The Centre has finally approved the rollout of the Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme to address the problems of maternal and child under-nutrition in the country.

The programme, recommended by the Prime Minister’s National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges in 2010, will be implemented in 200 high-burden districts in two phases at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,213.19 crore.

The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has expressed concern over the Supreme Court order that gay sex is illegal, saying the ruling will prevent vulnerable communities from accessing health facili

The report warns of emerging epidemics in some countries

A significant progress has been seen in a number of countries in Asia and the Pacific in reducing new HIV infections by over 50 per cent since 2001, but the impact appears to be slowing down with overall numbers across the region remaining largely unchanged in the past five years, a latest UN report has said. It also warns of emerging epidemics in some countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines.

102 vaccination posts have been set up along international borders in the wake of outbreak in Syria

All States with international borders have been put on alert to reduce the risk of importation of poliovirus from neighbouring countries in the wake of a polio outbreak in Syria.

It, along with Nigeria, continues to have low coverage levels for prevention and treatment interventions

India continues to have the highest pneumonia and diarrhoeal disease burden in the world, losing 4,00,000 children to these preventable diseases before they turn five, the latest report has revealed. Many more suffer from severe illness.

Nutritional support during treatment of pulmonary TB recommended

Severely undernourished tuberculosis (TB) patients in rural India have twice a higher risk of death, a scientific research study has concluded. The study conducted at Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS or Peoples’ Health Support Group), a non-profit voluntary organisation, suggests the need for nutritional support during treatment of pulmonary TB among these patients.

“We consider this to be the most important environmental carcinogen, more so than passive smoking.”

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialised agency of the World Health Organisation, on Thursday announced that it had classified outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic to humans. This is the first time that experts have done so and claimed there is sufficient evidence to prove it.

With the Capital reporting cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), the Government has issued guidelines for doctors, hospitals and schools to deal with the disease.

Alerting principals, teachers and supervisors to look out for children with fever, rashes or blisters on the palms and soles, the guidelines recommend that infected children remain away from the institution for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms and must be certified free from infection by a registered medical practitioner before returning to school.

If all women in India had completed secondary education, the under-five mortality rate would be 61 per cent lower, UNESCO has said.

India and Nigeria account for more than a third of child deaths worldwide. If all women in both countries had completed secondary education, the under-five mortality rate would have been 61 per cent lower in India and 43 per cent lesser in Nigeria, saving 1.35 million children’s lives.

The decision comes in the wake death of tribal girls during post-marketing surveillance of anti-cervix cancer vaccine

The government proposes to regulate all biomedical and health research activities by bringing them under a law to ensure ethical research in all institutions with proper care, and a compensation policy for human participants.