Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
In numerous parts of Africa, the struggle for clean drinking water continues due to resource constraints and insufficient infrastructure. Finding and applying affordable water purification techniques is crucial. This article explores various cost-effective methods that can be employed to guarantee the supply of safe drinking water. It focuses on simple and readily available solutions, addressing the needs of communities seeking a sustainable resolution to this critical challenge. One of the cheapest and simplest ways to clean water in Africa is solar disinfection. This method involves filling clear plastic bottles with water and leaving them in the sun for a minimum of six hours. The sun's ultraviolet rays kill harmful pathogens in the water, making it safe to drink. This method is affordable for many communities because it only requires sunlight and plastic bottles. Boiling is the oldest and most trusted method of purifying water. By bringing water to a rolling boil for at least one minute, you can eliminate most harmful pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Although this method requires a heat source like firewood or gas, it is still a practical choice for many African households because of its simplicity and effectiveness. Ceramic filters offer an affordable solution for water purification. Crafted from clay and combustible materials such as sawdust, these filters undergo firing in a kiln, which burns away the combustible material, leaving minuscule pores in the clay. This porous structure permits the passage of water while trapping larger impurities. These low-cost filters exhibit a high efficacy in eliminating disease-causing organisms. Chlorination is the process of adding chlorine to water to kill harmful microorganisms. This method is highly favored due to its broad-spectrum effectiveness against various pathogens and its ability to provide residual disinfection i.e. it prevents the water from getting recontaminated over a certain period of time. People use chlorine tablets or liquid bleach to disinfect their water. These are cheap and easily accessible across many African countries.
Heat threatens children's education * Aircon fuels global warming * Architects turn to passive cooling By Emma Batha LONDON, July 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When prize-winning architect Francis Kere was growing up in Burkina Faso he spent his schooldays in a gloomy classroom that was so stifling he says it would have been better suited to making bread than educating children. Years later, while studying abroad, Kere returned to his home village to build a light and airy school where ...Read More >
Gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Salhab joins 'Fox & Friends' to examine a new study on the effects of pathogenic gut bacteria and tips for limiting exposure to harmful bacteria. Human infections from drug-resistant bacteria are spiking in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned. The CDC's laboratory tests have shown that occurrences of a bacteria called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) have increased dramatically. NDM-CRE belongs to a broa ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI): Delhi is choking, yet I remain surprised by the ignorance of many Delhiites who roam around as if they are breathing the fresh air of Switzerland. This is where a solid air purifier comes in as a saviour, allowing you to finally breathe fresh air (at least indoors). Eureka Forbes is mostly known for its water purifiers, but keeping the brand value in mind, I opted to try one of their air purifiers.The Eureka Forbes AP 355 Smart is designed to take care of your living room. It promises to scrub the air in a large space (up to 480 sq. ft.) in just 10 minutes ...Read More >
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season has barely begun, but it has already delivered its first major controversy. Following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, a pointed remark from captain Ajinkya Rahane has triggered a wider debate - forcing Cricket Australia (CA) to step in with a clarification. At the centre of the storm is Cameron Green, KKR's high-profile signing worth INR 25.20 crore, who did not bowl a single over despite MI's dominant chase of 220. KKR seemed in control after posting a commanding 220/4, but the script ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Officials of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh have revealed that the top 20 property tax defaulters of the city are yet to clear dues of over Rs 190 crore, while property tax arrear cases worth Rs 62 crore are under litigation in the Punjab and Haryana high court. Citing different reasons, occupants of seven properties, out of the top 20, have challenged the MC's arrears amount, following which the authority failed to recover the amount from them. All these properties fall under the commercial category. As per official data of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, commercial prope ...Read More >
A Chandigarh research team has identified a new threat. A bacterium called Bordetella holmesii is now causing more whooping cough-like illnesses in North India. This bacterium has surpassed Bordetella pertussis in prevalence. The rise was most significant in 2023, affecting children aged five to ten. This shift signals an evolving pattern in respiratory illnesses in the region. A team at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has reported a significant ...Read More >
Guwahati: In a major scientific achievement on public health front, research scholars at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed an innovative, low-cost method to detect SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus responsible for COVID-19 -- using nothing more than a type of clay and saltwater. This innovative mechanism, which uses sedimentation to determine the presence and quantity of the virus, offers a simpler and more affordable alternative to current diagnostic methods such as PCR and antigen testing. The study, recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Clay Science, could ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even after being preventable and treatable, cholera continues as a global health problem with 31 countries reporting outbreaks in 2025, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday. The report showed that despite treatment being available, deaths due to the disease rose by 50 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. For the second consecutive year, more than 6000 people have died from the disease, while cases rose by 5 per cent. While the numbers are alarming, they are underestimates of the true burden of cholera, stated the report ...Read More >
Gurgaon: A chemist and a lab operator have been arrested for allegedly selling medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits illegally. Two separate FIRs were lodged against the accused at Sector 10 and Sector 9A police stations, police said on Friday.The pharmacy was sealed and medical officials have initiated proceedings to cancel its licence. District drugs control officer Suresh Verma said the department received information about illegal sales of MTP kits - also called abortion kits - from Juneja Chemist, located near Civil Hospital. A pregnant woman, who was deployed as a decoy customer, v ...Read More >
