With Canada on the verge of becoming the world's second nation to legalise recreational marijuana, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that countries should think twice before opening that door.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in the Philippines for a regional meeting, told AFP the organisation supports availability of drugs like marijuana for medical reasons.

"Of course we believe that people who need it, especially for pain management, should have it. There should be access," he said.

That access should be clearly regulated, he added, and throwing open the doors to full legalisation carries its own health risks.

"I think any addictive substance is not good for human health," he said. "We wouldn't encourage countries to follow those who are actually... legalising it."

As he spoke, Canada was a week away from allowing for adults to buy, grow and consume cannabis, the second nation in the world to do so after Uruguay's move five years ago.

'Understand impact'&nbsp;

Canadian officials have justified legalisation on the grounds that it would take traffickers and dealers out of the equation and protect young people.

Nine American states have also given the greenlight to recreational use, and many more allow it for medical purposes.&nbsp;

But Tedros said, similar to alcohol and tobacco, drugs like marijuana needed to be controlled because of the risk they posed outside medical settings.

He pointed to the strides nations around the world have made in curbing tobacco smoking, which the WHO considers to be the substance that causes the most damage to health globally.

While use is levelling off or even decreasing in some countries, WHO estimates there are still over a billion smokers globally.

As cannabis legalisation grows, the United Nations figures point to a much smaller number of users, with 2013 numbers showing nearly 182 million non-medical users.

For countries that do proceed with recreational legalisation, Tedros said it is key that they closely monitor the impact on their citizens' health.

Legalisation has already prompted a range of questions on public safety that Canadian authorities have had to broach.

They have reminded motorists that driving while high is still illegal, while soldiers are to be banned from smoking or otherwise consuming the drug up to eight hours before reporting for duty.

"We are encouraging them to understand its impact and do assessments from the start," Tedros added.&nbsp;

"Legalising it we hope will not mean that they are really not to be encouraged to study its impact."

 
&nbsp;

With Canada on the verge of becoming the world's second nation to legalise recreational marijuana, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that countries should think twice before opening that door.

With Canada on the verge of becoming the world's second nation to legalise recreational marijuana, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that countries should think twice before opening that door. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in the Philippines for a regional meeting, told AFP the organisation supports availability of drugs like marijuana for medical reasons. "Of course we believe that people who need it, especially for pain management, should have it. There should be access," he said. That access should be clearly regulated, he added, and throwing open the doors to full legalisation carries its own health risks. "I think any addictive substance is not good for human health," he said. "We wouldn't encourage countries to follow those who are actually... legalising it." As he spoke, Canada was a week away from allowing for adults to buy, grow and consume cannabis, the second nation in the world to do so after Uruguay's move five years ago. 'Understand impact' Canadian officials have justified legalisation on the grounds that it would take traffickers and dealers out of the equation and protect young people. Nine American states have also given the greenlight to recreational use, and many more allow it for medical purposes. But Tedros said, similar to alcohol and tobacco, drugs like marijuana needed to be controlled because of the risk they posed outside medical settings. He pointed to the strides nations around the world have made in curbing tobacco smoking, which the WHO considers to be the substance that causes the most damage to health globally. While use is levelling off or even decreasing in some countries, WHO estimates there are still over a billion smokers globally. As cannabis legalisation grows, the United Nations figures point to a much smaller number of users, with 2013 numbers showing nearly 182 million non-medical users. For countries that do proceed with recreational legalisation, Tedros said it is key that they closely monitor the impact on their citizens' health. Legalisation has already prompted a range of questions on public safety that Canadian authorities have had to broach. They have reminded motorists that driving while high is still illegal, while soldiers are to be banned from smoking or otherwise consuming the drug up to eight hours before reporting for duty. "We are encouraging them to understand its impact and do assessments from the start," Tedros added. "Legalising it we hope will not mean that they are really not to be encouraged to study its impact."

'Just say no' to drug legalisation: WHO chief

According to Hong Kong University, a man has developed the world's first case of the rat version of hepatitis E virus.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rat-fever-grips-flood-hit-kerala-leptospirosis-claims-28-lives-alert-sounded-163062">Also Read: Rat fever grips flood-hit Kerala;&nbsp;Leptospirosis claims 28 lives</a>

The man who is reportedly 56-years-old had undergone a liver transplant due to persistent abnormal liver function tests. The University of Hong Kong said there was no previous evidence the disease could transfer from rats to humans.

"This study conclusively proves for the first time in the world that rat HEV can infect humans to cause clinical infection," the university said in a statement.

He could have contracted the illness through food infected by rat droppings, researchers said.

The patient was treated with an oral medication known as ribavirin and is recovering, reports said. Symptoms of hepatitis E virus include&nbsp;fever, vomiting and jaundice, and in rare cases liver failure and death.

According to the World Health Organization(WHO), hepatitis E, a liver disease, which is normally spread through contaminated drinking water affects 20 million people globally each year.

WHO estimated that nearly 44, 000 people died of Hepatitis E in 2015, accounting for 3.3% of mortality due to viral hepatitis.

The World health body in its report said although the disease is found worldwide but it is highest in South and East Asia. A vaccine for the disease has been developed in China but it is not avaliable anywhere else, according to WHO.

It commonly occurs in countries with limited access to water sanitation and health services, according to a WHO report.

Rat hepatitis E virus is very distantly related to human hepatitis E virus variants, Hong Kong Unitersity said. The Hong Kong University will be releasing more information about the case on Friday.

In France, researches had said they had found traces of hepatitis E in pork.

In Kerala, during the recent floods, suspected cases of leptospirosis, a waterborne disease known locally as 'rat fever' had hit 800 patients. Transmitted via the urine of infected animals, its symptoms include muscle pain and fever. At least 12 people had died due to the disease.

Hong Kong has been facing persistent rodent problem in the past year because of hot and humid condictions. The country was hit by the deadly Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in 2003 which started from China caused severe respiratory problems in humans.

According to Hong Kong University, a man has developed the world's first case of the rat version of hepatitis E virus. Also Read: Rat fever grips flood-hit Kerala; Leptospirosis claims 28 lives The man who is reportedly 56-years-old had undergone a liver transplant due to persistent abnormal liver function tests.

According to Hong Kong University, a man has developed the world's first case of the rat version of hepatitis E virus. Also Read: Rat fever grips flood-hit Kerala; Leptospirosis claims 28 lives The man who is reportedly 56-years-old had undergone a liver transplant due to persistent abnormal liver function tests. The University of Hong Kong said there was no previous evidence the disease could transfer from rats to humans. "This study conclusively proves for the first time in the world that rat HEV can infect humans to cause clinical infection," the university said in a statement. He could have contracted the illness through food infected by rat droppings, researchers said. The patient was treated with an oral medication known as ribavirin and is recovering, reports said. Symptoms of hepatitis E virus include fever, vomiting and jaundice, and in rare cases liver failure and death. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), hepatitis E, a liver disease, which is normally spread through contaminated drinking water affects 20 million people globally each year. WHO estimated that nearly 44, 000 people died of Hepatitis E in 2015, accounting for 3.3% of mortality due to viral hepatitis. The World health body in its report said although the disease is found worldwide but it is highest in South and East Asia. A vaccine for the disease has been developed in China but it is not avaliable anywhere else, according to WHO. It commonly occurs in countries with limited access to water sanitation and health services, according to a WHO report. Rat hepatitis E virus is very distantly related to human hepatitis E virus variants, Hong Kong Unitersity said. The Hong Kong University will be releasing more information about the case on Friday. In France, researches had said they had found traces of hepatitis E in pork. In Kerala, during the recent floods, suspected cases of leptospirosis, a waterborne disease known locally as 'rat fever' had hit 800 patients. Transmitted via the urine of infected animals, its symptoms include muscle pain and fever. At least 12 people had died due to the disease. Hong Kong has been facing persistent rodent problem in the past year because of hot and humid condictions. The country was hit by the deadly Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in 2003 which started from China caused severe respiratory problems in humans.

World's first human case of rat disease detected in Hong Kong

At least 45 people have been killed by cholera in Zimbabwe in the past three weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, describing the strain as "multi-drug resistant".

It said that an oral vaccine campaign was due to begin shortly with 450,000 people targeted in the worst-affected suburbs of the capital Harare.

About 500,000 doses were due to arrive in the country on Wednesday for Zimbabwe's first oral vaccine campaign to combat the disease.

"A cumulative total of 6,428 suspected cases, 45 deaths, and 96 confirmed cases have been reported," a report by WHO and the health ministry said.

Almost all of the deaths have been in Harare, with one other in the eastern district of Makoni and another in the central city of Masvingo.

The report said Harare city council was fixing broken sewers after blocked and damaged pipes left sewage flowing on open ground in all affected areas.

Safe water is being trucked to residents, and police have banned the sale of street food, arresting vendors to try to prevent the epidemic from spreading.&nbsp;

Cholera outbreaks have occurred frequently in Zimbabwe's cities where safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are scarce.

In Harare, public gatherings have been banned and people discouraged from shaking hands.&nbsp;

Zimbabwe, which was ruled by Robert Mugabe from independence in 1980 until his ousting last year, suffered its worst cholera outbreak in 2008.

A total of 4,000 people died and at least 100,000 people fell ill.

At least 45 people have been killed by cholera in Zimbabwe in the past three weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, describing the strain as "multi-drug resistant".

At least 45 people have been killed by cholera in Zimbabwe in the past three weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday, describing the strain as "multi-drug resistant". It said that an oral vaccine campaign was due to begin shortly with 450,000 people targeted in the worst-affected suburbs of the capital Harare. About 500,000 doses were due to arrive in the country on Wednesday for Zimbabwe's first oral vaccine campaign to combat the disease. "A cumulative total of 6,428 suspected cases, 45 deaths, and 96 confirmed cases have been reported," a report by WHO and the health ministry said. Almost all of the deaths have been in Harare, with one other in the eastern district of Makoni and another in the central city of Masvingo. The report said Harare city council was fixing broken sewers after blocked and damaged pipes left sewage flowing on open ground in all affected areas. Safe water is being trucked to residents, and police have banned the sale of street food, arresting vendors to try to prevent the epidemic from spreading. Cholera outbreaks have occurred frequently in Zimbabwe's cities where safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are scarce. In Harare, public gatherings have been banned and people discouraged from shaking hands. Zimbabwe, which was ruled by Robert Mugabe from independence in 1980 until his ousting last year, suffered its worst cholera outbreak in 2008. A total of 4,000 people died and at least 100,000 people fell ill.

Cholera death toll climbs to 45 in Zimbabwe

Alcohol responsible for 3 million deaths worldwide: WHO

By: Julia von Oettingen and&nbsp;Rajesh Vedanthan*

Prince, a three-year-old boy, is brought to the emergency room in Monrovia, Liberia, with fever and a decreased level of consciousness. He is critically ill. He is treated for malaria.

Time is the only way to tell if this was the right treatment choice — but time may not be on his side. An astute nurse asks a visiting doctor if she can borrow a blood glucose monitor and nails the diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes, requiring urgent administration of insulin to save the boy's life.

While Prince was lucky to get a correct diagnosis on time, blood glucose monitors are rarely available in resource-limited clinics in sub-Saharan Africa.

Situations like this occur daily in low-resource settings: A sick patient, a clinical suspicion, but no confirmatory testing. As a result, many patients are misdiagnosed, receive unnecessary or harmful treatments, or die.

Thankfully, blood glucose measurement — an important laboratory test — just made it onto the first edition of the WHO Essential Diagnostics List (EDL).

This new list is a great step forward in making the most crucial diagnostic tests available globally.

However, future editions of this list will need to cover an even broader range of tests.

Beyond the 'Big Three'

The WHO EDL, published on May 16, 2018, is a first step towards addressing the "diagnostics desert" that health-care providers and patients alike still face in many resource-limited settings.

WHO and its expert committee carefully put together a priority list of essential "in vitro" (laboratory-based) diagnostics to guide governments and health-care stakeholders on what tests to make available. The aim was to address the highest priority health-care needs.

Like its 40-year-old WHO sibling, the Essential Medicines List, this list promises to have a big impact on the availability of laboratory-based diagnostics globally, and on the quality of health-care delivery and population health.

WHO and its expert committee should be applauded for this essential accomplishment, including the effort to look beyond the traditional "Big Three" infections (TB, HIV and malaria).

While the list still has an obvious focus on infectious diseases, the consideration of essential non-communicable diseases (NCD) diagnostics is timely, if not overdue.

Detecting diabetes and heart disease

Cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes have emerged as the most important epidemics of the 21st century.

In an era where such NCDs have surpassed infectious diseases as the major killers globally, it is essential then that international organizations, and specifically the WHO, adapt their policies and guidelines to this reality.

The number of NCD-related diagnostic tests that made it onto the 113-item list establishes an important starting point for the future. For example, making blood glucose measurements a priority will help to improve detection of diabetes among the striking 50 per cent of people in low- and middle-income countries who do not know they have it.

This may give millions the chance of timely treatment and improved long-term outcomes.

A vital blood test for Troponin levels, for example — which helps diagnose a heart attack — can be life-saving. Other laboratory tests (e.g. liver function tests) can help diagnose many NCDs.

An incomplete list

Certainly, this list is not yet complete, but we hope future editions can be. We hope, eventually, to see other essential diagnostics included.

The diagnosis of cancers, such as colon, breast and lung cancers, can be facilitated by tumour markers and pathology diagnostics. Neurologic disorders frequently require cerebrospinal fluid and drug levels. Thyroid function studies help diagnose thyroid dysfunction — one of the most common endocrine disorders.

We also hope to see an eventual expansion of the family of "essentials" to include medical equipment and devices.

These include: Growth charts and blood pressure cuffs at a primary-care level an electrocardiogram, X-ray and ultrasound at a secondary-care level and CT and MRI scanners, lung function tests, surgical devices and fiber-optic scopes at a tertiary-care level.

Affordable and accessible testing

If the EDL is to improve the health of the global population, we will also need to lobby for the five "As" of access: Affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation and acceptability.

With political guidance, willpower and necessary pressure, public and private entities can work towards affordability of essential diagnostics. We must strengthen national, regional and local health systems — to work out supply chains and laboratory networks that ensure availability and accessibility for a wide public.

We must develop innovative testing strategies that accommodate the needs of remote and vulnerable populations — such as point-of-care tests that can be used by community health workers.

The expansion of the WHO essential list family to include an EDL is a promising start to broadened access to essential diagnostics globally, and to deliver on WHO's goal of Universal Health Coverage.

We need action now — to ensure the list becomes a powerful tool, addressing an ever-broadening spectrum of diseases. This way, every individual can have the chance of a proper diagnosis, treatment and survival.

Julia von Oettingen is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University and Rajesh Vedanthan and Associate Professor in Medicine/Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-desperate-global-need-for-medical-diagnostics-97531">article</a>.)&nbsp;

Cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes have emerged as the most important epidemics of the 21st century

By: Julia von Oettingen and Rajesh Vedanthan* Prince, a three-year-old boy, is brought to the emergency room in Monrovia, Liberia, with fever and a decreased level of consciousness. He is critically ill. He is treated for malaria. Time is the only way to tell if this was the right treatment choice — but time may not be on his side. An astute nurse asks a visiting doctor if she can borrow a blood glucose monitor and nails the diagnosis: Type 1 diabetes, requiring urgent administration of insulin to save the boy's life. While Prince was lucky to get a correct diagnosis on time, blood glucose monitors are rarely available in resource-limited clinics in sub-Saharan Africa. Situations like this occur daily in low-resource settings: A sick patient, a clinical suspicion, but no confirmatory testing. As a result, many patients are misdiagnosed, receive unnecessary or harmful treatments, or die. Thankfully, blood glucose measurement — an important laboratory test — just made it onto the first edition of the WHO Essential Diagnostics List (EDL). This new list is a great step forward in making the most crucial diagnostic tests available globally. However, future editions of this list will need to cover an even broader range of tests. Beyond the 'Big Three' The WHO EDL, published on May 16, 2018, is a first step towards addressing the "diagnostics desert" that health-care providers and patients alike still face in many resource-limited settings. WHO and its expert committee carefully put together a priority list of essential "in vitro" (laboratory-based) diagnostics to guide governments and health-care stakeholders on what tests to make available. The aim was to address the highest priority health-care needs. Like its 40-year-old WHO sibling, the Essential Medicines List, this list promises to have a big impact on the availability of laboratory-based diagnostics globally, and on the quality of health-care delivery and population health. WHO and its expert committee should be applauded for this essential accomplishment, including the effort to look beyond the traditional "Big Three" infections (TB, HIV and malaria). While the list still has an obvious focus on infectious diseases, the consideration of essential non-communicable diseases (NCD) diagnostics is timely, if not overdue. Detecting diabetes and heart disease Cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes have emerged as the most important epidemics of the 21st century. In an era where such NCDs have surpassed infectious diseases as the major killers globally, it is essential then that international organizations, and specifically the WHO, adapt their policies and guidelines to this reality. The number of NCD-related diagnostic tests that made it onto the 113-item list establishes an important starting point for the future. For example, making blood glucose measurements a priority will help to improve detection of diabetes among the striking 50 per cent of people in low- and middle-income countries who do not know they have it. This may give millions the chance of timely treatment and improved long-term outcomes. A vital blood test for Troponin levels, for example — which helps diagnose a heart attack — can be life-saving. Other laboratory tests (e.g. liver function tests) can help diagnose many NCDs. An incomplete list Certainly, this list is not yet complete, but we hope future editions can be. We hope, eventually, to see other essential diagnostics included. The diagnosis of cancers, such as colon, breast and lung cancers, can be facilitated by tumour markers and pathology diagnostics. Neurologic disorders frequently require cerebrospinal fluid and drug levels. Thyroid function studies help diagnose thyroid dysfunction — one of the most common endocrine disorders. We also hope to see an eventual expansion of the family of "essentials" to include medical equipment and devices. These include: Growth charts and blood pressure cuffs at a primary-care level an electrocardiogram, X-ray and ultrasound at a secondary-care level and CT and MRI scanners, lung function tests, surgical devices and fiber-optic scopes at a tertiary-care level. Affordable and accessible testing If the EDL is to improve the health of the global population, we will also need to lobby for the five "As" of access: Affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation and acceptability. With political guidance, willpower and necessary pressure, public and private entities can work towards affordability of essential diagnostics. We must strengthen national, regional and local health systems — to work out supply chains and laboratory networks that ensure availability and accessibility for a wide public. We must develop innovative testing strategies that accommodate the needs of remote and vulnerable populations — such as point-of-care tests that can be used by community health workers. The expansion of the WHO essential list family to include an EDL is a promising start to broadened access to essential diagnostics globally, and to deliver on WHO's goal of Universal Health Coverage. We need action now — to ensure the list becomes a powerful tool, addressing an ever-broadening spectrum of diseases. This way, every individual can have the chance of a proper diagnosis, treatment and survival. Julia von Oettingen is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University and Rajesh Vedanthan and Associate Professor in Medicine/Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.)

Opinion: The desperate global need for medical diagnostics

A group of public health experts have urged superstar Amitabh Bachchan to dissociate himself from promoting Horlicks, a multinational brand that has extended support to the Centre's recently launched National Nutrition Mission aimed at addressing the issue of undernutrition in the country.

The experts under the banner of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest - India (NAPi) in a letter to the actor said, "Horlicks is a high sugar product, as 100 gram of a popularly advertised pack of Horlicks Delight, contains 78 gram of carbohydrates of which 32 grams is sucrose sugar".&nbsp;

"This is harmful for children as it may contribute to childhood obesity and non-communicable disease in later life," the experts said.

They said the WHO recommends a reduced daily intake of free sugars throughout the life course to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake.&nbsp;

Furthermore, in the interest of good health WHO suggests intake of free sugars to below 5 per cent of total energy intake, the letter stated.

The letter mentioned that in 2016, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a Resolution 69.9 that recommends ending inappropriate promotion of foods for children from ages 6-36 months based on WHO and FAO dietary guidelines.&nbsp;

"Going by this recommendation promotion of Horlicks falls in category of inappropriate as they use false health claims in TV commercials," they said, adding that it dents Bachchan's image as a socially responsible celebrity.&nbsp;

"I fear that this campaign may have serious adverse repercussions: Horlicks is expensive and is likely to drain pockets of marginalized families under the misbelief that Horlicks is a good nutritious product for children as it is endorsed by Mr Bachchan. Thus Horlicks may displace healthy real family home foods and this way contravenes tackling the problem of undernutrition among children," said Dr Arti Maria, Head of Neonatology Department, RML hospital here.

Dr Aseem Malhotra, a renowned British cardiologist and author of?The Pioppi Diet? and former Director of Action on Sugar, UK, said high sugar foods/beverages should be prohibited for children as sugar has no nutritional value and that there is increasing evidence that added sugar increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver.

Claiming that the campaign was misleading and undermines optimal nutrition, the experts urged the actor to call off his association with Horlicks.

India's former health secretary Keshav Desiraju is the Chairman of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest - India (NAPi).&nbsp;

On&nbsp;March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the National Nutrition Mission at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

WHO recommends a reduced daily intake of free sugars throughout the life course to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake

A group of public health experts have urged superstar Amitabh Bachchan to dissociate himself from promoting Horlicks, a multinational brand that has extended support to the Centre's recently launched National Nutrition Mission aimed at addressing the issue of undernutrition in the country. The experts under the banner of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest - India (NAPi) in a letter to the actor said, "Horlicks is a high sugar product, as 100 gram of a popularly advertised pack of Horlicks Delight, contains 78 gram of carbohydrates of which 32 grams is sucrose sugar". "This is harmful for children as it may contribute to childhood obesity and non-communicable disease in later life," the experts said. They said the WHO recommends a reduced daily intake of free sugars throughout the life course to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake. Furthermore, in the interest of good health WHO suggests intake of free sugars to below 5 per cent of total energy intake, the letter stated. The letter mentioned that in 2016, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a Resolution 69.9 that recommends ending inappropriate promotion of foods for children from ages 6-36 months based on WHO and FAO dietary guidelines. "Going by this recommendation promotion of Horlicks falls in category of inappropriate as they use false health claims in TV commercials," they said, adding that it dents Bachchan's image as a socially responsible celebrity. "I fear that this campaign may have serious adverse repercussions: Horlicks is expensive and is likely to drain pockets of marginalized families under the misbelief that Horlicks is a good nutritious product for children as it is endorsed by Mr Bachchan. Thus Horlicks may displace healthy real family home foods and this way contravenes tackling the problem of undernutrition among children," said Dr Arti Maria, Head of Neonatology Department, RML hospital here. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a renowned British cardiologist and author of?The Pioppi Diet? and former Director of Action on Sugar, UK, said high sugar foods/beverages should be prohibited for children as sugar has no nutritional value and that there is increasing evidence that added sugar increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver. Claiming that the campaign was misleading and undermines optimal nutrition, the experts urged the actor to call off his association with Horlicks. India's former health secretary Keshav Desiraju is the Chairman of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest - India (NAPi). On March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the National Nutrition Mission at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan.

Experts urge Amitabh Bachchan to dissociate himself from 'Horlicks'

While the link between smoking and a range of cancers is well known, the World Health Organization warned&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;there was too little awareness of tobacco's impact on the human heart.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day&nbsp;Thursday, the UN health agency hailed that smoking had declined significantly since&nbsp;the year&nbsp;2000, but warned that there were still far too many people indulging in the dangerous habit.

And it cautioned that research showed there was "a serious lack of knowledge" about the different health risks associated with tobacco.

Tobacco use has been linked to more than seven million deaths worldwide each year, including some 890,000 from breathing in second-hand smoke.

But many people are unaware that nearly half of those deaths, around three million, are due to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke, WHO warned.

"Most people know that using tobacco causes cancer and lung disease, but many people aren't aware that tobacco also causes heart disease and stroke – the world’s leading killers," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

"Tobacco doesn't just cause cancer. It quite literally breaks hearts," he said.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including tar and others that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels, and nicotine, which is associated with increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

At the same time, smoking unleashes poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, which replaces oxygen in the blood, thereby reducing the availability of oxygen for the heart muscle, WHO said.

The agency pointed out that tobacco use is responsible for around 17&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the nearly 18 million deaths from cardiovascular disease around the globe each year.

Yet in many countries, there is very low awareness that smoking significantly increases your chances of developing cardiovascular disease.

In China&nbsp;for&nbsp;instance, a large WHO survey showed that more than 60&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the population is unaware that smoking can cause heart attacks, while in India and Indonesia, more than half of adults are unaware that smoking can cause&nbsp;a stroke.

"Governments have the power in their hands to protect their citizens from suffering needlessly from heart disease," said Douglas Bettcher, who heads WHO's non-communicable disease prevention unit.

According to a new WHO report on smoking trends and prevalence, the percentage of people worldwide who indulge in the habit has dropped from 27&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in 2000 to 20&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in 2016.

But it warned that the pace of reduction was too slow.

Due to population growth, the number of smokers in the world has remained relatively stable at around 1.1 billion, Bettcher told reporters.

UN health agency hailed that smoking had declined significantly since the year 2000

While the link between smoking and a range of cancers is well known, the World Health Organization warned Thursday there was too little awareness of tobacco's impact on the human heart. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day Thursday, the UN health agency hailed that smoking had declined significantly since the year 2000, but warned that there were still far too many people indulging in the dangerous habit. And it cautioned that research showed there was "a serious lack of knowledge" about the different health risks associated with tobacco. Tobacco use has been linked to more than seven million deaths worldwide each year, including some 890,000 from breathing in second-hand smoke. But many people are unaware that nearly half of those deaths, around three million, are due to cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke, WHO warned. "Most people know that using tobacco causes cancer and lung disease, but many people aren't aware that tobacco also causes heart disease and stroke – the world’s leading killers," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "Tobacco doesn't just cause cancer. It quite literally breaks hearts," he said. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including tar and others that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels, and nicotine, which is associated with increases in heart rate and blood pressure. At the same time, smoking unleashes poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, which replaces oxygen in the blood, thereby reducing the availability of oxygen for the heart muscle, WHO said. The agency pointed out that tobacco use is responsible for around 17 per cent of the nearly 18 million deaths from cardiovascular disease around the globe each year. Yet in many countries, there is very low awareness that smoking significantly increases your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. In China for instance, a large WHO survey showed that more than 60 per cent of the population is unaware that smoking can cause heart attacks, while in India and Indonesia, more than half of adults are unaware that smoking can cause a stroke. "Governments have the power in their hands to protect their citizens from suffering needlessly from heart disease," said Douglas Bettcher, who heads WHO's non-communicable disease prevention unit. According to a new WHO report on smoking trends and prevalence, the percentage of people worldwide who indulge in the habit has dropped from 27 per cent in 2000 to 20 per cent in 2016. But it warned that the pace of reduction was too slow. Due to population growth, the number of smokers in the world has remained relatively stable at around 1.1 billion, Bettcher told reporters.

World No Tobacco Day 2018: Smoking causes millions of heart attacks, says WHO

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-to-challenge-the-appointment-of-kg-bopaiah-as-pro-tem-speaker-in-the-sc-137972">Karnataka crisis: Congress to challenge KG Bopaiah's appointment as pro-tem Speaker in Supreme Court</a>

Congress to challenge the appointment of KG Bopaiah as pro-tem Speaker in the Supreme Court on Friday. According to television reports, Congress is moving Supreme Court to challenge the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint KG Bopiah as pro-tem speaker ahead of the floor test on Saturday 4 pm.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-pm-modis-visit-to-jk-pakistan-summons-indian-high-commissioner-over-unprovoked-ceasefire-violations-along-loc-137934">Pakistan summons Indian High Commissioner over 'unprovoked ceasefire violations' along LoC</a>

As PM Modi prepares to visit J&K on Saturday, Pakistan today summoned Indian High Commissioner over "unprovoked ceasefire violations" allegedly carried out by Indian forces along the Line of Control(LoC).

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-allows-karti-chidambaram-to-travel-abroad-137929">Supreme Court allows Karti Chidambaram to travel abroad</a>

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, to travel to offshore locations in United Kingdom, Germany and Spain with certain conditions, including that he would not open or close a bank account abroad.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-offering-200-billion-package-to-slash-us-trade-gap-137953">China denies offering $200 billion </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-offering-200-billion-package-to-slash-us-trade-gap-137953">package</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-denies-offering-200-billion-package-to-slash-us-trade-gap-137953"> to slash US trade gap</a>

China denied on Friday that it had offered a package to slash the US trade deficit by up to $200 billion, hours after it dropped an anti-dumping probe into US sorghum imports in a conciliatory gesture as top negotiators meet in Washington.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/congo-faces-very-high-risk-from-ebola-outbreak-who--137926">Congo faces 'very high' risk from Ebola outbreak: WHO</a>

Democratic Republic of Congo faces a "very high" public health risk from Ebola because the disease has been confirmed in a patient in a big city, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, raising its assessment from "high" previously.

&nbsp

Karnataka crisis: Congress to challenge KG Bopaiah's appointment as pro-tem Speaker in Supreme Court Congress to challenge the appointment of KG Bopaiah as pro-tem Speaker in the Supreme Court on Friday. According to television reports, Congress is moving Supreme Court to challenge the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala's decision to appoint KG Bopiah as pro-tem speaker ahead of the floor test on Saturday 4 pm. Pakistan summons Indian High Commissioner over 'unprovoked ceasefire violations' along LoC As PM Modi prepares to visit J&K on Saturday, Pakistan today summoned Indian High Commissioner over "unprovoked ceasefire violations" allegedly carried out by Indian forces along the Line of Control(LoC). Supreme Court allows Karti Chidambaram to travel abroad The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, to travel to offshore locations in United Kingdom, Germany and Spain with certain conditions, including that he would not open or close a bank account abroad. China denies offering $200 billion package to slash US trade gap China denied on Friday that it had offered a package to slash the US trade deficit by up to $200 billion, hours after it dropped an anti-dumping probe into US sorghum imports in a conciliatory gesture as top negotiators meet in Washington. Congo faces 'very high' risk from Ebola outbreak: WHO Democratic Republic of Congo faces a "very high" public health risk from Ebola because the disease has been confirmed in a patient in a big city, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, raising its assessment from "high" previously.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Democratic Republic of Congo faces a "very high" public health risk from Ebola because the disease has been confirmed in a patient in a big city, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, raising its assessment from "high" previously.

The risk to countries in the region was now "high", raised from "moderate", but the global risk remained "low", the WHO said.

The reassessment came after the first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of around 1.5 million in the northwest. Previous reports of the disease had all been in remote areas where Ebola might spread be more easily contained.

"The confirmed case in Mbandaka, a large urban centre located on major national and international river, road and domestic air routes, increases the risk of spread within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to neighbouring countries," the WHO said.

WHO Deputy Director-General for Emergency Preparedness and Response Peter Salama had told reporters on Thursday that the risk assessment was being reviewed.

"We're certainly not trying to cause any panic in the national or international community," he said.

"What we're saying though is that urban Ebola is very different phenomenon to rural Ebola because we know that people in urban areas can have far more contacts so that means that urban Ebola can result in an exponential increase in cases in a way that rural Ebola struggles to do."

Later on Friday, the WHO will convene an Emergency Committee of experts to advise on the international response to the outbreak, and decide whether it constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern".

The nightmare scenario is an outbreak in Kinshasa, a crowded city where millions live in unsanitary slums not connected to a sewer system.

Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and director of the Wellcome Trust global health charity, said the outbreak had "all the features of something that could turn really nasty".

"As more evidence comes in of the separation of cases in space and time, and healthcare workers getting infected, and people attending funerals and then travelling quite big distances - it's got everything we would worry about," he told Reuters.

The WHO statement said there had been 21 suspected, 20 probable and 3 confirmed cases of Ebola between April 4 and May 15, a total of 44 cases, including 15 deaths. Mbandaka had three suspected cases in addition to the confirmed case.

The WHO is sending 7,540 doses of an experimental vaccine to try to stop the outbreak in its tracks, and 4,300 doses have already arrived in Kinshasa. It will be used to protect healthworkers and "rings" of contacts around each case.

The vaccine supplies will be enough to vaccinate 50 rings of 150 people, the WHO said. As of 15 May, 527 contacts had been identified and were being followed up and monitored.

The risk to countries in the region was now 'high', raised from 'moderate'

Democratic Republic of Congo faces a "very high" public health risk from Ebola because the disease has been confirmed in a patient in a big city, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, raising its assessment from "high" previously. The risk to countries in the region was now "high", raised from "moderate", but the global risk remained "low", the WHO said. The reassessment came after the first confirmed case in Mbandaka, a city of around 1.5 million in the northwest. Previous reports of the disease had all been in remote areas where Ebola might spread be more easily contained. "The confirmed case in Mbandaka, a large urban centre located on major national and international river, road and domestic air routes, increases the risk of spread within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to neighbouring countries," the WHO said. WHO Deputy Director-General for Emergency Preparedness and Response Peter Salama had told reporters on Thursday that the risk assessment was being reviewed. "We're certainly not trying to cause any panic in the national or international community," he said. "What we're saying though is that urban Ebola is very different phenomenon to rural Ebola because we know that people in urban areas can have far more contacts so that means that urban Ebola can result in an exponential increase in cases in a way that rural Ebola struggles to do." Later on Friday, the WHO will convene an Emergency Committee of experts to advise on the international response to the outbreak, and decide whether it constitutes a "public health emergency of international concern". The nightmare scenario is an outbreak in Kinshasa, a crowded city where millions live in unsanitary slums not connected to a sewer system. Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and director of the Wellcome Trust global health charity, said the outbreak had "all the features of something that could turn really nasty". "As more evidence comes in of the separation of cases in space and time, and healthcare workers getting infected, and people attending funerals and then travelling quite big distances - it's got everything we would worry about," he told Reuters. The WHO statement said there had been 21 suspected, 20 probable and 3 confirmed cases of Ebola between April 4 and May 15, a total of 44 cases, including 15 deaths. Mbandaka had three suspected cases in addition to the confirmed case. The WHO is sending 7,540 doses of an experimental vaccine to try to stop the outbreak in its tracks, and 4,300 doses have already arrived in Kinshasa. It will be used to protect healthworkers and "rings" of contacts around each case. The vaccine supplies will be enough to vaccinate 50 rings of 150 people, the WHO said. As of 15 May, 527 contacts had been identified and were being followed up and monitored.

Congo faces 'very high' risk from Ebola outbreak: WHO

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/14-of-worlds-20-most-polluted-cities-in-india-who-134112">14 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India: WHO</a>

Of the 20 most polluted cities in the world suffering from air pollution by very fine particles in 2016, 14 are in India, data released by the WHO on Tuesday showed. The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-soon-to-offer-dating-services-to-users-134111">Now, Facebook to soon offer dating services</a>

Social networking site Facebook will soon offer dating services to its users, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Tuesday. While addressing&nbspFacebook's annual F8 conference, he told software developers&nbsp"There are 200 million people on Facebook that list themselves as single, so clearly there's something to do here".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-may-open-us-embassy-in-jerusalem-guatemala-first-country-to-move-to-holy-city-134110">Trump may open US embassy in Jerusalem Guatemala first country to move to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-may-open-us-embassy-in-jerusalem-guatemala-first-country-to-move-to-holy-city-134110">holy</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-may-open-us-embassy-in-jerusalem-guatemala-first-country-to-move-to-holy-city-134110"> city</a>

In a move which is likely to upset several countries in&nbsp<a 560="" href="http://www.wionews.com/world/%3Ciframe%20width=">West Asia, President Donald Trump&nbsp</a>said he may travel to Jerusalem to open the US embassy in Jerusalem.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-location-date-of-north-korea-summit-may-be-announced-soon-134115">Trump says location, date of North Korea summit may be announced soon</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the location and date of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be announced soon. While addressing reporters at the White House, Trump said on Saturday that the meeting with Kim could happen over the next three or four weeks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/on-labour-day-india-china-troops-meet-at-the-border-exchange-sweets-134113">On Labour Day, India, China troops meet at the border, exchange sweets</a>

On International&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-xi-agree-to-issue-strategic-guidance-to-their-militaries-to-build-trust--133407">Labour Day, Indian and Chinese troops</a>&nbspheld a special border personnel meeting at the Chusul-Moldo meeting point in eastern Ladakh. Indicating an upward trend in relations between the two sides, post-Doklam, troops and families of both armies took part in celebrations.&nbsp

14 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India: WHO Of the 20 most polluted cities in the world suffering from air pollution by very fine particles in 2016, 14 are in India, data released by the WHO on Tuesday showed. The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia. Now, Facebook to soon offer dating services Social networking site Facebook will soon offer dating services to its users, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Tuesday. While addressing&nbspFacebook's annual F8 conference, he told software developers "There are 200 million people on Facebook that list themselves as single, so clearly there's something to do here". Trump may open US embassy in Jerusalem Guatemala first country to move to holy city In a move which is likely to upset several countries in West Asia, President Donald Trump said he may travel to Jerusalem to open the US embassy in Jerusalem. Trump says location, date of North Korea summit may be announced soon US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the location and date of a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be announced soon. While addressing reporters at the White House, Trump said on Saturday that the meeting with Kim could happen over the next three or four weeks. On Labour Day, India, China troops meet at the border, exchange sweets On International Labour Day, Indian and Chinese troops&nbspheld a special border personnel meeting at the Chusul-Moldo meeting point in eastern Ladakh. Indicating an upward trend in relations between the two sides, post-Doklam, troops and families of both armies took part in celebrations.

The WHO on Wednesday lauded the BJP-led NDA government’s Ujjwala Yojana to provide free LPG connections to rural households as an effort to reduce household pollution by helping families switch to cleaner energy sources.&nbsp;

PM’s initiative to provide a shield to women and children from smoke has been much admired in the new WHO pollution report.

Importantly, the South-East Asia region of the WHO, which comprises 11 countries, including India is the second largest contributor to the global mortality due to household and ambient air pollution.

About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)&nbsp;

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) or the Ujjwala Scheme was launched by PM Modi on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The scheme aims to protect women and children from the smoke emitted from households using firewood for cooking purposes. Under the scheme, families below the poverty line are to be provided with LPG connections with a support of Rs. 1,600 per connection in the next three years.

Ensuring women’s empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections will be issued in the name of women of the households. Rs 8000 crore has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme. Identification of the BPL families will be done through Socio-Economic Caste Census Data.&nbsp;

PM’s initiative to provide a shield to women and children from smoke has been much admired in the new WHO pollution report.

The WHO on Wednesday lauded the BJP-led NDA government’s Ujjwala Yojana to provide free LPG connections to rural households as an effort to reduce household pollution by helping families switch to cleaner energy sources. PM’s initiative to provide a shield to women and children from smoke has been much admired in the new WHO pollution report. Importantly, the South-East Asia region of the WHO, which comprises 11 countries, including India is the second largest contributor to the global mortality due to household and ambient air pollution. About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) or the Ujjwala Scheme was launched by PM Modi on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. The scheme aims to protect women and children from the smoke emitted from households using firewood for cooking purposes. Under the scheme, families below the poverty line are to be provided with LPG connections with a support of Rs. 1,600 per connection in the next three years. Ensuring women’s empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections will be issued in the name of women of the households. Rs 8000 crore has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme. Identification of the BPL families will be done through Socio-Economic Caste Census Data.

WHO praises India's Ujjwala Yojana: All about the PM's initiative

Of the 20 most polluted cities in the world suffering from air pollution by very fine particles in 2016, 14 are in India, data released by the WHO on Tuesday showed.

The PM2.5 includes pollutants like sulfate, nitrate and black carbon, which pose the greatest risk to human health.

The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia.

In terms of PM10 levels, 13 cities in India featured among the 20 most-polluted cities of the world in 2016.

The report, however, stated countries are making efforts and taking measures and in this context. It referred to India's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which it said, in just two years, has provided 37 million women living below the poverty line with free LPG connections to support them to switch to clean household energy use.

India targets to reach 80 million households by 2020.

"WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia," the report said.

Calling upon member-countries in the South East Asian Region to aggressively address the double burden of household and ambient (outdoor) air pollution, the World Health Organisation says the region, which includes India, accounts for 34 per cent or 2.4 million of the seven million premature deaths caused by household and ambient air pollution together globally every year.

Of the 3.8 million deaths caused by household air pollution globally, the region accounts for 1.5 million or 40 per cent deaths, and of the 4.2 million global deaths due to ambient air pollution, 1.3 million or 30 per cent are reported from the region, it said.

The WHO data also said that nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants.

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WHO's global urban air pollution database measured the levels of fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from more than 4,300 cities in 108 countries. Ambient air pollution alone caused 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths in the same period.

Since 2016, over 1,000 additional cities have been added to WHO's database, which shows more countries are measuring and taking action to reduce air pollution than ever before.

According to the report, more than 90 per cent of air pollution-related deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries (including India), mainly in Asia and Africa, followed by low-and middle-income countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe and the Americas.

"Around 3 billion people more than 40 per cent of the world's population still do not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in their homes, the main source of household air pollution," it said.

The report said that the WHO recognises air pollution is a critical risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated 24 per cent of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25 per cent from stroke, 43 per cent from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29 per cent from lung cancer.

All countries in the region are making efforts to expand availability of clean fuels and technologies, however, over 60 per cent population do not have clean fuel. The combined effects of household air pollution and ambient air pollution become increasingly hard to address if not tackled early, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO Southeast Asia, said.

"Air pollution needs to be brought under control with urgent and effective action. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of deaths globally and in the region, and air pollution contributes significantly to NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and lung cancer.

"Cleaning up the air we breathe will help prevent NCDs, particularly among women and vulnerable groups such as children, those already ill and the elderly," Singh said.

"Many of the world's megacities exceed WHO's guideline levels for air quality by more than 5 times, representing a major risk to people's health," Maria Neira, director of the Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health at WHO, said, adding, there is an acceleration of political interest to deal with this global public health challenge.

"Air pollution threatens us all, but the poorest and most marginalised people bear the brunt of the burden. It is unacceptable that over 3 billion people most of them women and children are still breathing deadly smoke every day from using polluting stoves and fuels in their homes," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO.

Major sources of air pollution from particulate matter include inefficient use of energy by households, industry, agriculture and transport sectors, and coal-fired power plants. In some regions, sand and desert dust, waste burning and deforestation are additional sources of air pollution.

"Air pollution does not recognise borders. Improving air quality demands sustained and coordinated government action at all levels," the WHO said.

(With inputs from PTI)

The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur

Of the 20 most polluted cities in the world suffering from air pollution by very fine particles in 2016, 14 are in India, data released by the WHO on Tuesday showed. The PM2.5 includes pollutants like sulfate, nitrate and black carbon, which pose the greatest risk to human health. The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants include Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia. In terms of PM10 levels, 13 cities in India featured among the 20 most-polluted cities of the world in 2016. The report, however, stated countries are making efforts and taking measures and in this context. It referred to India's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which it said, in just two years, has provided 37 million women living below the poverty line with free LPG connections to support them to switch to clean household energy use. India targets to reach 80 million households by 2020. "WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia," the report said. Calling upon member-countries in the South East Asian Region to aggressively address the double burden of household and ambient (outdoor) air pollution, the World Health Organisation says the region, which includes India, accounts for 34 per cent or 2.4 million of the seven million premature deaths caused by household and ambient air pollution together globally every year. Of the 3.8 million deaths caused by household air pollution globally, the region accounts for 1.5 million or 40 per cent deaths, and of the 4.2 million global deaths due to ambient air pollution, 1.3 million or 30 per cent are reported from the region, it said. The WHO data also said that nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. × WHO's global urban air pollution database measured the levels of fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from more than 4,300 cities in 108 countries. Ambient air pollution alone caused 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths in the same period. Since 2016, over 1,000 additional cities have been added to WHO's database, which shows more countries are measuring and taking action to reduce air pollution than ever before. According to the report, more than 90 per cent of air pollution-related deaths occur in low-and middle-income countries (including India), mainly in Asia and Africa, followed by low-and middle-income countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe and the Americas. "Around 3 billion people more than 40 per cent of the world's population still do not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in their homes, the main source of household air pollution," it said. The report said that the WHO recognises air pollution is a critical risk factor for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), causing an estimated 24 per cent of all adult deaths from heart disease, 25 per cent from stroke, 43 per cent from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 29 per cent from lung cancer. All countries in the region are making efforts to expand availability of clean fuels and technologies, however, over 60 per cent population do not have clean fuel. The combined effects of household air pollution and ambient air pollution become increasingly hard to address if not tackled early, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO Southeast Asia, said. "Air pollution needs to be brought under control with urgent and effective action. Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of deaths globally and in the region, and air pollution contributes significantly to NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and lung cancer. "Cleaning up the air we breathe will help prevent NCDs, particularly among women and vulnerable groups such as children, those already ill and the elderly," Singh said. "Many of the world's megacities exceed WHO's guideline levels for air quality by more than 5 times, representing a major risk to people's health," Maria Neira, director of the Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health at WHO, said, adding, there is an acceleration of political interest to deal with this global public health challenge. "Air pollution threatens us all, but the poorest and most marginalised people bear the brunt of the burden. It is unacceptable that over 3 billion people most of them women and children are still breathing deadly smoke every day from using polluting stoves and fuels in their homes," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO. Major sources of air pollution from particulate matter include inefficient use of energy by households, industry, agriculture and transport sectors, and coal-fired power plants. In some regions, sand and desert dust, waste burning and deforestation are additional sources of air pollution. "Air pollution does not recognise borders. Improving air quality demands sustained and coordinated government action at all levels," the WHO said. (With inputs from PTI)

14 of world's 20 most polluted cities in India: WHO

Calling for continued efforts to scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar, the WHO today said the &quot;vulnerable&quot; people remain at risk of diseases and in need of critical services for survival even though six months have passed since the crisis began.

Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar&#39;s violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh in August when the military cracked down against alleged militant outfits of the community.

Though immense efforts have been made by the Bangladesh government and partner agencies to provide health services, prevent diseases such as cholera and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO southeast Asia, said.

&quot;The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population,&quot; Singh said.

According to a WHO statement, an estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox&#39;s Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017, joining nearly 212,500 others who arrived earlier, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span.

While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79,000 are living with the host population.

The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services, Singh said.

The statement stated that an estimated 60,000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year.

Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers, children, adults and the elderly need basic health services and that for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support.

&quot;Water and sanitation, and shelter continue to be far from optimum, increasing the risk of rapid spread of several communicable and water-borne diseases,&quot; the regional director said, stressing the need to accelerate efforts to address the key determinants of health on a priority.

For keeping a close watch on the situation, WHO established the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS), early as the crisis started, to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreak to minimise death and disease.

Additionally, WHO has been periodically carrying out risk assessments to enable Ministry of Health and partners take measures to detect potential health risks and take timely and appropriate measures. &nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

An estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017

Calling for continued efforts to scale up health services for nearly 1.3 million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar, the WHO today said the "vulnerable" people remain at risk of diseases and in need of critical services for survival even though six months have passed since the crisis began. Rohingya Muslims fled Myanmar's violence-hit Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh in August when the military cracked down against alleged militant outfits of the community. Though immense efforts have been made by the Bangladesh government and partner agencies to provide health services, prevent diseases such as cholera and rapidly control outbreaks of measles and diphtheria, the challenges are huge, multiple and evolving, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director for WHO southeast Asia, said. "The magnitude of the crisis requires continued efforts and generous contributions by all partners to scale up health services for the vulnerable population," Singh said. According to a WHO statement, an estimated 688,000 Rohingya people crossed over to Cox's Bazar from Myanmar beginning August 25, 2017, joining nearly 212,500 others who arrived earlier, in one of the largest population movement in the shortest span. While majority of the refugees are living in Kutapalong and Balukhali mega camps and 11 other clusters of small and big settlements, about 79,000 are living with the host population. The health needs of this population continue to be immense. Women and young mothers need reproductive health services, Singh said. The statement stated that an estimated 60,000 children are expected to be born in the camps in the next one year. Besides newborns, pregnant and young mothers, children, adults and the elderly need basic health services and that for injuries, trauma and various non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and importantly, psychosocial support. "Water and sanitation, and shelter continue to be far from optimum, increasing the risk of rapid spread of several communicable and water-borne diseases," the regional director said, stressing the need to accelerate efforts to address the key determinants of health on a priority. For keeping a close watch on the situation, WHO established the Early Warning and Response System (EWARS), early as the crisis started, to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreak to minimise death and disease. Additionally, WHO has been periodically carrying out risk assessments to enable Ministry of Health and partners take measures to detect potential health risks and take timely and appropriate measures.

Urgent need to scale up health services in Cox's Bazar: WHO

With over two lakh new cases of leprosy reported each year on an average globally, WHO has lauded the launch of a global partnership to stop leprosy, saying stronger force with a common vision was needed for speeding up efforts to end the disease.

The Global Partnership to Stop Leprosy was launched by a host of organisations with the support of the global health body.

The new partnership launched ahead of World Leprosy Day, 2018, brings together leading agencies and organisations working towards achieving zero leprosy in various parts of the world.

Advocating for enhancing efforts against leprosy, World Leprosy Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of January. This year, the day focuses on the critical target of zero leprosy-related disabilities in children by 2020.

&quot;A collaborative approach by leading partners to address the remaining challenges with innovative solutions, is expected to provide renewed energy and impetus to accelerate efforts against leprosy,&quot; said Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, who also WHO&#39;s Global Leprosy Programme.

&quot;This is a turning point, we must harness this energy to free the world of leprosy forever,&quot; she said.

The partnership aims at supporting roll-out of global policy options, scale up interventions and mainstream leprosy under the aegis of universal health coverage.

The Global Partnership to Stop Leprosy is also expected to enhance implementation of WHO&#39;s Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020 &quot;accelerating towards a leprosy-free world&quot;, which focuses on stronger political ownership, enhanced disease control and eliminating stigma and discrimination.

Globally, elimination of leprosy as a public health problem was achieved in the year 2000 with its prevalence reduced to less than one case per 10,000 population, each year on an average, more than 2,00,000 new cases are reported.

&quot;Though there is progress, it is very slow,&quot; WHO said.

In 2017, as many as 18,472 new leprosy cases among children worldwide were reported to the World Health Organisation.

&quot;Disabilities inhibit development, limit life-long productivity and result in stigma and discrimination.

&quot;Given the presence of deformities and disabilities among new cases of leprosy, including in girls and boys, decisive action must be taken to detect and treat cases earlier,&quot; Dr Singh said.

Reaching zero leprosy-related disabilities among children means tackling stigma and discrimination head-on, she said, adding that fear of social exclusion continues to be a major cause of delay in diagnosis and treatment.

&quot;It is, therefore, a major cause of deformity and disability,&quot; she said.

&quot;On World Leprosy Day this year we must reflect on and renew our focus on ending leprosy-related disabilities in girls and boys. We must renew our commitment to achieving a world where no child is left behind,&quot; Dr Singh said.

Over two lakh new cases of leprosy reported each year on an average globally

With over two lakh new cases of leprosy reported each year on an average globally, WHO has lauded the launch of a global partnership to stop leprosy, saying stronger force with a common vision was needed for speeding up efforts to end the disease. The Global Partnership to Stop Leprosy was launched by a host of organisations with the support of the global health body. The new partnership launched ahead of World Leprosy Day, 2018, brings together leading agencies and organisations working towards achieving zero leprosy in various parts of the world. Advocating for enhancing efforts against leprosy, World Leprosy Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of January. This year, the day focuses on the critical target of zero leprosy-related disabilities in children by 2020. "A collaborative approach by leading partners to address the remaining challenges with innovative solutions, is expected to provide renewed energy and impetus to accelerate efforts against leprosy," said Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, who also WHO's Global Leprosy Programme. "This is a turning point, we must harness this energy to free the world of leprosy forever," she said. The partnership aims at supporting roll-out of global policy options, scale up interventions and mainstream leprosy under the aegis of universal health coverage. The Global Partnership to Stop Leprosy is also expected to enhance implementation of WHO's Global Leprosy Strategy 2016-2020 "accelerating towards a leprosy-free world", which focuses on stronger political ownership, enhanced disease control and eliminating stigma and discrimination. Globally, elimination of leprosy as a public health problem was achieved in the year 2000 with its prevalence reduced to less than one case per 10,000 population, each year on an average, more than 2,00,000 new cases are reported. "Though there is progress, it is very slow," WHO said. In 2017, as many as 18,472 new leprosy cases among children worldwide were reported to the World Health Organisation. "Disabilities inhibit development, limit life-long productivity and result in stigma and discrimination. "Given the presence of deformities and disabilities among new cases of leprosy, including in girls and boys, decisive action must be taken to detect and treat cases earlier," Dr Singh said. Reaching zero leprosy-related disabilities among children means tackling stigma and discrimination head-on, she said, adding that fear of social exclusion continues to be a major cause of delay in diagnosis and treatment. "It is, therefore, a major cause of deformity and disability," she said. "On World Leprosy Day this year we must reflect on and renew our focus on ending leprosy-related disabilities in girls and boys. We must renew our commitment to achieving a world where no child is left behind," Dr Singh said.

WHO lauds launch of global partnership to tackle leprosy

Every year 4th February is observed as the World Cancer Day. The day is commemorated with an aim to spread awareness and educate people about the lifestyle disease.&nbsp;

Bracketed under the category of lifestyle disease, cancer is a debilitating disease which can be prevented by making minor tweaks in your lifestyle.&nbsp;

The World Health Organisation estimates close to 30-50% of cancer cases as preventable.&nbsp;

Although there is no exact cause of the disease, experts identify the onset of the disease manifested in the growth of cancerous cells in the body.&nbsp;

Indian-American oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee -- in his award-winning book, The Emperor of all Maladies -- describes cancer as &#39;neoplasm&#39;.

&#39;Neoplasm&#39;&nbsp;can loosely be described as the aggressive and manic multiplication of abnormal (cancerous) cells that can outdo, outrun, outwit their healthier, normal counterpart.&nbsp;

While the rising incidence of cancer is a cause of concern, experts note that cancer research remains highly underfunded.&nbsp;

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&quot;US$1.16 trillion is the estimated total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010,&quot; estimates WHO.&nbsp;

An estimated 8.8 million died of the disease in 2015 and the number of cases is only rising by the day.&nbsp;

While nothing guarantees cancer prevention, dietary tweaks and changes in lifestyle can go a long way in minimising the risks.&nbsp;

Ahead, a look at some of the simplest steps that can be taken to ensure a healthy, cancer-free life, after all, prevention is always better than the cure!&nbsp;

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The World Health Organisation considers these basic steps imperative in the fight against cancer.

1. Smoking and tobacco consumption account for a large number of oral cancer cases. Smoking and tobacco consumption must be avoided. Monitor your alcohol intake.&nbsp;

2. A healthy diet is a must; monitor what you eat and limit your fast food intake. Sugary food items should be avoided; make your diet more about fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and dairy among others.&nbsp;

3. Exercise regularly. The World Health Organisation recommends moderate-intensity physical activity, at least thrice a week, for an adult to keep fit. Walking 10,000 steps a day is also an ideal way to keep fit. Do not lead a sedentary lifestyle.&nbsp;

4. Breastfeeding is known to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women.&nbsp;

5. Vaccinate your kids against Hepatitis B and HPV.&nbsp;

6. Avoid getting exposed to air pollution and too much of sun. 
&nbsp; 
7. Get regular medical tests and cancer screenings done.&nbsp;

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<h5>Close to 30-50% of cancer cases are preventable -- WHO</h5>
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According to health experts, early cancer detection can save many lives. Preventive measures can also bring down the ever-escalating burden on global healthcare cost.&nbsp;

One of the many symptoms of cancerous growth manifests&nbsp;itself in a stony-hard lump. Get in touch with your doctor if you detect a stone-hard lump in any part of your body. Ask your medical expert to explain the many forms of cancer symptoms, how to identify them and when to seek medical help.&nbsp;

According to health experts, early detection can save many lives

Every year 4th February is observed as the World Cancer Day. The day is commemorated with an aim to spread awareness and educate people about the lifestyle disease. Bracketed under the category of lifestyle disease, cancer is a debilitating disease which can be prevented by making minor tweaks in your lifestyle. The World Health Organisation estimates close to 30-50% of cancer cases as preventable. Although there is no exact cause of the disease, experts identify the onset of the disease manifested in the growth of cancerous cells in the body. Indian-American oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee -- in his award-winning book, The Emperor of all Maladies -- describes cancer as 'neoplasm'. 'Neoplasm' can loosely be described as the aggressive and manic multiplication of abnormal (cancerous) cells that can outdo, outrun, outwit their healthier, normal counterpart. While the rising incidence of cancer is a cause of concern, experts note that cancer research remains highly underfunded. A post shared by World Health Organization (@who) on Feb 3, 2018 at 1:22pm PST × "US$1.16 trillion is the estimated total annual economic cost of cancer in 2010," estimates WHO. An estimated 8.8 million died of the disease in 2015 and the number of cases is only rising by the day. While nothing guarantees cancer prevention, dietary tweaks and changes in lifestyle can go a long way in minimising the risks. Ahead, a look at some of the simplest steps that can be taken to ensure a healthy, cancer-free life, after all, prevention is always better than the cure! A post shared by World Health Organization (@who) on Feb 3, 2018 at 11:35pm PST × The World Health Organisation considers these basic steps imperative in the fight against cancer. 1. Smoking and tobacco consumption account for a large number of oral cancer cases. Smoking and tobacco consumption must be avoided. Monitor your alcohol intake. 2. A healthy diet is a must; monitor what you eat and limit your fast food intake. Sugary food items should be avoided; make your diet more about fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and dairy among others. 3. Exercise regularly. The World Health Organisation recommends moderate-intensity physical activity, at least thrice a week, for an adult to keep fit. Walking 10,000 steps a day is also an ideal way to keep fit. Do not lead a sedentary lifestyle. 4. Breastfeeding is known to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer in women. 5. Vaccinate your kids against Hepatitis B and HPV. 6. Avoid getting exposed to air pollution and too much of sun. 7. Get regular medical tests and cancer screenings done. Close to 30-50% of cancer cases are preventable -- WHO × According to health experts, early cancer detection can save many lives. Preventive measures can also bring down the ever-escalating burden on global healthcare cost. One of the many symptoms of cancerous growth manifests itself in a stony-hard lump. Get in touch with your doctor if you detect a stone-hard lump in any part of your body. Ask your medical expert to explain the many forms of cancer symptoms, how to identify them and when to seek medical help.

World Cancer Day 2018: 7 ways to prevent the debilitating disease

Shashi Tharoor made a simple grammatical mistake while tweeting on Monday. He used the word &quot;whom&quot; when he should have used &quot;who&quot;.&nbsp;

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Delighted to have 20,000 live viewers for my <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FacebookLive?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FacebookLive</a> at lunchtime on New Year&#39;s Day! Those whom missed it can view it at leisure on <a href="https://t.co/z3MGd0mvtg">https://t.co/z3MGd0mvtg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/facebook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@facebook</a>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/947732675153993728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The trouble is, considering the very high standards we hold Tharoor to&nbsp;(as does Tharoor himself), one could say he isn&#39;t really allowed to make simple grammatical mistakes.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tharoor-now-gives-us-rodomontade-twitter-laps-up-the-word-26744" target="_blank">Tharoor now gives us &#39;rodomontade&#39;, Twitter laps up the word</a>

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Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/shashi-tharoor-makes-a-bad-pun-on-miss-world-manushi-chhillar-irks-twitterati-24616" target="_blank">Shashi Tharoor makes a bad pun on Miss World Manushi Chhillar; irks Twitterati</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/shashi-tharoor-makes-a-bad-pun-on-miss-world-manushi-chhillar-irks-twitterati-24616" target="_blank">Miss World Manushi Chhillar gives &#39;chill&#39; reply to Tharoor pun</a>

Suhel Seth was the first to pounce:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Happy New Year. And those &lsquo;who&rsquo; missed it???????????? or those &lsquo;of&rsquo; whom...?????? <a href="https://t.co/WvrjAf4JdA">https://t.co/WvrjAf4JdA</a>
&mdash; SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/suhelseth/status/947734304167043072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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And the twitterati&nbsp;-- starting with Adnan Sami -- would not stop after that:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Slam dunk!????
&mdash; Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdnanSamiLive/status/947735123486638080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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This will go down in history. Someone correcting Tharoorian English is the rarest sight.
&mdash; Tarun Khanna (@Tarun_Khannaa) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tarun_Khannaa/status/947758168439791616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Although, to be honest, the jokes cut both ways:&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShashiTharoor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/suhelseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@suhelseth</a> 
English speakers be like: 
 
Beginner level 
Proficient level 
Tharoorian level 
 
English teacher be like: 
 
My school teacher 
My college professor 
Suhel Seth
&mdash; Devendra Panday (@DevendraPanday7) <a href="https://twitter.com/DevendraPanday7/status/948371377190506496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Tharoor, as we have come to expect (please refer to line 2), took it well:&nbsp;

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Just heard <a href="https://twitter.com/suhelseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@suhelseth</a> caught it too! All thanks to hasty typing -- should have re-read and deleted but was rushing. Another &quot;hoong hats&quot; moment: Teaches me a lesson to check before pressing &quot;Tweet&quot; <a href="https://t.co/sVgh8JI9aF">https://t.co/sVgh8JI9aF</a>
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/948227671527383040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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As did Seth:&nbsp;

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You are adorably kind...happy New Year???? <a href="https://t.co/eTPsAVdLeo">https://t.co/eTPsAVdLeo</a>
&mdash; SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/suhelseth/status/948227971386523648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Tharoor used the word 'whom' when he should have used 'who'

Shashi Tharoor made a simple grammatical mistake while tweeting on Monday. He used the word "whom" when he should have used "who". Delighted to have 20,000 live viewers for my #FacebookLive at lunchtime on New Year's Day! Those whom missed it can view it at leisure on https://t.co/z3MGd0mvtg @facebook — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 1, 2018 × The trouble is, considering the very high standards we hold Tharoor to (as does Tharoor himself), one could say he isn't really allowed to make simple grammatical mistakes. Also read: Tharoor now gives us 'rodomontade', Twitter laps up the word × Also read: Shashi Tharoor makes a bad pun on Miss World Manushi Chhillar; irks Twitterati Also read: Miss World Manushi Chhillar gives 'chill' reply to Tharoor pun Suhel Seth was the first to pounce: Happy New Year. And those ‘who’ missed it???????????? or those ‘of’ whom...?????? https://t.co/WvrjAf4JdA — SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) January 1, 2018 × And the twitterati -- starting with Adnan Sami -- would not stop after that: Slam dunk!???? — Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) January 1, 2018 × This will go down in history. Someone correcting Tharoorian English is the rarest sight. — Tarun Khanna (@Tarun_Khannaa) January 1, 2018 × Although, to be honest, the jokes cut both ways: @ShashiTharoor @suhelseth English speakers be like: Beginner level Proficient level Tharoorian level English teacher be like: My school teacher My college professor Suhel Seth — Devendra Panday (@DevendraPanday7) January 3, 2018 × Tharoor, as we have come to expect (please refer to line 2), took it well: Just heard @suhelseth caught it too! All thanks to hasty typing -- should have re-read and deleted but was rushing. Another "hoong hats" moment: Teaches me a lesson to check before pressing "Tweet" https://t.co/sVgh8JI9aF — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 2, 2018 × As did Seth: You are adorably kind...happy New Year???? https://t.co/eTPsAVdLeo — SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) January 2, 2018 ×

Tharoor makes grammar mistake, Suhel Seth corrects him, Twitter rejoices

Next year onwards, playing video game excessively might lead to a diagnosis of a mental health disorder according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).&nbsp;

In the beta draft of its forthcoming 11th International Classification of Diseases, the WHO includes &#39;gaming disorder&#39;&nbsp;in its list of mental health conditions.

The WHO defines this disorder as a &quot;persistent or recurrent&quot; behaviour pattern of &quot;sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.&quot;

While defining the disorder, the WHO also mentions that it is characterised by &quot;impaired control&quot; with increasing priority given to gaming and &quot;escalation,&quot; despite &quot;negative consequences.&quot;

According to the beta draft guidance, video game playing, either offline or online, must&nbsp;be &quot;normally evident over a period of at least 12 months&quot; for this diagnosis to be made.

However, if symptoms are severe and all requirements are met, health care professionals may include people who have been playing for shorter periods of time, the draft reads.

Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the WHO, said in a statement, &quot;The new ICD-11 entry on gaming disorder &#39;includes only a clinical description and not prevention and treatment options&#39;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Hartl described the ICD as the &quot;basis for identification of health trends and statistics globally and the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions. It is used by medical practitioners around the world to diagnose conditions and by researchers to categorize conditions.&quot;

This list is intended to make it easier for scientists to share and compare health information between hospitals, regions and countries. It also enables healthcare workers to compare data in the same location over different time periods. Additionally, public health experts use the ICD to track the number of deaths and diseases.

The existing version of the ICD was endorsed by the World Health Assembly which is the decision-making body of WHO, in May 1990. In the current state, it&#39;s used&nbsp;by more than 100 countries around the world.

The forthcoming version of the ICD will be published in May 2018. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the beta draft of its forthcoming 11th International Classification of Diseases, the WHO included 'gaming disorder' in its list of mental health conditions

Next year onwards, playing video game excessively might lead to a diagnosis of a mental health disorder according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In the beta draft of its forthcoming 11th International Classification of Diseases, the WHO includes 'gaming disorder' in its list of mental health conditions. The WHO defines this disorder as a "persistent or recurrent" behaviour pattern of "sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning." While defining the disorder, the WHO also mentions that it is characterised by "impaired control" with increasing priority given to gaming and "escalation," despite "negative consequences." According to the beta draft guidance, video game playing, either offline or online, must be "normally evident over a period of at least 12 months" for this diagnosis to be made. However, if symptoms are severe and all requirements are met, health care professionals may include people who have been playing for shorter periods of time, the draft reads. Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the WHO, said in a statement, "The new ICD-11 entry on gaming disorder 'includes only a clinical description and not prevention and treatment options'. Hartl described the ICD as the "basis for identification of health trends and statistics globally and the international standard for reporting diseases and health conditions. It is used by medical practitioners around the world to diagnose conditions and by researchers to categorize conditions." This list is intended to make it easier for scientists to share and compare health information between hospitals, regions and countries. It also enables healthcare workers to compare data in the same location over different time periods. Additionally, public health experts use the ICD to track the number of deaths and diseases. The existing version of the ICD was endorsed by the World Health Assembly which is the decision-making body of WHO, in May 1990. In the current state, it's used by more than 100 countries around the world. The forthcoming version of the ICD will be published in May 2018.

WHO to recognise gaming disorder as mental health condition in 2018: Report

&nbsp;

Imagine going through your day without access to clean, safe water in your home for drinking, cooking, washing or bathing whenever you need it. According to a <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_96611.html">new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization</a>, 2.1 billion people around the world face that challenge every day. And the task of providing water for households <a href="http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&amp;context=spp_papers">falls disproportionately to women and girls</a>, especially in <a href="https://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/downloads/Ch7_Environment_info.pdf">rural areas</a>.

Water, <a href="http://www.un.org/es/comun/docs/?symbol=A/RES/64/292&amp;lang=E">a human right</a>, is critical for human survival and development. A sufficient supply of biologically and chemically safe water is necessary for drinking and <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.12339/full">personal hygiene</a> to prevent <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tmi.12331/full">diarrheal diseases</a>, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001605">trachoma</a>, <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001620">intestinal worm infections</a>, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.12330/full">stunted growth among children</a> and numerous other deleterious outcomes from chemical contaminants like <a href="http://search.proquest.com/openview/0eae305bc51900da0bd056019fe3f1eb/1?pq-origsite=gscholar">arsenic</a> and <a href="http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?pid=S0042-96862000000900003&amp;script=sci_arttext">lead</a>.

I have carried out research in <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953615300010">India</a>, <a href="http://www.unicef.org/wash/schools/files/Bolivia_MHM_Booklet_DM_15_Nov_single_0940_Bolivia.pdf">Bolivia</a> and <a href="http://washdev.iwaponline.com/content/4/4/642">Kenya</a> on the water and sanitation challenges that women and girls confront and how these experiences influence their lives. In my field work, I have seen adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers with small children carrying water. Through interviews, I have learned of the hardships they face when carrying out this obligatory task.

An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water poses extra risks and challenges for women and girls. Without recognizing the uneven burden of water work that women bear, well-intentioned programs to bring water to places in need will continue to fail to meet their goals.

Lost hours

Collecting water takes time. Simply to get water for drinking, bathing, cooking and other household needs, millions of women and girls spend hours every day traveling to water sources, waiting in line and carrying heavy loads &ndash; often several times a day.

The new UNICEF/WHO report states that 263 million people worldwide have access to water sources that are considered safe but need to spend at least 30 minutes walking or queuing to collect their water. Another 159 million get their water from surface sources that are considered to be the most unsafe, such as rivers, streams and ponds. Water from these sources is <a href="https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_96611.html">even more likely to require over 30 minutes to collect</a>.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/178255/width754/file-20170714-5068-10rm9go.jpg" />
<figcaption>Training exercise for women on water and sanitation in Rajasthan, India, designed to help reduce poverty in desert communities.</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

In a study of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimated that women there spent <a href="http://www.unicef.org/media/files/JMPreport2012.pdf">16 million hours collecting water</a> each day. Women in a <a href="http://www.fasebj.org/content/31/1_Supplement/651.4.short">recent study in Kenya</a> reported spending an average of 4.5 hours fetching water per week, causing 77 per cent to worry about their safety while fetching and preventing 24 per cent from caring for their children.

When children or other family members get sick from consuming poor-quality water, which can happen <a href="http://search.proquest.com/openview/abbed8d7464d9c5a80ff98e98738e7d8/1?pq-origsite=gscholar">even if the water is initially clean when collected</a>, women spend their time providing care. These responsibilities represent lost opportunities for women&rsquo;s employment, <a href="https://etd.library.emory.edu/view/record/pid/emory:94cc7">education</a>, leisure or sleep.

Heavy loads

Water is heavy. The World Health Organization recommends <a href="http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/water/en/">20-50 liters of water per person per day</a> for drinking, cooking and washing. That amounts to hauling between <a href="http://www.onlineconversion.com/waterweight.htm">44 and 110 pounds of water</a> daily for use by each household member.

And in many places, water sources are far from homes. In Asia and Africa, women <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet35en.pdf">walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per day</a> collecting water. Carrying such loads over long distances can result in <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222335075_Gender_Differences_in_Time_and_Energy_Costs_of_Distance_for_Regular_Domestic_Chores_in_Rural_Zimbabwe_A_Case_Study_in_the_Chiduku_Communal_Area">strained backs, shoulders and necks</a>, and other injuries if women have to walk over <a href="http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&amp;context=spp_papers">uneven and steep terrain or on busy roads</a>.

The burden is even heavier for women who are pregnant or are also carrying small children. Moreover, <a href="http://www.fasebj.org/content/31/1_Supplement/651.4.short">pregnant women worry</a> that transporting these heavy loads will lead to early labor or even miscarriage.

Even when a household or village has access to a safe water source close to home, residents may not use it if they believe the water is inferior in some way. As one woman told my research team in India:

<blockquote>
Tube well water quality is not good&hellip; water is saline. Cooking is not good due to this water. Not good for drinking either. People are getting water from that neighbouring village&hellip;. for cooking we get water from the river.
</blockquote>

In this community, the neighboring village was at least a kilometer away.

Fetching water can also be very dangerous for women and girls. They can face <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25167777">conflict at water points</a> and the risk of <a href="https://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/50">physical or sexual assault</a>. Many of these dangers also arise when women do not have access to <a href="https://theconversation.com/gender-equality-comes-one-toilet-at-a-time-50700">safe, clean and private toilets or latrines</a> for urinating, defecating and managing menstruation.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/115712/width754/image-20160320-4453-1pwwid1.jpg" />
<figcaption>Girls wash at school water tap, Honduras.</figcaption>
</figure>

Global demand for water is increasing. The United Nations forecasts that if current water use patterns do not change, <a href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002318/231823E.pdf">world demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent by 2030</a>. In such a scenario, it is hard to imagine that women&rsquo;s and girls&rsquo; experiences will improve without intentional efforts.

A focus on women&rsquo;s needs

When communities initiate programs to improve access to water, it is critical to ask women about their needs and experiences. Although women and girls play key roles in obtaining and managing water globally, they are <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.energy.32.041806.143704?journalCode=energy">rarely offered roles</a> in water improvement programs or on local water committees. They need to be included as a right and as a practical matter. <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.energy.32.041806.143704?journalCode=energy">Numerous water projects in developing countries have failed</a> because they did not include women.

And women should play meaningful roles. A study in <a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00267-014-0356-1">northern Kenya</a> found that although women served on local water management committees, conflict with men at water points persisted because the women often were not invited to meetings or were not allowed to speak.

Women who raise their voices about water concerns need to be heard. In Flint, Michigan, women <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/01/mother-exposed-flint-lead-contamination-water-crisis/">were critical to revealing</a> <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/20/465545378/lead-laced-water-in-flint-a-step-by-step-look-at-the-makings-of-a-crisis">the city&rsquo;s water crisis</a> and <a href="http://observer.com/2017/02/flint-water-protest-trump-womens-march/">continue to push for changes</a>.

<figure><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t6687jtuyv8?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440"></iframe>

<figcaption>Flint, Michigan resident LeeAnne Walters testifies to Congress about seeking information on her home&rsquo;s lead-contaminated water.</figcaption>
</figure>

&nbsp;

We also need broader strategies to reduce <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)61497-0/fulltext?rss=yes">gender disparities in water access</a>. First, we need to collect more data on women&rsquo;s water burden and how it affects their health, well-being and personal development. Second, women must be involved in creating and managing targeted programs to mitigate these risks. Third, these programs should be evaluated to determine whether they are truly improving women&rsquo;s lives. And finally, social messaging affirming the idea that water work belongs only to women must be abandoned.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called empowerment of the world&rsquo;s women &ldquo;<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53064#.Vu62W-IrKM9">a global imperative</a>.&rdquo; To attain that goal, we must reduce the weight of water on women&rsquo;s shoulders.

<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/81054/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" />

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/women-still-carry-most-of-the-worlds-water-81054">original article</a>.

Millions of women spend hours every day traveling 6 kms on an average to fetch water

Imagine going through your day without access to clean, safe water in your home for drinking, cooking, washing or bathing whenever you need it. According to a new report from UNICEF and the World Health Organization, 2.1 billion people around the world face that challenge every day. And the task of providing water for households falls disproportionately to women and girls, especially in rural areas. Water, a human right, is critical for human survival and development. A sufficient supply of biologically and chemically safe water is necessary for drinking and personal hygiene to prevent diarrheal diseases, trachoma, intestinal worm infections, stunted growth among children and numerous other deleterious outcomes from chemical contaminants like arsenic and lead. I have carried out research in India, Bolivia and Kenya on the water and sanitation challenges that women and girls confront and how these experiences influence their lives. In my field work, I have seen adolescent girls, pregnant women, and mothers with small children carrying water. Through interviews, I have learned of the hardships they face when carrying out this obligatory task. An insufficient supply of safe and accessible water poses extra risks and challenges for women and girls. Without recognizing the uneven burden of water work that women bear, well-intentioned programs to bring water to places in need will continue to fail to meet their goals. Lost hours Collecting water takes time. Simply to get water for drinking, bathing, cooking and other household needs, millions of women and girls spend hours every day traveling to water sources, waiting in line and carrying heavy loads – often several times a day. The new UNICEF/WHO report states that 263 million people worldwide have access to water sources that are considered safe but need to spend at least 30 minutes walking or queuing to collect their water. Another 159 million get their water from surface sources that are considered to be the most unsafe, such as rivers, streams and ponds. Water from these sources is even more likely to require over 30 minutes to collect. Training exercise for women on water and sanitation in Rajasthan, India, designed to help reduce poverty in desert communities. In a study of 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, UNICEF estimated that women there spent 16 million hours collecting water each day. Women in a recent study in Kenya reported spending an average of 4.5 hours fetching water per week, causing 77 per cent to worry about their safety while fetching and preventing 24 per cent from caring for their children. When children or other family members get sick from consuming poor-quality water, which can happen even if the water is initially clean when collected, women spend their time providing care. These responsibilities represent lost opportunities for women’s employment, education, leisure or sleep. Heavy loads Water is heavy. The World Health Organization recommends 20-50 liters of water per person per day for drinking, cooking and washing. That amounts to hauling between 44 and 110 pounds of water daily for use by each household member. And in many places, water sources are far from homes. In Asia and Africa, women walk an average of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per day collecting water. Carrying such loads over long distances can result in strained backs, shoulders and necks, and other injuries if women have to walk over uneven and steep terrain or on busy roads. The burden is even heavier for women who are pregnant or are also carrying small children. Moreover, pregnant women worry that transporting these heavy loads will lead to early labor or even miscarriage. Even when a household or village has access to a safe water source close to home, residents may not use it if they believe the water is inferior in some way. As one woman told my research team in India: Tube well water quality is not good… water is saline. Cooking is not good due to this water. Not good for drinking either. People are getting water from that neighbouring village…. for cooking we get water from the river. In this community, the neighboring village was at least a kilometer away. Fetching water can also be very dangerous for women and girls. They can face conflict at water points and the risk of physical or sexual assault. Many of these dangers also arise when women do not have access to safe, clean and private toilets or latrines for urinating, defecating and managing menstruation. Girls wash at school water tap, Honduras. Global demand for water is increasing. The United Nations forecasts that if current water use patterns do not change, world demand will exceed supply by 40 per cent by 2030. In such a scenario, it is hard to imagine that women’s and girls’ experiences will improve without intentional efforts. A focus on women’s needs When communities initiate programs to improve access to water, it is critical to ask women about their needs and experiences. Although women and girls play key roles in obtaining and managing water globally, they are rarely offered roles in water improvement programs or on local water committees. They need to be included as a right and as a practical matter. Numerous water projects in developing countries have failed because they did not include women. And women should play meaningful roles. A study in northern Kenya found that although women served on local water management committees, conflict with men at water points persisted because the women often were not invited to meetings or were not allowed to speak. Women who raise their voices about water concerns need to be heard. In Flint, Michigan, women were critical to revealing the city’s water crisis and continue to push for changes. Flint, Michigan resident LeeAnne Walters testifies to Congress about seeking information on her home’s lead-contaminated water. We also need broader strategies to reduce gender disparities in water access. First, we need to collect more data on women’s water burden and how it affects their health, well-being and personal development. Second, women must be involved in creating and managing targeted programs to mitigate these risks. Third, these programs should be evaluated to determine whether they are truly improving women’s lives. And finally, social messaging affirming the idea that water work belongs only to women must be abandoned. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called empowerment of the world’s women “a global imperative.” To attain that goal, we must reduce the weight of water on women’s shoulders. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

The burden of carrying water for our use rests on women

Ethiopia&#39;s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus won the race to be the next head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday, becoming the first African to lead the Geneva-based United Nations agency.

The former health minister and foreign minister, who vowed to make universal health care his priority, won over half the votes from 189 member states in the first round and prevailed in a third-round ballot against Britain&#39;s David Nabarro.

&quot;It&#39;s a victory day for Ethiopia and for Africa,&quot; Ethiopia&#39;s ambassador to the UN in Geneva Negash Kebret Botora said.

Tedros, as he is widely known, told health ministers at the WHO&#39;s annual assembly after his election: &quot;All roads lead to universal coverage. This will be my central priority.&quot;

&quot;At present, only about a half of the world&#39;s people have access to health care without impoverishment. This needs to improve dramatically,&quot; he added.

Six candidates sought to take the helm at the WHO, which is tasked with combating disease outbreaks and chronic illnesses.

The WHO said Tedros had led a &quot;comprehensive reform effort&quot; of Ethiopia&#39;s health system, creating health centres and jobs.

UNAIDS, the vaccine alliance GAVI, US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers welcomed his appointment.

&quot;Tedros has the power to herald a new era in how the world prepares for and responds to epidemics, including building partnerships, strengthening public health systems, and developing new vaccines and therapies that are available to all who need them,&quot; Jeremy Farrar, director of the medical charity Wellcome Trust, said in a statement.

Tedros will begin his five-year term after Margaret Chan, a former Hong Kong health director, steps down on June 30.

Chan leaves a mixed legacy after her 10 years on the job, especially because of WHO&#39;s slow response to West Africa&#39;s Ebola epidemic in 2013-2016, which killed 11,300 people.

In a last pitch before voting began, Tedros appealed to ministers by promising to represent their interests and to ensure more countries got top jobs at the Geneva-based WHO.

&quot;I will listen to you. I was one of you. I was in your shoes and I can understand you better,&quot; he said.

Tedros was widely seen as having the support of about 50 African votes, but questions about his role in restricting human rights and Ethiopia&#39;s cover-up of a cholera outbreak surfaced late in the race, threatening to tarnish his appeal.

&quot;You now have a clear mandate. We welcome your promises on transparency, delivery and reform,&quot; said Sally Davies, Britain&#39;s medical chief officer.

(Reuters)

Tedros, as he is widely known, told health ministers at the WHO's annual assembly after his election: 'All roads lead to universal coverage. This will be my central priority.'

Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus won the race to be the next head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday, becoming the first African to lead the Geneva-based United Nations agency. The former health minister and foreign minister, who vowed to make universal health care his priority, won over half the votes from 189 member states in the first round and prevailed in a third-round ballot against Britain's David Nabarro. "It's a victory day for Ethiopia and for Africa," Ethiopia's ambassador to the UN in Geneva Negash Kebret Botora said. Tedros, as he is widely known, told health ministers at the WHO's annual assembly after his election: "All roads lead to universal coverage. This will be my central priority." "At present, only about a half of the world's people have access to health care without impoverishment. This needs to improve dramatically," he added. Six candidates sought to take the helm at the WHO, which is tasked with combating disease outbreaks and chronic illnesses. The WHO said Tedros had led a "comprehensive reform effort" of Ethiopia's health system, creating health centres and jobs. UNAIDS, the vaccine alliance GAVI, US Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers welcomed his appointment. "Tedros has the power to herald a new era in how the world prepares for and responds to epidemics, including building partnerships, strengthening public health systems, and developing new vaccines and therapies that are available to all who need them," Jeremy Farrar, director of the medical charity Wellcome Trust, said in a statement. Tedros will begin his five-year term after Margaret Chan, a former Hong Kong health director, steps down on June 30. Chan leaves a mixed legacy after her 10 years on the job, especially because of WHO's slow response to West Africa's Ebola epidemic in 2013-2016, which killed 11,300 people. In a last pitch before voting began, Tedros appealed to ministers by promising to represent their interests and to ensure more countries got top jobs at the Geneva-based WHO. "I will listen to you. I was one of you. I was in your shoes and I can understand you better," he said. Tedros was widely seen as having the support of about 50 African votes, but questions about his role in restricting human rights and Ethiopia's cover-up of a cholera outbreak surfaced late in the race, threatening to tarnish his appeal. "You now have a clear mandate. We welcome your promises on transparency, delivery and reform," said Sally Davies, Britain's medical chief officer. (Reuters)

Ethiopia's Tedros becomes first African to head WHO

&nbsp;

When it comes to dogs, most dog owners will talk about how each of their dogs, even the ones from the same breed, have different personalities and traits. To a dog parent, their fur babies will be the most adorable living things on the planet, irrespective of their breeds. Yet somehow, dog breeds have become a status symbol among Indians.&nbsp;

Owners of pet and people in general judge other humans on the rarity of the breed they&#39;ve managed to acquire or the amount they&#39;ve spent on them. Unfortunately, it doesn&#39;t stop at just owners, vets also have a preference for pedigree dogs, and there have been instances where they have not treated a dog as well as they should have because it was an Indian dog.

A WHO report in 2009 estimated that the street dog population in India was about 25 million though other surveys consider it much higher. There are several NGOs that work towards rescuing these stray animals, feeding them and getting them vaccinated. They also spay and neuter them to curb their population growth. Concerned citizens have also started drives but this needs community engagement that is often lacking.&nbsp;

Genetically Indian dogs tend to have fewer health problems than pure breeds, they live longer and are hardy. Pure-bred dogs, especially those that come from dog farms, often suffer health issues because of inbreeding.

&nbsp;

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<h5>Pure-bred dogs, especially those that come from dog farms, often suffer health issues because of inbreeding.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Pure-bred dogs, especially those that come from dog farms, often suffer health issues because of inbreeding." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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&nbsp;

The pet industry in India is growing fast. According to the India International Pet Trade Fair, pet care registered a growth of 24 per cent in 2012 and expected to grow much more in the coming years. With the GDP per capita increasing as well, India is no longer going to be the land of Pomeranians called Tommy, but exotic ones like Cane Corsos and Anatolian Shepherds. These dogs are expensive and usually have to be imported. Upkeep and care are costly too.&nbsp;

Moreover, for dogs that are used to colder climates, such as the Saint Bernards, the Indian summer can be harsh and cruel. Living in such climate, these dogs often end up in severe dehydration and heat-related illnesses. And all the while there are dogs in shelters and even on the streets that are perfectly suited to the weather with fewer health issues and longer life spans.

At the end of the day, a dog is a dog, and there are too many of them who are starving, homeless and looking for people to love. Yet even self-professed dog lovers will stay away from the strays surrounding their homes. They even keep their own dogs away from them because they consider the street dogs to be a lesser being.&nbsp;

Unlike humans, a dog doesn&#39;t recognise breeds; the purest breed will be just as happy playing with a mongrel as it would with a fellow pure breed. The idea of breeds is, after all, human-made.&nbsp;

And the idea that intelligence is higher among the pedigree dogs is also erroneous. Dog intelligence is reduced as a result of domestication, dogs that have had to live on the streets would have developed survival skills, including intelligence, for their best chance of survival.

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<h5>Dogs that have had to live on the streets would have developed survival skills, including intelligence, for their best chance of survival.</h5>
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I have two Indian dogs, the older one was adopted through Red Paws Rescue, an excellent NGO working to help stray dogs in Delhi. The younger one I rescued off the street because he had been attacked and needed urgent care. To me they are amazing, their names &ndash; Artemis and Ares, should give an indication of just how highly I think of them. Their purpose is not to show off my status, but rather to fill my heart and home with love. &nbsp;Filled with fervour and enthusiasm, my pets are dedicated to me.

Often people would stop me when I would go out for a walk with them, asking why I have &#39;desi&#39; dogs as pets. Unasked, they tell me (not suggest) that I should buy a Labrador or a German Shephard instead. These days I would just nod and walk away. Even a few years ago, I was naive enough to ask them why they thought that way and where they thought my lowly Indian breeds were lacking.&nbsp;

Questions that were met with silence on most days.

Vets also have these perceptions, on looking at my dog several vets told me I would be better adopting the pedigree dog they happened to be selling at the time. One vet gave my dog her booster shots so badly that she ended up with lumps at the injection site and this is despite me being a paying customer.&nbsp;

We have similar preferences for cats too, people would spend lakhs to buy a cat but turn their noses up at the strays. It isn&#39;t just the buying of dogs that is a problem, so many of the purest breeds are abandoned because their owners do not want to deal with them getting sick, pregnant or old.&nbsp;

It is almost as if our predisposition to discrimination comes out with breeds of dogs and cats because that is socially acceptable. But really, a dog is just there to love and beg for food and those two qualities are common across breeds.

Indian dogs live longer and are hardy, yet pet owners are obsessed with expensive pure-bred dogs.

When it comes to dogs, most dog owners will talk about how each of their dogs, even the ones from the same breed, have different personalities and traits. To a dog parent, their fur babies will be the most adorable living things on the planet, irrespective of their breeds. Yet somehow, dog breeds have become a status symbol among Indians. Owners of pet and people in general judge other humans on the rarity of the breed they've managed to acquire or the amount they've spent on them. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop at just owners, vets also have a preference for pedigree dogs, and there have been instances where they have not treated a dog as well as they should have because it was an Indian dog. A WHO report in 2009 estimated that the street dog population in India was about 25 million though other surveys consider it much higher. There are several NGOs that work towards rescuing these stray animals, feeding them and getting them vaccinated. They also spay and neuter them to curb their population growth. Concerned citizens have also started drives but this needs community engagement that is often lacking. Genetically Indian dogs tend to have fewer health problems than pure breeds, they live longer and are hardy. Pure-bred dogs, especially those that come from dog farms, often suffer health issues because of inbreeding. Pure-bred dogs, especially those that come from dog farms, often suffer health issues because of inbreeding. × The pet industry in India is growing fast. According to the India International Pet Trade Fair, pet care registered a growth of 24 per cent in 2012 and expected to grow much more in the coming years. With the GDP per capita increasing as well, India is no longer going to be the land of Pomeranians called Tommy, but exotic ones like Cane Corsos and Anatolian Shepherds. These dogs are expensive and usually have to be imported. Upkeep and care are costly too. Moreover, for dogs that are used to colder climates, such as the Saint Bernards, the Indian summer can be harsh and cruel. Living in such climate, these dogs often end up in severe dehydration and heat-related illnesses. And all the while there are dogs in shelters and even on the streets that are perfectly suited to the weather with fewer health issues and longer life spans. At the end of the day, a dog is a dog, and there are too many of them who are starving, homeless and looking for people to love. Yet even self-professed dog lovers will stay away from the strays surrounding their homes. They even keep their own dogs away from them because they consider the street dogs to be a lesser being. Unlike humans, a dog doesn't recognise breeds; the purest breed will be just as happy playing with a mongrel as it would with a fellow pure breed. The idea of breeds is, after all, human-made. And the idea that intelligence is higher among the pedigree dogs is also erroneous. Dog intelligence is reduced as a result of domestication, dogs that have had to live on the streets would have developed survival skills, including intelligence, for their best chance of survival. Dogs that have had to live on the streets would have developed survival skills, including intelligence, for their best chance of survival. × I have two Indian dogs, the older one was adopted through Red Paws Rescue, an excellent NGO working to help stray dogs in Delhi. The younger one I rescued off the street because he had been attacked and needed urgent care. To me they are amazing, their names – Artemis and Ares, should give an indication of just how highly I think of them. Their purpose is not to show off my status, but rather to fill my heart and home with love. Filled with fervour and enthusiasm, my pets are dedicated to me. Often people would stop me when I would go out for a walk with them, asking why I have 'desi' dogs as pets. Unasked, they tell me (not suggest) that I should buy a Labrador or a German Shephard instead. These days I would just nod and walk away. Even a few years ago, I was naive enough to ask them why they thought that way and where they thought my lowly Indian breeds were lacking. Questions that were met with silence on most days. Vets also have these perceptions, on looking at my dog several vets told me I would be better adopting the pedigree dog they happened to be selling at the time. One vet gave my dog her booster shots so badly that she ended up with lumps at the injection site and this is despite me being a paying customer. We have similar preferences for cats too, people would spend lakhs to buy a cat but turn their noses up at the strays. It isn't just the buying of dogs that is a problem, so many of the purest breeds are abandoned because their owners do not want to deal with them getting sick, pregnant or old. It is almost as if our predisposition to discrimination comes out with breeds of dogs and cats because that is socially acceptable. But really, a dog is just there to love and beg for food and those two qualities are common across breeds.

Our love for pets and of pedigree

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Mental health illness and its management is a major challenge in&nbsp;contemporary India. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that the global population will soon be living in&nbsp;a &ldquo;mad and sad World&rdquo;. WHO&#39;s scary deduction&nbsp;has been that half of the world&rsquo;s population by 2021 will suffer from one or the other types of mental health problems.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Depression and anxiety disorders are two of the most common mental health problems in the world today, says WHO in its global health estimate report (2017) on Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders. The numbers are terrifying with 322 million people living with depression and 264 million suffering from anxiety disorder. Each of these categories of patients includes 4.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent of the world&rsquo;s population respectively.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The extent of mental health problems is particularly grave in the lower income countries of South-East Asia and Western Pacific region. Evidently, in India, issues such as poverty and unemployment, have further accelerated mental health issues. On top of these, there are other stressful life events, such as the death of loved one, relationship breakup, physical illness, loss of interest, failure, feeling of guilt, low self-esteem, loss of sleep, feeling of loneliness, intolerance, maladjustment and fanaticism.

&nbsp;

Death often results from mental illness, with patients committing suicide. In the year 2015 alone, nearly 7,88,000 people committed suicide worldwide. It does not need mentioning that the actual number of people who attempted suicide is much larger than the number who perished from it. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Globally speaking, suicide constitutes the top 20 leading causes of death. The suicide rate in India and often stems from social and economic causes. For instance, thousands of farmers committed suicide in the last 2 years due to debt that they could not repay. Dowry and drug addiction are two other debilitating issues. Also, the situation has become grave as mental health issues receive the least priority in the Center as well as in the state&#39;s health planning. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

As a nation, we are oblivious of the menace posed by mental diseases to the well-being of the Indian citizen. To fight the rising threat, India requires numerous trained psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, counsellors, trained health workers, and social workers as well as volunteers. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The crisis&nbsp;we have in hand are multi-faceted in nature. There is obviously the need to reach out to a large number of people, using audio-visual media, however, the pitfall is, there is always the risk of being too eager to analyse the clinical condition and the causes leading to it. Unfortunately, the general tendency is to put a label on every aspect of human behaviour. It is also questionable whether the public perception of a mental patient is modified by the didactic approach of the television programmes and documentary films on the illness.&nbsp; Moreover, popular cinema, in India and abroad, has been known to depict mentally-ill people and clinical psychologists in a negative light.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Prejudices against seeking mental treatment are too rampant in India. Indians are known to be hesitant in approaching clinical psychologists for help. One reason for this is, there is the social stigma attached to being a mentally ill patient. But there is also the most ubiquitous fear of being subjected to electric shocks as a form treatment in the hospitals. High expenses of consulting a clinical psychologist is also a discouraging factor. Common people in India, particularly, in the villages, therefore, approach vaidya, hakeem as well as religious faith healers like tantriks, maulvis and even naturopaths.&nbsp;

Instead, people should try meditation and yoga. These practices can be learnt very inexpensively and help one and all to maintain both physical fitness as well as mental peace.&nbsp;

In conclusion, it can be said that India desperately needs specialised hospitals and also psychiatrist units in general hospitals. The latter measure will be instrumental in bringing psychiatry from close-wards of mental hospitals to the mainstream medical practice. Another major thrust is required on teaching health psychology or specifically health education at schools. A step towards improvement will definitely be taken if we start to &ldquo;Think Globally, Collaborate Regionally And Act Locally&rdquo;.&nbsp; The success of a nation like India depends on the general happiness and well being of the people.

Half of the world?s population by 2021 will suffer from one or the other types of mental health problems

Mental health illness and its management is a major challenge in contemporary India. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) has predicted that the global population will soon be living in a “mad and sad World”. WHO's scary deduction has been that half of the world’s population by 2021 will suffer from one or the other types of mental health problems. Depression and anxiety disorders are two of the most common mental health problems in the world today, says WHO in its global health estimate report (2017) on Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders. The numbers are terrifying with 322 million people living with depression and 264 million suffering from anxiety disorder. Each of these categories of patients includes 4.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent of the world’s population respectively. The extent of mental health problems is particularly grave in the lower income countries of South-East Asia and Western Pacific region. Evidently, in India, issues such as poverty and unemployment, have further accelerated mental health issues. On top of these, there are other stressful life events, such as the death of loved one, relationship breakup, physical illness, loss of interest, failure, feeling of guilt, low self-esteem, loss of sleep, feeling of loneliness, intolerance, maladjustment and fanaticism. Death often results from mental illness, with patients committing suicide. In the year 2015 alone, nearly 7,88,000 people committed suicide worldwide. It does not need mentioning that the actual number of people who attempted suicide is much larger than the number who perished from it. Globally speaking, suicide constitutes the top 20 leading causes of death. The suicide rate in India and often stems from social and economic causes. For instance, thousands of farmers committed suicide in the last 2 years due to debt that they could not repay. Dowry and drug addiction are two other debilitating issues. Also, the situation has become grave as mental health issues receive the least priority in the Center as well as in the state's health planning. As a nation, we are oblivious of the menace posed by mental diseases to the well-being of the Indian citizen. To fight the rising threat, India requires numerous trained psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, counsellors, trained health workers, and social workers as well as volunteers. The crisis we have in hand are multi-faceted in nature. There is obviously the need to reach out to a large number of people, using audio-visual media, however, the pitfall is, there is always the risk of being too eager to analyse the clinical condition and the causes leading to it. Unfortunately, the general tendency is to put a label on every aspect of human behaviour. It is also questionable whether the public perception of a mental patient is modified by the didactic approach of the television programmes and documentary films on the illness. Moreover, popular cinema, in India and abroad, has been known to depict mentally-ill people and clinical psychologists in a negative light. Prejudices against seeking mental treatment are too rampant in India. Indians are known to be hesitant in approaching clinical psychologists for help. One reason for this is, there is the social stigma attached to being a mentally ill patient. But there is also the most ubiquitous fear of being subjected to electric shocks as a form treatment in the hospitals. High expenses of consulting a clinical psychologist is also a discouraging factor. Common people in India, particularly, in the villages, therefore, approach vaidya, hakeem as well as religious faith healers like tantriks, maulvis and even naturopaths. Instead, people should try meditation and yoga. These practices can be learnt very inexpensively and help one and all to maintain both physical fitness as well as mental peace. In conclusion, it can be said that India desperately needs specialised hospitals and also psychiatrist units in general hospitals. The latter measure will be instrumental in bringing psychiatry from close-wards of mental hospitals to the mainstream medical practice. Another major thrust is required on teaching health psychology or specifically health education at schools. A step towards improvement will definitely be taken if we start to “Think Globally, Collaborate Regionally And Act Locally”. The success of a nation like India depends on the general happiness and well being of the people.

WHO says: We are heading into a 'mad and sad world'

Delhi tops the list of 20 most polluted cities in India, a country where 1.2 million deaths take place every year due to air pollution, according to a Greenpeace India report published today.

It also claimed that none of the 168 cities it assessed complies with air quality standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to the report, 1.2 million deaths take place every year in India due to air pollution, which is only a &quot;fraction less&quot; than that caused by tobacco usage, and three per cent of the GDP is lost due to air pollution.

The report said that only a &quot;few&quot; cities in southern India comply with air quality standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and pinpointed fossil fuels as one of the &quot;main culprits&quot; for the deteriorating air quality across the country.

&quot;The top 20 most polluted cities have PM 10 levels between 268 &micro;g/m3 and 168 &micro;g/m3 for the year 2015. While&nbsp;Delhi tops the list with 268 &micro;g/m3, it is followed closely by Ghaziabad, Allahabad, and Bareli in Uttar Pradesh; Faridabad in Haryana; Jharia in Jharkhand; Alwar in Rajasthan; Ranchi, Kusunda and Bastacola in Jharkhand; Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh; and Patna in Bihar with PM10 levels ranging from 258 &micro;g/m3to 200 &micro;g/m3,&quot; the report titled &#39;Airpocalypse&#39; said.

The information was obtained through online reports and Right to Information applications from State Pollution Control Boards across India and assessment of air quality was done in 168 cities across 24 states and Union territories.

&quot;This report shows that deadly air pollution is not a problem restricted to Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) or even to India&#39;s metros. It is a national problem that is killing 1.2 million Indians every year and costing the economy an estimated 3 per cent of GDP.

&quot;If the country&#39;s development is important, fighting air pollution has to be a priority,&quot; the report said.

The assessment of air pollution levels for Delhi highlighted that PM10 concentrations are 268 &micro;g/m3 for year 2015, which were at 4.5 times higher than the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) annual limit set by CPCB and about 13 times the annual limit set by WHO for PM10.

Detailed observation of the data suggests that PM10 levels have been very high throughout 2015 for Delhi with October to February being the severely polluted months when the PM10 concentrations even touched 500 &micro;g/m3.

(PTI)

It also claimed that none of the 168 cities it assessed complies with air quality standards prescribed by the World Health Organisation

Delhi tops the list of 20 most polluted cities in India, a country where 1.2 million deaths take place every year due to air pollution, according to a Greenpeace India report published today. It also claimed that none of the 168 cities it assessed complies with air quality standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the report, 1.2 million deaths take place every year in India due to air pollution, which is only a "fraction less" than that caused by tobacco usage, and three per cent of the GDP is lost due to air pollution. The report said that only a "few" cities in southern India comply with air quality standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and pinpointed fossil fuels as one of the "main culprits" for the deteriorating air quality across the country. "The top 20 most polluted cities have PM 10 levels between 268 µg/m3 and 168 µg/m3 for the year 2015. While Delhi tops the list with 268 µg/m3, it is followed closely by Ghaziabad, Allahabad, and Bareli in Uttar Pradesh; Faridabad in Haryana; Jharia in Jharkhand; Alwar in Rajasthan; Ranchi, Kusunda and Bastacola in Jharkhand; Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh; and Patna in Bihar with PM10 levels ranging from 258 µg/m3to 200 µg/m3," the report titled 'Airpocalypse' said. The information was obtained through online reports and Right to Information applications from State Pollution Control Boards across India and assessment of air quality was done in 168 cities across 24 states and Union territories. "This report shows that deadly air pollution is not a problem restricted to Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) or even to India's metros. It is a national problem that is killing 1.2 million Indians every year and costing the economy an estimated 3 per cent of GDP. "If the country's development is important, fighting air pollution has to be a priority," the report said. The assessment of air pollution levels for Delhi highlighted that PM10 concentrations are 268 µg/m3 for year 2015, which were at 4.5 times higher than the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) annual limit set by CPCB and about 13 times the annual limit set by WHO for PM10. Detailed observation of the data suggests that PM10 levels have been very high throughout 2015 for Delhi with October to February being the severely polluted months when the PM10 concentrations even touched 500 µg/m3. (PTI)

Air pollution kills 1.2 million in India annually, Delhi most polluted city: Greenpeace report

Nearly 80 per cent of the over one billion tobacco smokers globally live in low-and-middle income countries like India, WHO said today and asserted that policies to control its use, including taxation and price increase, can generate revenues for health care and development work.

According to a new landmark global report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cancer Institute of the USA, published in &#39;the economics of tobacco and tobacco control&#39;, around 6 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use, with most of them living in developing countries.

&quot;Policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work. Such measures can also greatly reduce tobacco use and protect people&#39;s health from the world&#39;s leading killers, such as cancers and heart disease,&quot; the report said.

Left unchecked, the tobacco industry and the deadly impact of its products cost the world&#39;s economies more than USD 1 trillion annually in health care expenditures and lost productivity, it said.

The almost 700-page report examines existing evidence on two broad areas ? the economics of tobacco control, including tobacco use and growing, manufacturing and trade, taxes and prices, control policies and other interventions to reduce tobacco use and its consequences and the economic implications of global tobacco control efforts.

&quot;Globally, there are 1.1 billion tobacco smokers aged 15 or older, with around 80 per cent living in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately 226 million smokers live in poverty,&quot; it said.

The monograph, citing a 2016 study, states that annual excise revenues from cigarettes globally could increase by 47 per cent or USD 140 billion, if all countries raised excise taxes by about USD 0.80 per pack.

Additionally, this tax increase would raise cigarette retail prices on average by 42 per cent, leading to a 9 per cent decline in smoking rates and up to 66 million fewer adult smokers, it said.

&quot;The global health and economic burden of tobacco use is enormous and is increasingly borne by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Around 80 per cent of the world&#39;s smokers live in LMICs,&quot; it said. India has been classified under &#39;lower-middle income country/South Asia&#39; by the World Bank.

India has implemented, from April 2016, large pictorial health warnings occupying 85 per cent of the principal display area of tobacco packs and on all forms of tobacco. India is third among countries with the largest pictorial warning on tobacco products, according to a recent report.

WHO said that the market power of tobacco companies has increased in recent years, creating new challenges for tobacco control efforts.

&quot;As of 2014, five tobacco companies accounted for 85 per cent of the global cigarette market. Policies aimed at limiting the market power of tobacco companies are largely untested but hold promise for reducing tobacco use,&quot; it said.

The report said that effective policy and programmatic interventions exist to reduce demand for tobacco products and the death, disease, and economic costs resulting from their use, but these interventions are &quot;underused&quot;.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) provides an evidence-based framework for government action to reduce tobacco use.

&quot;The economic impact of tobacco on countries, and the general public, is huge, as this new report shows. The tobacco industry produces and markets products that kill millions of people prematurely, rob households of finances that could have been used for food and education, and impose immense health care costs on families, communities and countries,&quot; said Oleg Chestnov, WHO&#39;s Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

Noting that demand reduction policies and programmes for tobacco products are highly cost-effective, it said that such interventions include significant tobacco tax and price increases, ban on tobacco industry marketing activities, prominent pictorial health warning labels, smoke-free policies and population-wide tobacco cessation programmes to help people stop smoking.

In 2013-2014, global tobacco excise taxes generated nearly USD 269 billion in government revenues. Of this, less than USD 1 billion was invested in tobacco control, WHO said.

&quot;Progress is being made in controlling the global tobacco epidemic, but concerted efforts are needed to ensure progress is maintained or accelerated.

&quot;In most regions, tobacco use prevalence is stagnant or falling. But increasing tobacco use in some regions, and the potential for increase in others, threatens to undermine global progress in tobacco control,&quot; it said.

(PTI)

Around 6 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use, with most of them living in developing countries, the WHO report said

Nearly 80 per cent of the over one billion tobacco smokers globally live in low-and-middle income countries like India, WHO said today and asserted that policies to control its use, including taxation and price increase, can generate revenues for health care and development work. According to a new landmark global report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cancer Institute of the USA, published in 'the economics of tobacco and tobacco control', around 6 million people die annually as a result of tobacco use, with most of them living in developing countries. "Policies to control tobacco use, including tobacco tax and price increases, can generate significant government revenues for health and development work. Such measures can also greatly reduce tobacco use and protect people's health from the world's leading killers, such as cancers and heart disease," the report said. Left unchecked, the tobacco industry and the deadly impact of its products cost the world's economies more than USD 1 trillion annually in health care expenditures and lost productivity, it said. The almost 700-page report examines existing evidence on two broad areas ? the economics of tobacco control, including tobacco use and growing, manufacturing and trade, taxes and prices, control policies and other interventions to reduce tobacco use and its consequences and the economic implications of global tobacco control efforts. "Globally, there are 1.1 billion tobacco smokers aged 15 or older, with around 80 per cent living in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately 226 million smokers live in poverty," it said. The monograph, citing a 2016 study, states that annual excise revenues from cigarettes globally could increase by 47 per cent or USD 140 billion, if all countries raised excise taxes by about USD 0.80 per pack. Additionally, this tax increase would raise cigarette retail prices on average by 42 per cent, leading to a 9 per cent decline in smoking rates and up to 66 million fewer adult smokers, it said. "The global health and economic burden of tobacco use is enormous and is increasingly borne by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Around 80 per cent of the world's smokers live in LMICs," it said. India has been classified under 'lower-middle income country/South Asia' by the World Bank. India has implemented, from April 2016, large pictorial health warnings occupying 85 per cent of the principal display area of tobacco packs and on all forms of tobacco. India is third among countries with the largest pictorial warning on tobacco products, according to a recent report. WHO said that the market power of tobacco companies has increased in recent years, creating new challenges for tobacco control efforts. "As of 2014, five tobacco companies accounted for 85 per cent of the global cigarette market. Policies aimed at limiting the market power of tobacco companies are largely untested but hold promise for reducing tobacco use," it said. The report said that effective policy and programmatic interventions exist to reduce demand for tobacco products and the death, disease, and economic costs resulting from their use, but these interventions are "underused". The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) provides an evidence-based framework for government action to reduce tobacco use. "The economic impact of tobacco on countries, and the general public, is huge, as this new report shows. The tobacco industry produces and markets products that kill millions of people prematurely, rob households of finances that could have been used for food and education, and impose immense health care costs on families, communities and countries," said Oleg Chestnov, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health. Noting that demand reduction policies and programmes for tobacco products are highly cost-effective, it said that such interventions include significant tobacco tax and price increases, ban on tobacco industry marketing activities, prominent pictorial health warning labels, smoke-free policies and population-wide tobacco cessation programmes to help people stop smoking. In 2013-2014, global tobacco excise taxes generated nearly USD 269 billion in government revenues. Of this, less than USD 1 billion was invested in tobacco control, WHO said. "Progress is being made in controlling the global tobacco epidemic, but concerted efforts are needed to ensure progress is maintained or accelerated. "In most regions, tobacco use prevalence is stagnant or falling. But increasing tobacco use in some regions, and the potential for increase in others, threatens to undermine global progress in tobacco control," it said. (PTI)

80% of all smokers live in low-and-middle income countries: WHO

The worldwide progress on controlling malaria risks staggering because of &nbsp;an &ldquo;urgent need&rdquo; for more funding, the World Health organisation said in its annual report on Tuesday.

On a whole, the number of new cases fell by 21 per cent between 2010 and 2015, while mortality rates are down by 29 per cent, 31 per cent in the African region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
However, globally there were still 212 million new cases and 429,000 deaths last year. 43 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa&rsquo;s population were not protected by treated nets or indoor spraying, the report said.

The WHO in its report has warned that &quot;sustained and sufficient funding for malaria control is a serious challenge&quot;. The health agency said that after a steep increase between 2000 and 2010, investment had &quot;flat-lined&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;In 2015, malaria funding totalled $2.9 billion, representing only 45 percent of the funding milestone for 2020 ($6.4 billion),&quot; it said.

35 per cent of all malaria funding in 2015 was provided by the United States. Countries with malaria provided about 32 per cent and Britain provided 16 per cent.

&quot;We are definitely seeing progress,&quot; said Dr Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, ahead of the report&#39;s launch in London, news agency AFP reported.

&quot;But the world is still struggling to achieve the high levels of programme coverage that are needed to beat this disease.&quot;

The report also says that anti-malarial drug resistance is a challenge &nbsp;along with the growing mosquito resistance to insecticides.&nbsp;

The WHO, however, added that there have been improvements in sub-Saharan Africa over the past year when it comes to providing help for pregnant women and children against malaria.

&quot;Malaria-related deaths among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa are at their lowest point in history,&quot; said Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary-General&#39;s special envoy for malaria, AFP reported.

&quot;This is largely attributable to the nearly 500 million insecticide-treated bed nets delivered over the past three years, the highest ever, along with a&nbsp;significant expansion of diagnosis and treatment.&quot;

Deaths from malaria among the under fives have fallen by 69 per cent globally since 2000 to 303,000 last year.

Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 90 per cent of global malarial cases and 92 per cent of deaths.

&quot;We must now not grow complacent, but drive forward to end the epidemic once and for all,&quot; said Chambers.

Last year India ranked third among 15 countries with the highest cases of malaria and deaths related to the disease.

 
(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

43 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa?s population were not protected by treated nets or indoor spraying, WHO said in its annual report

The worldwide progress on controlling malaria risks staggering because of an “urgent need” for more funding, the World Health organisation said in its annual report on Tuesday. On a whole, the number of new cases fell by 21 per cent between 2010 and 2015, while mortality rates are down by 29 per cent, 31 per cent in the African region. However, globally there were still 212 million new cases and 429,000 deaths last year. 43 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population were not protected by treated nets or indoor spraying, the report said. The WHO in its report has warned that "sustained and sufficient funding for malaria control is a serious challenge". The health agency said that after a steep increase between 2000 and 2010, investment had "flat-lined". "In 2015, malaria funding totalled $2.9 billion, representing only 45 percent of the funding milestone for 2020 ($6.4 billion)," it said. 35 per cent of all malaria funding in 2015 was provided by the United States. Countries with malaria provided about 32 per cent and Britain provided 16 per cent. "We are definitely seeing progress," said Dr Pedro Alonso, director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme, ahead of the report's launch in London, news agency AFP reported. "But the world is still struggling to achieve the high levels of programme coverage that are needed to beat this disease." The report also says that anti-malarial drug resistance is a challenge along with the growing mosquito resistance to insecticides. The WHO, however, added that there have been improvements in sub-Saharan Africa over the past year when it comes to providing help for pregnant women and children against malaria. "Malaria-related deaths among children under five in sub-Saharan Africa are at their lowest point in history," said Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy for malaria, AFP reported. "This is largely attributable to the nearly 500 million insecticide-treated bed nets delivered over the past three years, the highest ever, along with a significant expansion of diagnosis and treatment." Deaths from malaria among the under fives have fallen by 69 per cent globally since 2000 to 303,000 last year. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 90 per cent of global malarial cases and 92 per cent of deaths. "We must now not grow complacent, but drive forward to end the epidemic once and for all," said Chambers. Last year India ranked third among 15 countries with the highest cases of malaria and deaths related to the disease. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Global malaria progress at risk due to lack of funds: WHO

Ninety-two per cent of the world&#39;s population breathes poor quality air, the World Health Organization confirmed today, adding that about three million deaths a year around the world are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution.

&nbsp;

The indoor pollution is just as deadly, the UN&#39;s health body highlights.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The new WHO model shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combatting it,&quot; Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO asserted.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

According to the report, an estimated 6.5 million deaths (11.6 per cent of all global deaths) in 2012 were associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution together.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The report &quot;is enough to make all of us extremely concerned,&quot; Maria Neira, the head of the WHO&#39;s department of public health and environment, has been quoted as saying by AFP. The data has been collected from more than 3,000 sites across the globe, according to the international news agency.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In a statement, Neira has also highlighted the report findings that &quot;poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world, but pollution &quot;affects practically all countries in the world and all parts of society&quot;. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Nearly 90 per cent of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in WHO&rsquo;s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions, the report says.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that in September 2015, world leaders had set a target within the Sustainable Development Goals of substantially reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from air pollution by 2030.

&nbsp;

&quot;Fast action to tackle air pollution can&rsquo;t come soon enough,&quot; adds Dr Neira.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Solutions exist with sustainable transport in cities, solid waste management, access to clean household fuels and cook-stoves, as well as renewable energies and industrial emissions reductions.&quot;

&nbsp;

Who had also approved a new &quot;road map&quot; for accelerated action on air pollution and its causes in 2016 that calls upon the health sector to increase monitoring of air pollution locally, assess the health impacts, and to assume a greater leadership role in national policies that affect air pollution.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

About three million global deaths a year are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution while indoor pollution is just as deadly

Ninety-two per cent of the world's population breathes poor quality air, the World Health Organization confirmed today, adding that about three million deaths a year around the world are linked to exposure to outdoor air pollution. The indoor pollution is just as deadly, the UN's health body highlights. "The new WHO model shows countries where the air pollution danger spots are, and provides a baseline for monitoring progress in combatting it," Dr Flavia Bustreo, assistant director general at WHO asserted. According to the report, an estimated 6.5 million deaths (11.6 per cent of all global deaths) in 2012 were associated with indoor and outdoor air pollution together. The report "is enough to make all of us extremely concerned," Maria Neira, the head of the WHO's department of public health and environment, has been quoted as saying by AFP. The data has been collected from more than 3,000 sites across the globe, according to the international news agency. In a statement, Neira has also highlighted the report findings that "poorer countries have much dirtier air than the developed world, but pollution "affects practically all countries in the world and all parts of society". Nearly 90 per cent of air-pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with nearly 2 out of 3 occurring in WHO’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions, the report says. It's pertinent to mention that in September 2015, world leaders had set a target within the Sustainable Development Goals of substantially reducing the number of deaths and illnesses from air pollution by 2030. "Fast action to tackle air pollution can’t come soon enough," adds Dr Neira. "Solutions exist with sustainable transport in cities, solid waste management, access to clean household fuels and cook-stoves, as well as renewable energies and industrial emissions reductions." Who had also approved a new "road map" for accelerated action on air pollution and its causes in 2016 that calls upon the health sector to increase monitoring of air pollution locally, assess the health impacts, and to assume a greater leadership role in national policies that affect air pollution. (WION with inputs from agencies)

More than 90% of world's population breathes poor quality air: WHO

People returning from Zika-hit regions should practice safe sex for six months after that, World Health Organisation (WHO) said. 
 
The UN health body said people who show no symptoms should follow the advisory.&nbsp; 
 
Couples or women planning pregnancy should wait for six months before they go ahead with their plan, the guidelines further stated. 
 
In June, a WHO guideline had recommended men to practice abstinence or have safe sex for eight weeks after their return from an affected region. 
 
But new&nbsp;findings have shown the virus to remain in semen longer than previously assumed.&nbsp;The guidelines stated that Zika has been found in semen for as long as 188 days. 
 
As of August 26, 11 countries have reported cases of Zika which&nbsp;has been transmitted mainly through vaginal intercourse. 
 
&quot;Mounting evidence has shown that sexual transmission of&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;virus is possible and more common than previously assumed,&quot; the WHO said in the updated guidelines. 
 
The new recommendations will remain valid till November 2016, unless new findings bind the health body to further broaden or scale down its guidelines.&nbsp; 
 
Zika is a&nbsp;disease which shows no symptoms in four out of five symptomatic people. Pregnant women are the worst-affected&nbsp;as their babies have a high risk of developing head and brain defects, a condition known as microcephaly. 
 
The virus is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes. 
 
(WION)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The latest guidelines come after the health body found evidence of the virus remaining in semen longer than previously thought

People returning from Zika-hit regions should practice safe sex for six months after that, World Health Organisation (WHO) said. The UN health body said people who show no symptoms should follow the advisory. Couples or women planning pregnancy should wait for six months before they go ahead with their plan, the guidelines further stated. In June, a WHO guideline had recommended men to practice abstinence or have safe sex for eight weeks after their return from an affected region. But new findings have shown the virus to remain in semen longer than previously assumed. The guidelines stated that Zika has been found in semen for as long as 188 days. As of August 26, 11 countries have reported cases of Zika which has been transmitted mainly through vaginal intercourse. "Mounting evidence has shown that sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible and more common than previously assumed," the WHO said in the updated guidelines. The new recommendations will remain valid till November 2016, unless new findings bind the health body to further broaden or scale down its guidelines. Zika is a disease which shows no symptoms in four out of five symptomatic people. Pregnant women are the worst-affected as their babies have a high risk of developing head and brain defects, a condition known as microcephaly. The virus is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes. (WION)

WHO urges six-month safe sex for people returning from Zika-hit countries

Donald A. Henderson, who headed the World Health Organization vaccination effort that wiped out smallpox in 1977 and later became a US bioterrorism expert, has died from complications following a hip fracture, officials said on Sunday. He was 87. 
 
The 1966-1977 smallpox program at first was given little chance of succeeding. It required the development of labs around the world to produce vaccines, a constant scramble for funding, arm-twisting of governments to join in, and halting outbreaks as soon as they emerged by focusing on vaccinating people who came in contact with those infected, Henderson told the WHO. 
 
&quot;The most important legacy of smallpox eradication was its demonstration of how many people could be protected through vaccination, so rapidly and inexpensively with a well planned program and quality-control monitoring,&quot; the man known as &quot;D A,&quot; said in an interview published by the World Health Organization a few years ago. 
 
Smallpox is a highly infectious virus that kills 30 per cent of its victims and scars the rest for life. 
 
In 1972, he flew to Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia to help stamp out the last smallpox outbreak in Europe, the WHO said. 
 
After the campaign to wipe out the disease, Henderson became dean of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health from 1977 to 1990, expanding the school&#39;s reach and making it a national leader in addressing HIV/AIDS, said Michael Klag, dean of the school. 
 
&quot;D A was a force of nature who, until relatively recently, seemed invulnerable. Public health has lost a hero,&quot; Klag wrote adding, smallpox is the only human disease ever to have been eradicated. 
 
In 2001, Henderson was named by then US president George W. Bush to head a newly formed Office of Public Health Preparedness, set up to coordinate the national response to public health emergencies, including a spate of anthrax attacks that took place at the end of that year. 
 
In 2002, he received the nation&#39;s highest civilian honor when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 
 
Henderson died on Friday at a Baltimore-area hospice, officials said. 
 
(Reuters)

He died of complications following a hip fracture

Donald A. Henderson, who headed the World Health Organization vaccination effort that wiped out smallpox in 1977 and later became a US bioterrorism expert, has died from complications following a hip fracture, officials said on Sunday. He was 87. The 1966-1977 smallpox program at first was given little chance of succeeding. It required the development of labs around the world to produce vaccines, a constant scramble for funding, arm-twisting of governments to join in, and halting outbreaks as soon as they emerged by focusing on vaccinating people who came in contact with those infected, Henderson told the WHO. "The most important legacy of smallpox eradication was its demonstration of how many people could be protected through vaccination, so rapidly and inexpensively with a well planned program and quality-control monitoring," the man known as "D A," said in an interview published by the World Health Organization a few years ago. Smallpox is a highly infectious virus that kills 30 per cent of its victims and scars the rest for life. In 1972, he flew to Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia to help stamp out the last smallpox outbreak in Europe, the WHO said. After the campaign to wipe out the disease, Henderson became dean of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health from 1977 to 1990, expanding the school's reach and making it a national leader in addressing HIV/AIDS, said Michael Klag, dean of the school. "D A was a force of nature who, until relatively recently, seemed invulnerable. Public health has lost a hero," Klag wrote adding, smallpox is the only human disease ever to have been eradicated. In 2001, Henderson was named by then US president George W. Bush to head a newly formed Office of Public Health Preparedness, set up to coordinate the national response to public health emergencies, including a spate of anthrax attacks that took place at the end of that year. In 2002, he received the nation's highest civilian honor when he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Henderson died on Friday at a Baltimore-area hospice, officials said. (Reuters)

D A Henderson, who led effort to eradicate smallpox, dies at 87

As staggering as it may sound, globally, viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally, over 10 times the number of people affected with HIV, according to figures released by World Health Organization (WHO). 
 
The viral disease that causes inflammation of liver is categorised under three types: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.&nbsp; 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/who%203-20160728033516.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
An overview of deaths reported each year since 1990.
</div>
 
The United Nation&#39;s (UN) public health arm reveals while 7,00,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases, more than 686,000 people die every year due to complications of hepatitis B, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.&nbsp; 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/who%202-20160728030431.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Here&#39;s how hepatitis is affecting the world.
</div>
 
While Hepatitis C is found worldwide, the most affected regions are Africa and Central and East Asia. Hepatitis B&#39;s prevalence is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia, where between 5&ndash;10 percent of the adult population is chronically infected, says WHO.&nbsp; 
 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/who1-20160728030023.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
In 2013, viral hepatitis was counted as the seventh leading cause of mortality across the world.
</div>
(WION)&nbsp;

East Asia is among one of the most affected regions in the world where large number of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C have been reported

As staggering as it may sound, globally, viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally, over 10 times the number of people affected with HIV, according to figures released by World Health Organization (WHO). The viral disease that causes inflammation of liver is categorised under three types: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. An overview of deaths reported each year since 1990. The United Nation's (UN) public health arm reveals while 7,00,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases, more than 686,000 people die every year due to complications of hepatitis B, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Here's how hepatitis is affecting the world. While Hepatitis C is found worldwide, the most affected regions are Africa and Central and East Asia. Hepatitis B's prevalence is highest in sub-Saharan Africa and East Asia, where between 5–10 percent of the adult population is chronically infected, says WHO. In 2013, viral hepatitis was counted as the seventh leading cause of mortality across the world. (WION)

World Hepatitis Day: 1.4 million die annually due to the viral disease, underlines WHO?

A leak of HIV carriers&#39; identities in China was a violation of their &quot;fundamental right&quot;, the World Health Organization said, after reports that hundreds of infected people were approached by telephone swindlers. 
 
A total of 313 HIV-positive people have been contacted by callers claiming to be government officials offering financial allowances in exchange for their banking information, the Southern Weekly newspaper reported Monday, citing campaign group Baihualin. 
 
The bank details were used to steal money from their accounts, while those who identified the offer as attempted fraud were threatened with the online publication of their details, the report said. 
 
China has a long history of ostracism of HIV-AIDS patients, making the disclosure particularly sensitive. HIV-positive individuals have faced discrimination in the Chinese job market for years, and foreigners with the virus were banned from obtaining visas until 2010. Last December more than 200 people signed a petition to expel an HIV-positive eight-year-old boy from their village, prompting a national debate and highlighting the stigma involved. 
 
&quot;They called me by name and know my identification card number, company, home address, marital status, even the time of my diagnosis and the hospital I go to,&quot; an unnamed Beijing carrier told the Southern Weekly. 
 
The World Health Organization blasted the leak as an infringement of patients rights and warned it could deter people from getting tested for HIV and from accessing treatment and prevention services. 
 
&quot;The confidentiality of the personal and health information of anyone seeking HIV or other medical services must be safeguarded,&quot; it said in a statement late Monday. 
 
&quot;The leak of personal information of people living with HIV is a violation of this fundamental right to patient confidentiality.&quot; 
Chinese health authorities said they have reported the incidents to police and upgraded their encryption technology. 
 
&quot;The personal information of people infected with HIV/AIDS is protected by the law,&quot; the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, vowing to &quot;harshly crack down&quot; on the crime. 
 
(AFP)

WHO blasted the leak as an infringement of patients rights and warned it could deter people from getting tested for HIV

A leak of HIV carriers' identities in China was a violation of their "fundamental right", the World Health Organization said, after reports that hundreds of infected people were approached by telephone swindlers. A total of 313 HIV-positive people have been contacted by callers claiming to be government officials offering financial allowances in exchange for their banking information, the Southern Weekly newspaper reported Monday, citing campaign group Baihualin. The bank details were used to steal money from their accounts, while those who identified the offer as attempted fraud were threatened with the online publication of their details, the report said. China has a long history of ostracism of HIV-AIDS patients, making the disclosure particularly sensitive. HIV-positive individuals have faced discrimination in the Chinese job market for years, and foreigners with the virus were banned from obtaining visas until 2010. Last December more than 200 people signed a petition to expel an HIV-positive eight-year-old boy from their village, prompting a national debate and highlighting the stigma involved. "They called me by name and know my identification card number, company, home address, marital status, even the time of my diagnosis and the hospital I go to," an unnamed Beijing carrier told the Southern Weekly. The World Health Organization blasted the leak as an infringement of patients rights and warned it could deter people from getting tested for HIV and from accessing treatment and prevention services. "The confidentiality of the personal and health information of anyone seeking HIV or other medical services must be safeguarded," it said in a statement late Monday. "The leak of personal information of people living with HIV is a violation of this fundamental right to patient confidentiality." Chinese health authorities said they have reported the incidents to police and upgraded their encryption technology. "The personal information of people infected with HIV/AIDS is protected by the law," the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, vowing to "harshly crack down" on the crime. (AFP)

WHO labels leak of HIV carriers' identities' in China as 'violation of rights'

Tens of thousands of civilians stranded inside Islamic State-controlled Falluja are at risk of disease outbreaks as Iraqi government forces press their assault to retake the city, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday. 
 
Islamic State has tightened control over civilian movement in central Falluja, where an estimated 40,000 people are stuck with little water or food, as commandos from an elite counter-terrorism force inch closer to the city&#39;s main government building more than three weeks after the offensive began. 
 
The ultra-hardline militants, who by US estimates have lost almost half of the northern and western territory they seized when Iraqi forces partially collapsed in 2014, have used residents as human shields to slow the military&#39;s advance and thwart an international air campaign backing them. 
 
Falluja, an hour&#39;s drive west of Baghdad, is seen as a launchpad for Islamic State bombings in the capital, making the offensive a crucial part of the government&#39;s campaign to improve security, although US allies would prefer to concentrate on IS-held Mosul, Iraq&#39;s second largest city in the far north. 
 
Children inside Falluja have not received immunisation since the militants took control in 2014, said Ala Alwan, WHO&#39;s regional director for the eastern Mediterranean, who visited displacement camps in Amiriyat Falluja, a town southeast of Falluja. 
 
&quot;The low level of immunity coupled with poor hygiene conditions raises the risk of disease outbreaks, such as measles,&quot; he said in a statement, and hundreds of pregnant women were also in urgent need of reproductive health services. 
 
Poor sanitation could also spread infectious diseases like cholera and skin diseases in addition to exacerbating chronic illnesses, Alwan said during a field visit where some displaced people complained about a shortage of electricity. 
 
Iraq suffered a major cholera outbreak last year with more than 1,800 cases including six deaths. 
 
Aid groups providing food, water and other supplies to escapees lack access to the city itself. Falluja was besieged by government forces for around six months before the current advance began, prompting the United Nations and rights groups to warn of an imminent humanitarian crisis. 
 
The number of people displaced from Falluja has reached 53,000, according to UN statistics. Alwan said they also struggled to access health services due to inadequate funds. 
 
&quot;The major problem is a lack of funding, life-saving funding that is absolutely required to prevent disease outbreaks,&quot; he told reporters during his visit. 
 
The humanitarian community this year requested $861 million to assist 7.3 million Iraqis in need across the country, but so far it has only received 31 per cent of this amount.&nbsp; 
 
WHO has set up a healthcare centre and mobile clinics to serve displaced people, and is operating disease early-warning sites across Anbar province, where Falluja is located, to detect and respond to possible outbreaks, Alwan said. 
 
&quot;We have huge concerns about communicable diseases and preventing epidemics, but the good news is that we have no major outbreaks,&quot; he added. 
 
Iraq said on Monday it had made arrests as it investigates allegations that Shi&#39;ite Muslim militiamen helping the army recover Falluja had executed dozens of Sunni Muslim men fleeing the city, whose population is mainly Sunni. 
 
The role of militias in the battle of Falluja alongside the Iraqi army had already raised fears of sectarian killings. 
 
Falluja is a historic bastion of the Sunni insurgency against US forces that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003, and the Shi&#39;ite-led governments that followed. 
 
Enemies of Islamic State have launched major offensives against the jihadists on other fronts, including a push by US-backed forces against the city of Manbij in northern Syria. 
 
They amount to the most sustained pressure on IS since it proclaimed a religious caliphate in 2014. 
(Reuters)

Children inside Falluja have not received immunisation since IS took control in 2014. 40,000 are stuck with little water and food

Tens of thousands of civilians stranded inside Islamic State-controlled Falluja are at risk of disease outbreaks as Iraqi government forces press their assault to retake the city, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday. Islamic State has tightened control over civilian movement in central Falluja, where an estimated 40,000 people are stuck with little water or food, as commandos from an elite counter-terrorism force inch closer to the city's main government building more than three weeks after the offensive began. The ultra-hardline militants, who by US estimates have lost almost half of the northern and western territory they seized when Iraqi forces partially collapsed in 2014, have used residents as human shields to slow the military's advance and thwart an international air campaign backing them. Falluja, an hour's drive west of Baghdad, is seen as a launchpad for Islamic State bombings in the capital, making the offensive a crucial part of the government's campaign to improve security, although US allies would prefer to concentrate on IS-held Mosul, Iraq's second largest city in the far north. Children inside Falluja have not received immunisation since the militants took control in 2014, said Ala Alwan, WHO's regional director for the eastern Mediterranean, who visited displacement camps in Amiriyat Falluja, a town southeast of Falluja. "The low level of immunity coupled with poor hygiene conditions raises the risk of disease outbreaks, such as measles," he said in a statement, and hundreds of pregnant women were also in urgent need of reproductive health services. Poor sanitation could also spread infectious diseases like cholera and skin diseases in addition to exacerbating chronic illnesses, Alwan said during a field visit where some displaced people complained about a shortage of electricity. Iraq suffered a major cholera outbreak last year with more than 1,800 cases including six deaths. Aid groups providing food, water and other supplies to escapees lack access to the city itself. Falluja was besieged by government forces for around six months before the current advance began, prompting the United Nations and rights groups to warn of an imminent humanitarian crisis. The number of people displaced from Falluja has reached 53,000, according to UN statistics. Alwan said they also struggled to access health services due to inadequate funds. "The major problem is a lack of funding, life-saving funding that is absolutely required to prevent disease outbreaks," he told reporters during his visit. The humanitarian community this year requested $861 million to assist 7.3 million Iraqis in need across the country, but so far it has only received 31 per cent of this amount. WHO has set up a healthcare centre and mobile clinics to serve displaced people, and is operating disease early-warning sites across Anbar province, where Falluja is located, to detect and respond to possible outbreaks, Alwan said. "We have huge concerns about communicable diseases and preventing epidemics, but the good news is that we have no major outbreaks," he added. Iraq said on Monday it had made arrests as it investigates allegations that Shi'ite Muslim militiamen helping the army recover Falluja had executed dozens of Sunni Muslim men fleeing the city, whose population is mainly Sunni. The role of militias in the battle of Falluja alongside the Iraqi army had already raised fears of sectarian killings. Falluja is a historic bastion of the Sunni insurgency against US forces that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003, and the Shi'ite-led governments that followed. Enemies of Islamic State have launched major offensives against the jihadists on other fronts, including a push by US-backed forces against the city of Manbij in northern Syria. They amount to the most sustained pressure on IS since it proclaimed a religious caliphate in 2014. (Reuters)

WHO- civilians in Islamic State occupied Falluja at risk of disease

Almost $122 million is needed to prevent and manage the medical complications of the&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;virus spreading throughout the Americas and causing birth defects in babies, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. 
 
A specific focus is needed on supporting women and girls of child-bearing age, the UN health agency said as it set out a revised joint strategy with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) for how to handle the mosquito-borne virus. 
 
Zika&nbsp;has caused alarm throughout the Americas since cases of the birth defect microcephaly were reported in Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak. 
 
The rare birth defect is marked by unusually small head size and potentially severe developmental problems. Brazilian authorities have confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly in babies whose mothers were exposed to&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;during pregnancy. 
 
On Thursday, US health officials reported three babies there have been born with birth defects linked to likely&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;virus infection in their mothers in pregnancy, along with three cases of lost pregnancies linked to&nbsp;Zika.. 
 
WHO director-general Margaret Chan said much had been learned about&nbsp;Zika, how it spreads, the consequences of infection and how to control it since global health authorities set out their initial response plans earlier this year. WHO declared&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;a global public health emergency in February. 
 
&quot;The response now requires a unique and integrated strategy that places support for women and girls of child-bearing age at its core,&quot; she said in a statement. 
 
The plan highlights several aspects of the&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;outbreak &quot;that require a collaborative, global response,&quot; the WHO said. 
 
These include the potential for further international spread of&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;given the wide distribution of Aedes mosquitoes capable of transmitting it; the lack of population immunity in areas where Zika&nbsp;virus is circulating for the first time; and the lack of vaccines, treatments and rapid diagnostic tests. 
 
Chan said &quot;coherent funding mechanisms&quot; were essential for the plan to be implemented successfully, and noted the number of donors engaged in the global&nbsp;Zika&nbsp;response had risen to 60 from 23 in February 2016. 
 
WHO, PAHO and other agencies say they need $121.9 million to implement the revised plan from now until December 2017. 
(Reuters)

Support for women and girls of child-bearing age crucial for prevention

Almost $122 million is needed to prevent and manage the medical complications of the Zika virus spreading throughout the Americas and causing birth defects in babies, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. A specific focus is needed on supporting women and girls of child-bearing age, the UN health agency said as it set out a revised joint strategy with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) for how to handle the mosquito-borne virus. Zika has caused alarm throughout the Americas since cases of the birth defect microcephaly were reported in Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak. The rare birth defect is marked by unusually small head size and potentially severe developmental problems. Brazilian authorities have confirmed more than 1,400 cases of microcephaly in babies whose mothers were exposed to Zika during pregnancy. On Thursday, US health officials reported three babies there have been born with birth defects linked to likely Zika virus infection in their mothers in pregnancy, along with three cases of lost pregnancies linked to Zika.. WHO director-general Margaret Chan said much had been learned about Zika, how it spreads, the consequences of infection and how to control it since global health authorities set out their initial response plans earlier this year. WHO declared Zika a global public health emergency in February. "The response now requires a unique and integrated strategy that places support for women and girls of child-bearing age at its core," she said in a statement. The plan highlights several aspects of the Zika outbreak "that require a collaborative, global response," the WHO said. These include the potential for further international spread of Zika given the wide distribution of Aedes mosquitoes capable of transmitting it; the lack of population immunity in areas where Zika virus is circulating for the first time; and the lack of vaccines, treatments and rapid diagnostic tests. Chan said "coherent funding mechanisms" were essential for the plan to be implemented successfully, and noted the number of donors engaged in the global Zika response had risen to 60 from 23 in February 2016. WHO, PAHO and other agencies say they need $121.9 million to implement the revised plan from now until December 2017. (Reuters)

$122 million needed for global response to Zika : WHO

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