How dengue mosquitoes breed and spread: All you need to know
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
BJP protests against Kerala govt's ‘dismantling' of public health sector for private hospital interests
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday (July 7, 2025) took out protest marches to the Kannur District Hospital and the Thalassery General Hospital demanding the resignation of Health Minister Veena George, alleging that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government is deliberately dismantling the public health sector to 'benefit private hospital lobbies.' In Kannur, the protest was inaugurated by former BJP State president K. Surendran, who accused the CPI(M) and the State government of 'systematically destroying the public health care system to pave the way for private investment in super-speciality hospitals. He said the BJP plans to intensify its protest until Health Minister Veena George steps down, claiming that her tenure has been 'marred by corruption, inefficiency, and apathy' towards the public health infrastructure. 'In the past five years, a large number of private hospitals and super-speciality centres have come up across the State. Corporate players are investing heavily in private healthcare while government hospitals remain in shambles,' Mr. Surendran said. He said this is happening because 'they have understood that the government is supporting and there is a conducive environment to start a hospital and exploit the people here.' 'Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claims that public hospitals are for the poor and are providing the best and world-class treatment. Neither he nor Ministers Veena George and M.B. Rajesh have trusted their government hospitals for their own treatment and care. Rather, they are going abroad and depending on the private hospital for their treatment,' he alleged. Mr. Surendran alleged that there are no doctors or nurses in many government hospitals, with a third of the doctors either on leave, practising privately or having left the country. 'There are no permanent appointments, only contract staff. The centre under the National Health Mission allotted ₹7,500 crore, but where has the money gone? The CPI(M) is answerable,' he said. Recalling former Health Minister Minister K.K. Shailaja's declaration of strict action against doctors engaged in private practice, Mr. Surendran said the situation has only worsened. 'The government has abandoned that promise. Even now, party cadres are being appointed without filing actual vacancies. More than 40 doctor posts are lying vacant in the Kannur government hospital,' he said. He said the State government invited controversial vlogger Jyoti Malhotra for tourism promotion. 'This was done with the complete knowledge of the government and the Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas,' he alleged. BJP district north president K. Vinod Kumar and BJP national council member C. Raghunathan were among those who joined the protests.
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Indian Express
When government cares, healthcare makes strides
India's healthcare system has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last 11 years, driven by political will, enhanced funding, and a commitment to providing affordable, accessible, equitable and quality healthcare for all. It reflects the Modi government's focus on building a robust healthcare system, prioritising the well-being of every citizen. In 2014, India faced significant challenges, including gaps in infrastructure, trained human resources, availability of medicines and diagnostics, and service quality. Today, guided by a philosophy of comprehensive care focused on proactive well-being, there has been a dramatic shift. The National Health Mission (NHM) is the cornerstone of this revolution, strengthening health systems, reducing maternal and child mortality, combating diseases, and promoting universal access to quality healthcare. More than 1.77 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are bringing healthcare closer to communities, and platforms like eSanjeevani and TeleMANAS have democratised access to specialist care. Focused interventions under NHM have led to improvements in maternal and child health indicators. According to the UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group report, India has seen an 86 per cent decline in maternal mortality rate, nearly double the global average decline of 48 per cent. Infant mortality has declined by 73 per cent as against a global decline of 58 per cent. As the burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing, preventive care has also been a focus. Screening for oral, breast and cervical cancers is being provided at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. By May, nearly 28 crore were screened for hypertension, more than 27 crore for diabetes, and 27 crore for oral cancer. The Universal Immunisation Programme continues to be strengthened. Six new vaccines have been introduced since 2014, with 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women vaccinated under Mission Indradhanush. We have leveraged the latest technology to build the U-WIN portal to digitise vaccination services, recording 10.68 crore beneficiaries and administering 42.75 crore doses by May 2025. India was declared polio-free in 2014, eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015, and trachoma in 2024. Malaria cases and