This document is prepared keeping in mind the daily changing scenarios of the nation and to keep students updated on a monthly basis Current Affairs October 2019 Siddhant Menon This is an intellectual property of The Unique Academy Not for sale 0 MPSC – English Medium 1 MPSC – English Medium October 2019 Health National Nutrition Survey Global Hunger Index, 2018 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized It ranked India at 103 out of 119 countries based on the first National Nutrition Survey. The ministry took help following factors from UNICEF to complete the survey. The survey was • Prevalence of stunting and wasting conducted between 2016 and 2018. In India, for the first • Child mortality rate time the ministry measured malnutrition that included • Undernourishment micro nutrient deficiencies. It was done by collecting urine samples and blood samples. Apart from this, According to the index, India is suffering from serious details of non – communicable diseases like problem of malnutrition hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, kidney function in children were also collected during the survey. Global Nutrition Report, 2018 Key findings of the survey The Global Nutrition Report 2018, prepared by WHO, states that India is home to 46.6 million stunted children • Around 10% of children in the age group of 5 to 9 out of 150.8 million stunted children all over the world. years and adolescents in the age group 10 to 19 years The report also says that are pre – diabetic. 5% of them were overweight and 5% suffered from blood pressure. • Out of 50.5 million children who are wasted • The survey for the first time proved the coexistence globally, 25.5 million are in India. of obesity and under nutrition. • India is the third most obese nation in the world. • One in five children in the age group 5 to 9 years WHO states India as Diabetes capital with 69.2 were stunted. million suffering from diabetes. • Tamil Nadu and Goa had the highest number of • India might lose 46 billion USD to malnutrition by adolescents who were obese or overweight. 2030. About the survey Steps taken by the Government of India to combat malnutrition The survey covered more than 1,20,000 children and adolescents in rural and urban area. It aims to assess the • Poshan Abhiyan – It was launched in 2017 – 18 to following reduce anemia, stunting, under – nutrition. • National Food Security act, 2013 – The act made Micro nutrient deficiencies food a legal right of the citizens. It aims to ensure food and nutrition security to the vulnerable. • Sub clinical inflammation • Mid – day meal scheme • Worm infestation. • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana – Under the • Overweight or obesity scheme, Rs 6,000 is transferred directly to bank • Cardio – metabolic risks accounts of pregnant women to avail facilities for CDSA – Clinical Development Services Agency was their delivery. selected as the monitoring agency. What is malnutrition and under nutrition? National Nutrition Week • Malnutrition refers to the imbalanced in a person’s Recently India marked the National Nutrition Week intake of nutrients or energy. between September 1 and September 7, 2019 and • It broadly covers the following marked September as Poshan month. It is important to o Under nutrition – It includes encourage such measures as the country has around ▪ Stunting – Low height for age 194.4 million undernourished people. According to ▪ Wasting – low weight for age Food and Agriculture Organization, they constitute ▪ Underweight – Low weight for age 14.5% of the total Indian population. 2 MPSC – English Medium ▪ Micro nutrient deficiencies – lack of vitamins Strains of Dengue and minerals o Obesity – It includes overweight and non – There are 4 strains of Dengue namely DEN – 1, DEN – communicable diseases like diabetes, stroke, 2, DEN – 3, DEN – 4. When a person becomes infected cancer, etc. with one strain and treated, he becomes immune to that particular strain of virus. However, there are possibilities for him to get infected by other strains. Aarogya Manthan Occurrence Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the The virus is present in India, south east Asia, China, valedictory function of Arogya Manthan in New Delhi South America, Africa, Pacific Islands, Mexico and on 1 October 2019. At the event PM Modi will launch a Caribbean. At the rest of the world, Dengue has been new mobile application of Ayushman Bharat and eliminated. ‘Ayushman Bharat Start-Up Grand Challenge’. He will Measures of India to control Dengue interact with select beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat or PM-JAY and will also release a commemorative stamp • The disease is monitored, controlled and treated on the occasion. under the program National Vector Borne Disease Control Program. The program covers the following About Arogya Manthan o National Anti-Malaria program It is a two-day national workshop which is being o Japanese Encephalitis Control Program organised by National Health Authority (NHA) to mark o Kala – Azar Control Program the first year anniversary of Ayushman Bharat or PM- o National Filaria Control Program JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana). The PM- o Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic fever JAY was launched on 23rd September 2018. • National Dengue Day is observed on May 16 every year by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Objective of Arogya Manthan: • To provide a platform to meet all important stakeholders of PM-JAY and discuss challenges FSAAI launches new Trans Fat Logo faced in the implementation of the scheme in 2018. • To forge a new understanding and create pathways Union Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan launched the towards improving implementation. ‘Trans Fat Free’ logo of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) at 8th International Chefs’ About National Health Authority (NHA) Conference held in New Delhi. On 2 January 2019 Centre government approved the Key Highlights restructuring of existing National Health Agency as ‘National Health Authority’ for better implementation Food Facilities or Establishments that use trans-fat free of PM-JAY. Therefore with this approval the existing fats/oil as well as do not have industrial trans-fat over society “National Health Agency” was dissolved and 0.2g per 100g of food, in compliance with Food Safety was replaced by National Health Authority. The and Standards (Advertising and Claims) Regulations, National Health Authority is as an attached office to 2018 are eligible to display the logo. However, the use Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. NHA have of the logo by restaurants and food manufacturers is full accountability, authority and mandate to implement voluntary. Under the slogan ‘Chefs 4 Trans Fat Free’, at PM-JAY through an efficient, effective and transparent the international conference, nearly 1,000 chefs from decision-making process different parts of country took a pledge to use trans-fat free oils/fats in their recipes and work towards its elimination from diets of Indian populace at large. Spread of Dengue Why Trans Fat is a concern? What is Dengue? It is the worst type of fats with known health risks. They are largely present in partially hydrogenated vegetable Dengue is a vector borne disease transmitted by female fats or oils, vanaspati, margarine and bakery Aedes mosquito according to WHO. It is caused by the shortenings, and can also be found in baked and fried Dengue virus that belongs to the Flavivirus. foods. 3 MPSC – English Medium Industrial trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to • National Health Mission – Under the mission, the liquid vegetable oils so as to make them more solid, and states and UTs can seek permission to set up Dental to increase shelf life of foods. Every year about 5,40,000 care units in district level hospitals. people die globally of cardiovascular diseases, and for • Tertiary components – It included activities carried this the consumption of food laced with industry trans out in central level. fats is a contributing factor. In India itself the number of deaths is around 60,000. Initiative by India: As part of ‘Eat Right India’ led by Key Cabinet decisions of NHM Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), India targets to reduce industrially produced trans fatty On October 9, 2019, the cabinet appraised decisions acids on food supply to less than 2% by 2022. The under Empowered Program Committee (EPC), Mission country’s objective of trans fat elimination by 2022 in a Steering Group (MSG) and National Health Mission. phased manner is a year ahead of global target set by The press release statements of the cabinet are as WHO. follows Key Achievements E-Dant Seva • MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate), U5MR (Under 5 Mortality Rate) and IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) has On October 7, 2019, the eDant Seva was launched by declined since the launch of NHM. India will reach the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. It is an its SDG goal of MMR – 70 and U5MR – 25 by 2030 initiative under the National Oral Health Program. The at this rate. The rate of MMR decline is 8% (2013 – initiative aims to sensitize the importance of 2016). maintaining oral health. It provides information about • India achieved the biggest success in bringing down nearest oral health service facility. It also provides oral Malaria cases and deaths by 49.09%. It is now health information collected from authentic scientific leading with its initiatives against malaria among the sources. other Malaria endemic countries Objectives New Decisions and Schemes • To improve determinants of oral health. It includes Similar to Clean India Mission where districts and states oral hygiene improvement, healthy diet and also to were declared ODF – Open Defecation Free, the reduce disparity in oral health accessibility. districts and states will be declared disease free under • It intends to integrate oral health promotion and the awarding scheme.