in many areas of return.
For almost 6 million Syrian refugees across the region, the living situation continues to be extremely challenging. Many refugees face psychosocial and physical effects of war and displacement and are in need for primary, secondary and tertiary health care.
National health systems across the region continue to be the primary responders to those health needs, however, access continues to be limited, not only due to overwhelmed and under-funded health systems, but also due to the financial limitations of the refugees themselves.
In addition to millions of Syrian refugees affected by the crisis, an additional 4 million host community members are also affected by the refugee crisis, and in need of aid. In Turkey, where integration of Syrian health care workers into national health systems is well established, language and cultural barriers remain a challenge.
Within the context of the Brussels conference on Syria and the Region WHO emphasizes that health is a human right that must be respected by all parties to the conflict, that the attacks on health workers and facilities must stop, and that there must be adequate investment in the health sector of both Syria and neighbouring host countries. The people of Syria cannot have a future without proper health care.
As part of the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria, WHO and health partners require US$ 426.4 m to reach 11.3 million people across the country with life-saving health care services. Of this amount, WHO requires US$ 143 million.
To address the health needs of more than 5.3 million Syrian refugees and almost 4 million host community members affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, the health and nutrition sector requires US$ 294 million as part of the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2018-2019. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 12:22:00 PM 0


Kolkata, Apr 25: (UNI) It is imperative that every child, adolescent and pregnant woman in the WHO South-East Asia Region receives life-saving benefits vaccines provide, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh said on the occasion of World Immunization Week.
Whether to maintain the Region’s polio-free status and protect against the resurgence of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT); to achieve the region-wide quest to eliminate measles; or to control ongoing challenges such as rubella, diphtheria, hepatitis B or human papillomavirus, immunization is the most cost-effective way to protect individuals, communities and countries against a range of life-threatening and disabling diseases, she said.
But to leverage vaccines’ full, life-saving potential, every child, adolescent and pregnant woman must be reached and the highest possible coverage attained, Dr Poonam said.
To that end, region-wide progress has been substantial. At present, seven member countries’ routine immunization programmes have achieved more than 90 per cent coverage with three doses of the basic diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. Almost half have achieved 95 per cent coverage of both doses of measles-containing vaccine, she said.These are significant achievements. Region-wise, each member country should ensure all vaccines reach at least 90 per cent of the population at all times. Doing so will save countless lives, achieve herd immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases, and ensure newly introduced vaccines have optimal impact, Dr Poonam said.
WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia said there are several ways to achieve this target. First, each Member country should make immunization a national priority and secure sustained, high-level political commitment to strengthening national immunization programmes. Second, individuals and communities should be given the means to fully comprehend the value of vaccines and appreciate that immunization is both their right and responsibility.
Third, sustainable financing models should be developed to support national immunization programmes, leveraging partnerships at the national, regional and global levels. And fourth, Member countries should increase their research capacity, with particular focus on increasing coverage and equity and evaluating the effectiveness of different delivery, supply and communication strategies, she said. UNI
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