A recent World Health Organization (WHO) press release has revealed a set of key principles for determining how best to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) within the context of healthcare, along with the challenges it may present. The report, “Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health”, is the result of two years of consultations held […]
WHO
Pandemic preparation: a wake up call
Amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for countries across the globe to step up preparations for future pandemics during its 73rd World Health Assembly. The WHO noted that “the COVID-19 pandemic is a sobering reminder that health is the foundation of social, economic and political stability”. Prospects in […]
Air pollution action needed: WHO official
As a report reveals the sizeable death toll due to air pollution in India, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has urged the country to take action on it. “Urgent action” is required to address pollution, according to Dr Maria Neira, director of the WHO Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of […]
Vardhan promotes fitness at WHO meeting
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan took the opportunity of a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting to lead by example concerning fitness. The session of WHO Southeast Asia Region (WHO-SEARO) nations saw them make a commitment to collaborate in tackling emerging diseases and other public health challenges such as child health, maternal mortality, the respective […]
Asia and WHO collaborate on emerging diseases
A large-scale collaboration has been announced between a number of Southeast Asian nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to address the issue of emerging diseases. India, along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepala, North Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, have come together under the World Health Organization – South East […]
The leprosy capital of the world
India is officially the leprosy capital of the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO); they estimate that 66 percent of all the world’s leprosy patients now reside in the country. Such news comes as a blow to India’s prior announcement — dating back to 2005 — of the elimination of leprosy. An estimated […]
Curbing high blood pressure by 2025
In an ambitious campaign to reduce instance of high blood pressure, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), covering 25 districts across five states. The 25 districts are only the beginning of the campaign: the ICMR intends to expand the initiative […]
The depression epidemic among India’s seniors
India’s elderly population is projected to reach more than 340 million by 2050. Could that result in a new mental health epidemic? New data reveals that 21.9 percent of India’s elderly suffer from depression. This is a much higher rate than the global average. Fifteen percent of the world’s elderly population suffer from a mental […]
World Breastfeeding Week Special: Hospitals go ‘baby-friendly’ for newborns health
As part of our series highlighting the many issues that deter India from being a breastfeeding nation, today we bring a story of hope. Sixteen hospitals are working to usher in a change. Plans are being rolled out to turn the facilities in question ‘baby-friendly’ in a bid to improve the nutritional health of newborns. […]
Why India fails to be a breastfeeding nation
India is failing to be a breastfeeding nation – potentially putting the lives of its newborns at risk. Just 41.5 percent of newborns in India are breastfed within an hour of being born. This is according to new data released by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), ahead of World Breastfeeding Awareness Week this year. On […]