Public Health News Snippets 24-30th September, 2023
Empowering communities on international snake bite awareness day
The International Snake Bite Awareness Day (ISBAD) is conducted every 19th September.
Since the launch of the WHO global snake bite strategy in 2019, the efforts to reduce the harm caused by snake bites have increased.
However, there is still a lack of overall programmatic uptake.
The global snake bite strategy advocates a multidisciplinary approach, which includes:
Improving treatments
Strengthening health systems
Engaging Communities
Building partnerships
Mobilizing resources
To commemorate the event this year and increase advocacy regarding the strategies, the WHO organized two webinars on 19th September.
Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
Monday, September 25, 2023
One Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases
Managing deceased in disasters: Ensuring dignity, safety, and documentation
Amidst the rising number of disasters, one of the most controversial and sensitive matters is handling the dead and deceased.
The WHO and the International Red Cross Society have released a statement saying dead bodies from natural disasters and wars do not generally pose any health risk, and should be handled with dignity and respect.
If burial is needed, it should be:
Easily traceable
Properly documented
The bodies may harbor infections in cases of death due to infectious diseases.
Care should be taken that the dead bodies aren’t closely attached to any water bodies to prevent their contamination.
Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
Monday, September 25, 2023
Disaster Management, Public Health
The patient safety rights charter: A vision for the future of patient care
World Patient Safety Day is celebrated every year on 17th September and this year's theme was "Engaging patients for patient safety."
To earmark this event, a global conference on patient safety and patient engagement was held recently.
The event ended with agreement on the first-ever patient Safety rights charter.
This charter:
Outlines the core rights of the patient
Seeks to assist Governments in ensuring that the patients' voices are heard.
Each year, 1 in 10 patients experience harm in healthcare settings, most of which are preventable.
This year, emphasis is laid on:
Listening to the family of the patients
Learning from their experiences
Involving them in every aspect of patient care
The aim of this event was to shift from "care designed for patients" to "care designed with patients."
Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy
WHO News Section
Source :
Published on :
Monday, September 25, 2023
Patient Safety
Clear vision, safe workplace: A collaboration by ILO and IAPB
The International Labour Organisation in collaboration with the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness on 5th September highlighted the imperativeness of healthy vision for safety and productivity at workplaces.
Ocular injuries at workplace accounts for about 1 % of non fatal industrial injuries annually, and at least 30 % of unemployment are due to poor eye vision, the report says.
Hence the need for co-ordinated initiatives to achieve the goals under Occupational safety and health programs has been emphasised, which includes:
Prevent exposure to hazards.
Protect the existing eye health of employees.
Risk assessment of workers’ naturally occurring sight loss.
Content Editor: Akhila Nandan
WHO news section
Source :
Published on :
Monday, September 25, 2023
Ergonomics
Tamil Nadu launches ₹1,000 monthly grants for women-headed households
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has introduced the "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam" in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of DMK founder C.N. Annadurai's birth anniversary.
This initiative aims to provide a monthly rights grant of ₹1,000 to 1.06 crore women heading households in the state.
The scheme was officially launched, and ATM cards were distributed to the beneficiaries in Kancheepuram.
Mr. Stalin acknowledged that the scheme's implementation was delayed upon assuming office in 2021 due to the state's financial constraints.
Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay
THE HINDU
Source :
Published on :
Monday, September 25, 2023
Universal basic income