deaths dropped by over 80 per cent between 2015-2023. We reached the Kala Azar elimination target in 2023. TB incidence has reduced by 17.7 per cent and mortality by 21 per cent, as confirmed by the WHO Global TB Report 2024, the 'missing' TB cases have dropped from 15 lakh in 2015 to 1.2 lakh in 2024. Healthcare financing has also improved. Government health expenditure as a share of GDP has increased from 1.13 per cent to 1.84 per cent (2014-2022), while Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) dropped from 62.6 per cent to 39.4 per cent. The Free Drugs and Diagnostics Service Initiative has enhanced affordability and accessibility, with laboratory services available in 36 States/UTs, CT scans in 34 States, and tele-radiology in 12 States/UTs. The Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme has benefitted more than 28 lakh patients, saving Rs. 8,725 crores in OOPE. Emergency response systems like the National Ambulance Services (NAS) and Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have extended services to remote areas. The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched in 2021. Key initiatives include the establishment of 18,802 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks, and 730 District Integrated Public Health Labs. The NHM has engaged 5.23 lakh additional health workers, including 1.18 lakh Community Health Officers (CHOs). Introduced in 2018, the CHO cadre bridges the gap between community-level health workers and medical officers. The last 11 years have laid a foundation for universal healthcare. The nation is poised to achieve its vision of accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare for all. The writer is Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
India's first Dengue vaccine to be rolled out soon: Phase 3 trial enrollment nears completion
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection, primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is active during the day. It can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to severe, and in some cases, can be fatal, especially those with compromised immunity. India, in particular, accounts for the world's 100–400 million infections. Every year during the monsoons the infection reaches a peak, but now there is some hope. India's first dengue vaccine is now in the final stages of testing, with phase 3 trial enrolment almost complete. Let's find out more... Why is dengue dangerous Dengue is a viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes. It causes high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, and sometimes a dangerous drop in blood platelets. In severe cases, dengue can lead to bleeding, organ failure, and even death. Children and the elderly are most at risk. Challenges in making a vaccine For years now, scientists have tried to develop a safe and effective dengue vaccine. The challenge however, is that there are four different types of dengue viruses, and a common vaccine must protect against all of them. Some vaccines developed in other countries have shown mixed results, but are not widely used. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo India's home grown vaccine India's first dengue vaccine is being developed by Serum Institute of India (SII). The vaccine, called 'TetraVax-DV,' is designed to protect against all four types of dengue viruses. Like other vaccines, it uses a weakened form of the virus to train the body's immune system to fight dengue. Since it is not a live virus per se, it does not cause the ailment itself. Key features of the vaccine Targets all four dengue virus types Developed using advanced technology Tested for safety and effectiveness What are Phase 3 Trials? Before a vaccine can be approved for public use, it must go through several stages of testing: Phase 1: Small group of healthy volunteers to test safety Phase 2: Larger group to test immune response and side effects Phase 3: Thousands of volunteers to test how well the vaccine works in a larger group Hence, Phase 3 is the most important stage. It shows if the vaccine can actually prevent dengue in the community as a whole. Where does India stand The phase 3 trial for India's dengue vaccine began in 2023. It is being conducted at more than 20 sites across the country, including both urban and rural areas. The trial aims to enrol over 10,000 volunteers, including children and adults from different backgrounds. As of now, enrollment is almost complete, and early results show good results. Next steps Monitoring: Volunteers will be monitored for any side effects and for protection against dengue. Data Analysis: Scientists will study the data to see how well the vaccine works. Approval: If the results are good, the vaccine could be approved by Indian health authorities within a year. Why is the vaccine important India has one of the highest dengue cases in the world. Early outbreaks put pressure on hospitals and cause suffering for families. A safe and effective vaccine could: Reduce the number of dengue cases Lower hospital admissions Save lives, especially among children Reduce the economic burden on families and the healthcare system Regardless of the vaccine, one must practice prevention against dengue during this season, that includes protection against mosquitoes, (lotions, full clothes etc) covering all drains, and not allowing breeding of eggs in any open water source. Source The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec
