In a&nbsp;case that has caught the attention of medical professionals, a newborn baby was transferred to a tertiary neonatal hospital in Ahmedabad, India, in a bid to save the child's life. Initially presumed to be a case of asphyxiation at birth, the child's symptoms proved to be atypical, according to a report by the Times of India. Upon further investigation, medical reports unveiled a startling revelation – the child's critical condition was a result of extremely high levels of nicotine found in the bloodstream.

Doctors investigating the case determined that the abnormally high nicotine levels in the child were directly linked to the mother's alleged addiction to chewing tobacco.

The child was born with an alarming 60 ng/ml nicotine level, which surpassed the permissible levels for adults by a staggering 3000 per cent. Dr Ashish Mehta, a senior neonatologist, who spoke to the Times of India, emphasised that the child's condition did not align with a typical asphyxia case.

As the medical team delved into the child and mother's medical history, they discovered a crucial clue from the gynaecologist involved in the mother's care. It was revealed that the mother had a history of asthma, and she admitted to occasionally chewing tobacco. Further investigations uncovered that the mother consumed tobacco in various forms, such as sachets or raw, readily available at local pan shops.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lost-for-a-century-blind-indian-painters-scroll-resurfaces-after-100-years-611230">Lost for a century: Blind Indian painter's scroll resurfaces after 100 years</a>

<h2>Mother's tobacco addiction impacts child's condition</h2>

Shockingly, the mother confessed to consuming tobacco between 10 to 15 times a day, unknowingly exposing her unborn child to high nicotine levels through her bloodstream.

Toxicology screenings confirmed the presence of elevated nicotine levels in the infant's body, prompting doctors to recommend a natural flushing-out process.

In a revealing statement, the mother admitted to consuming tobacco since the age of 15, shedding light on the long-standing addiction that inadvertently affected her child's health.

After receiving treatment for five days, the infant began displaying signs of recovery and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.

Also watch |&nbsp;Parliamentary committee meeting on Uniform Civil Code sparks debate in India

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This extraordinary case serves as a reminder of the detrimental effects of tobacco addiction and highlights the unforeseen consequences it can have on the most vulnerable members of society.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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In a case that has caught the attention of medical professionals, a newborn baby was transferred to a tertiary neonatal hospital in Ahmedabad, India, in a bid to save the child's life.

In a case that has caught the attention of medical professionals, a newborn baby was transferred to a tertiary neonatal hospital in Ahmedabad, India, in a bid to save the child's life. Initially presumed to be a case of asphyxiation at birth, the child's symptoms proved to be atypical, according to a report by the Times of India. Upon further investigation, medical reports unveiled a startling revelation – the child's critical condition was a result of extremely high levels of nicotine found in the bloodstream. Doctors investigating the case determined that the abnormally high nicotine levels in the child were directly linked to the mother's alleged addiction to chewing tobacco. The child was born with an alarming 60 ng/ml nicotine level, which surpassed the permissible levels for adults by a staggering 3000 per cent. Dr Ashish Mehta, a senior neonatologist, who spoke to the Times of India, emphasised that the child's condition did not align with a typical asphyxia case. As the medical team delved into the child and mother's medical history, they discovered a crucial clue from the gynaecologist involved in the mother's care. It was revealed that the mother had a history of asthma, and she admitted to occasionally chewing tobacco. Further investigations uncovered that the mother consumed tobacco in various forms, such as sachets or raw, readily available at local pan shops. Also read | Lost for a century: Blind Indian painter's scroll resurfaces after 100 years Mother's tobacco addiction impacts child's condition Shockingly, the mother confessed to consuming tobacco between 10 to 15 times a day, unknowingly exposing her unborn child to high nicotine levels through her bloodstream. Toxicology screenings confirmed the presence of elevated nicotine levels in the infant's body, prompting doctors to recommend a natural flushing-out process. In a revealing statement, the mother admitted to consuming tobacco since the age of 15, shedding light on the long-standing addiction that inadvertently affected her child's health. After receiving treatment for five days, the infant began displaying signs of recovery and was subsequently discharged from the hospital. Also watch | Parliamentary committee meeting on Uniform Civil Code sparks debate in India This extraordinary case serves as a reminder of the detrimental effects of tobacco addiction and highlights the unforeseen consequences it can have on the most vulnerable members of society. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Newborn's nicotine nightmare: Mother's tobacco addiction proves fatal for baby, here's how

Bent over her hand-crank sewing machine, Hajra Bibi carefully stitches sanitary pads for the women of her mountainous village in northwestern Pakistan, one of many rural areas in the deeply conservative country where periods are still taboo.

"I am responding to a crisis," said the 35-year-old mother, sitting in front of her small, doily-covered work table in the village of Booni, close to the Afghan border.

"Before, Booni's women had no idea what sanitary towels were," she explained. Less than a fifth of women use sanitary pads in Pakistan, local charities estimate.

Traditionally women have used rags and cloth to soak up their menstrual blood, but the stigma around periods and a lack of reproductive education mean hygiene standards are poor and many contracted infections.

As with other areas of rural Pakistan, menstruating women were viewed as unclean and limited in what they were able to do.

Bibi was given the training to make the disposable sanitary pads, made of cotton, plastic, and cloth, by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) an NGO working with Unicef in&nbsp;a scheme that aims to change attitudes to women's health.

She took up the work to support her family because her husband is disabled and they have little income. Each pad takes around 20 minutes to make and is sold for 20 rupees (13 US cents).

Initially, her work disturbed the local community.

"At first, people were asking me why I was doing this, some were insulting me," Bibi recalled.

But now, "girls in the village can talk about their periods," she said proudly, adding that she was fighting "for the basic needs of women".

'infection and education'

In Pakistan, Unicef has warned that in some cases information about menstruation has deliberately been withheld from women as a "means of protecting their chastity".

"This in turn negatively impacts their physical and emotional health," it said in a 2018 report.

Historically, the women of Booni have used cloth, but according to Bushra Ansari of AKRSP, the taboo surrounding periods meant many were ashamed to dry them outside, unaware that damp cloths are a breeding ground for bacteria.

Also, female family members often shared the same menstrual rags, increasing the risk of contracting urinary and reproductive tract infections, explained Wassaf Sayed Kakakhail, a doctor in the region.

"If there are three girls in the same family, they all use the same pieces of fabric," she said, adding many women are told not to wash during their period.

There is no sex education in schools and the topic is rarely discussed even between women at homes in northern Pakistan, a particularly conservative part of the country.

According to a 2017 Unicef survey, half of the young Pakistani women did not know about menstruation before their periods started.

"Teen girls told us that they thought they had cancer or a very serious illness that made them bleed," said Kakakhail.

But Mohammad Haidar Ulmulk, public health director for Chitral District, where Booni is, insisted the problem was under control.

"There may be gaps, but we try to cover them," he said, adding that the area had hundreds of health workers trying to help young women.

'Sister, mother, wife'

The situation is different in cities, especially among the richest. But in the patriarchal Muslim country ranked 148th out of 149 by the World Economic Forum for gender equality and where sexist stereotypes persist, access to basic feminine hygiene products remains difficult.

In Karachi, a metropolis of twenty million people seen as the most liberal city in Pakistan, sanitary pads is easily accessible, though expensive.

Many women are still made to feel uneasy by leering shopkeepers and ask their husbands to buy them instead.

"Some people buy them late at night, others prefer to buy them in a different neighbourhood," said Sajjad Ali, 32, a store owner.

In shops like this, sanitary pads are wrapped in opaque paper, instead of in transparent bags like other products.

"Periods are treated as taboo and surrounded by mystery," said Seema Shiekh, a women's rights activist.

But she asks: "Doesn't every man have a sister, wife or a mother?"

After twenty years of battling to introduce sex education classes in Pakistan, the first lessons are finally being given in public schools in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital.

Among their aims will be to put an end to the fear surrounding periods in a country where the onset of menstruation is one of the main reasons girls drop out of school.

Some 28 per cent of women surveyed in 2017 by Unicef indicated that they had missed school or work because of stomach pain or worry over staining their clothes.

Bibi, who is working alongside 80 other women trained to make sanitary pads is confident things will change in Booni too.

She mused: "With this project, I have made people aware."

Bent over her hand-crank sewing machine, Hajra Bibi carefully stitches sanitary pads for the women of her mountainous village in northwestern Pakistan, one of many rural areas in the deeply conservative country where periods are still taboo.

Bent over her hand-crank sewing machine, Hajra Bibi carefully stitches sanitary pads for the women of her mountainous village in northwestern Pakistan, one of many rural areas in the deeply conservative country where periods are still taboo. "I am responding to a crisis," said the 35-year-old mother, sitting in front of her small, doily-covered work table in the village of Booni, close to the Afghan border. "Before, Booni's women had no idea what sanitary towels were," she explained. Less than a fifth of women use sanitary pads in Pakistan, local charities estimate. Traditionally women have used rags and cloth to soak up their menstrual blood, but the stigma around periods and a lack of reproductive education mean hygiene standards are poor and many contracted infections. As with other areas of rural Pakistan, menstruating women were viewed as unclean and limited in what they were able to do. Bibi was given the training to make the disposable sanitary pads, made of cotton, plastic, and cloth, by the Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) an NGO working with Unicef in a scheme that aims to change attitudes to women's health. She took up the work to support her family because her husband is disabled and they have little income. Each pad takes around 20 minutes to make and is sold for 20 rupees (13 US cents). Initially, her work disturbed the local community. "At first, people were asking me why I was doing this, some were insulting me," Bibi recalled. But now, "girls in the village can talk about their periods," she said proudly, adding that she was fighting "for the basic needs of women". 'infection and education' In Pakistan, Unicef has warned that in some cases information about menstruation has deliberately been withheld from women as a "means of protecting their chastity". "This in turn negatively impacts their physical and emotional health," it said in a 2018 report. Historically, the women of Booni have used cloth, but according to Bushra Ansari of AKRSP, the taboo surrounding periods meant many were ashamed to dry them outside, unaware that damp cloths are a breeding ground for bacteria. Also, female family members often shared the same menstrual rags, increasing the risk of contracting urinary and reproductive tract infections, explained Wassaf Sayed Kakakhail, a doctor in the region. "If there are three girls in the same family, they all use the same pieces of fabric," she said, adding many women are told not to wash during their period. There is no sex education in schools and the topic is rarely discussed even between women at homes in northern Pakistan, a particularly conservative part of the country. According to a 2017 Unicef survey, half of the young Pakistani women did not know about menstruation before their periods started. "Teen girls told us that they thought they had cancer or a very serious illness that made them bleed," said Kakakhail. But Mohammad Haidar Ulmulk, public health director for Chitral District, where Booni is, insisted the problem was under control. "There may be gaps, but we try to cover them," he said, adding that the area had hundreds of health workers trying to help young women. 'Sister, mother, wife' The situation is different in cities, especially among the richest. But in the patriarchal Muslim country ranked 148th out of 149 by the World Economic Forum for gender equality and where sexist stereotypes persist, access to basic feminine hygiene products remains difficult. In Karachi, a metropolis of twenty million people seen as the most liberal city in Pakistan, sanitary pads is easily accessible, though expensive. Many women are still made to feel uneasy by leering shopkeepers and ask their husbands to buy them instead. "Some people buy them late at night, others prefer to buy them in a different neighbourhood," said Sajjad Ali, 32, a store owner. In shops like this, sanitary pads are wrapped in opaque paper, instead of in transparent bags like other products. "Periods are treated as taboo and surrounded by mystery," said Seema Shiekh, a women's rights activist. But she asks: "Doesn't every man have a sister, wife or a mother?" After twenty years of battling to introduce sex education classes in Pakistan, the first lessons are finally being given in public schools in Sindh province, of which Karachi is the capital. Among their aims will be to put an end to the fear surrounding periods in a country where the onset of menstruation is one of the main reasons girls drop out of school. Some 28 per cent of women surveyed in 2017 by Unicef indicated that they had missed school or work because of stomach pain or worry over staining their clothes. Bibi, who is working alongside 80 other women trained to make sanitary pads is confident things will change in Booni too. She mused: "With this project, I have made people aware."

Myths and menstruation: Overcoming Pakistan's period taboo

Air strikes likely by Russia on a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed at least 44 people overnight, inflicting the highest death toll in a single attack on the region this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

"War planes, which are likely Russian, targeted the village of Zardana in northern rural Idlib overnight and caused the highest death toll in a single attack on the region including 11 women and six children," Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Britain-based war monitor said.

The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition, he said. Rescue workers were still searching under the rubble for survivors.

The northwestern Idlib region remains the largest populated area of Syria in the hands of insurgents fighting the Damascus government.

The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition

Air strikes likely by Russia on a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed at least 44 people overnight, inflicting the highest death toll in a single attack on the region this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday. "War planes, which are likely Russian, targeted the village of Zardana in northern rural Idlib overnight and caused the highest death toll in a single attack on the region including 11 women and six children," Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Britain-based war monitor said. The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition, he said. Rescue workers were still searching under the rubble for survivors. The northwestern Idlib region remains the largest populated area of Syria in the hands of insurgents fighting the Damascus government.

Air strikes kill at least 44 in Syria's Idlib: Monitor

Three people were killed and two others injured in a shooting in&nbsp;Maryland, police said today.

The Prince George&#39;s County Police Department said officers responded to calls of the shooting in District Heights, some 16 kilometre&nbsp;outside of Washington DC, around 9:35 pm&nbsp;local time and found three dead at the scene.

&quot;Once officers got on scene we discovered five victims, that were all shot. Unfortunately three of the five victims were pronounced dead, they succumbed to their injuries. Preliminary we do not believe this to be a random act,&quot; a spokesperson for the Prince George&#39;s County Police Department, Nicole Hubbard, said.

Another victim was in critical condition and yet another was in stable condition, police said. Police said on Twitter the shooting did not appear random and a search was under way. 
 
(Reuters)

Police say the shooting was not random and that a search is under way

Three people were killed and two others injured in a shooting in Maryland, police said today. The Prince George's County Police Department said officers responded to calls of the shooting in District Heights, some 16 kilometre outside of Washington DC, around 9:35 pm local time and found three dead at the scene. "Once officers got on scene we discovered five victims, that were all shot. Unfortunately three of the five victims were pronounced dead, they succumbed to their injuries. Preliminary we do not believe this to be a random act," a spokesperson for the Prince George's County Police Department, Nicole Hubbard, said. Another victim was in critical condition and yet another was in stable condition, police said. Police said on Twitter the shooting did not appear random and a search was under way. (Reuters)

Three killed, 2 injured in Maryland shooting

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