Bahraich, June 28: Two minors allegedly killed a man by slitting his throat and then crushed his head with a stone to steal his iPhone to create "high-quality reels" for more likes, police said on Saturday. Police have held both the accused and initiated investigations. The victim, Shadab (19), who lived in Bengaluru, was visiting his ancestral village of Nagaur in Bahraich for his maternal uncle's wedding. Additional Superintendent of Police, Ramanand Prasad Kushwaha, said that the incident occurred on the night of June 20. "Shadab was reported missing on June 21, and his body was discovered ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Over 15 million people in the world born between 2008 and 2017 might develop gastric cancer at some point in life, with India contributing the second highest number among these cases, after China, a study has projected. Two-thirds of the more than 15 million projected cases could be concentrated in Asia, followed by the Americas and Africa. Researchers, including those from the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- the World Health Organisation's cancer agency -- analysed data on the incidence of gastric cancer across 185 countries using the GLOBOCAN 2022 data ...Read More >
Pune: For the past six days, around 270 flats in Baner's Anjor society, 14 flats of Carnation society, and nearby homes in Veerbhadranagar have been receiving contaminated water that appears muddy and carries a foul, drainage-like odour. Initially, residents of Anjor society assumed that their own water tank needed cleaning. However, when the quality of water supply did not improve despite cleaning out the tank, they complained to the ward office on Wednesday this week. According to the residents, for the next two days, ward officials kept passing the buck. Finally, on Friday morning, they con ...Read More >
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NDM-CRE infections have been historically uncommon in the United States, the CDC said. The NDM gene - which was first identified in 2008 from a Swedish patient who had been hospitalized in New Delhi - creates an enzyme that destroys most antibiotics, including so-called carbapenems, which are usually used in last-ditch efforts to save patients with infections that fail to respond to standard antibiotics, The Washington Post ...Read More >
At least 12 people, including five children, have died in 15 days at Chayansa in Haryana's Palwal, prompting a health department probe amid growing concerns about contaminated drinking water and infectious disease spread. Health officials said the deaths between late January and mid-February were linked to severe liver-related complications. Preliminary findings pointed to viral hepatitis and possible water contamination. On January 31, jaundice-related deaths were first reported in Chayansa, a ...Read More >
MORBI (India), April 1 -- Blazing-hot kilns in India's US$6.5 billion (RM26.2 billion) ceramics manufacturing hub employing hundreds of thousands of people have gone cold, shut down in an energy crunch caused by the Middle East war. At a cavernous facility in Morbi, in India's western Gujarat state, a 200-metre-long propane-powered kiln that normally fires clay nonstop is silent. It is one of hundreds of plants supplying homeware tiles across the world that have been forced to suspend operations. Thick layers of dust smother giant grinding and pressing machines, while only a tiny crew of wor ...Read More >
Srinagar, Aug 3: The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums on Sunday said that an ancient Shivling had been unearthed and safely housed in the SPS Museum Srinagar for public display. A statement of the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums issued here said that it was pleased to announce the discovery of an ancient Shivling carved from stone, measuring 137 cm in length and 160 cm in width, approximately dating back to the 10th Century CE, recovered during sand extraction by local labourers from the Jhelum River near the Army camp at Khanpora in Baramulla. The statement sa ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Residents across the city, including those staying in prime localities like Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Madhapur areas are increasingly concerned about the rising mosquito menace and urging the municipal corporations to take immediate action. Moreover, the three municipal corporations - Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri - have been facing much online criticism for rising mosquito menace. Hyderabad is currently facing a severe mosquito menace, causing an alarm. The situation is causing anxiety among families due to the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses and viral fevers, ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even as the latest Lancet paper marked India among eight countries with a high burden of zero-dose children, those who had never received a routine childhood vaccine, the Union government on Saturday said that the country's large population size, and high vaccination coverage rate must be considered when making such comparisons. The government noted that "India's antigen-wise immunisation coverage surpasses global averages across all antigens". In other words, the vaccination strategy deployed in India is targeted against antigens, which can trigger an imm ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 1: Summer heat, humidity, and strong sunlight can affect how your skin behaves. Sweat, dust, and UV exposure may lead to oiliness, tanning, breakouts, and dullness. Building a simple summer vanity with the right skincare essentials and healthy habits can help keep your skin fresh, protected, and glowing even during the hottest days. Also Read | Alwar Shocker: Newlywed Woman Allegedly Poisons Mother-in-Law Month After Marriage, Runs Away With Cash. 1. Sunscreen is your non-negotiable step Daily sun exposure can lead to tanning, dark spots, and premature ag ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 7 (ANI): Seven people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Dehradun, taking the total number of cases in the district to 29. On Friday, three people from Rishikesh, one from Sahaspur, and three from the Raipur region were infected with coronavirus. According to the Health Department, 25 patients were tested for COVID-19 on Friday, seven of whom were reported to be positive. Also Read | AP Inter Supplementary Results 2025: BIEAP To Release Andhra Pradesh Inter 1st and 2nd Year Supply Exam Result Today at bie.ap.gov.in and resultsbie.ap.gov.in, Know Steps T ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The capital city turned into a canvas of colour and devotion on Friday as thousands of devotees thronged the streets to witness Rath Yatra celebrations. Over 50 large and small chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were pulled through different parts of the city, accompanied by chants of 'Jai Jagannath'.The air reverberated with sounds of devotional music as people from all walks of life joined hands to pull the intricately decorated wooden chariots. Dressed in traditional attire, devotees danced to the rhythms of Odisha's folk instrument ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi government will soon begin clearing pending electric vehicle (EV) subsidy dues amounting to about ₹140 crore, officials said on Monday as per PTI. Transport Minister Pankaj Singh confirmed that the department will verify all subsidy applications to resolve the backlog, which has piled up over the past two years. "The process of identifying eligible beneficiaries has already started," an official said. A dedicated portal for clearing dues is also being prepared. The development follows a September 3 Delhi High Court directive asking the government to take immediate steps ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 21: Diwali is the season of lights, celebrations, and home makeovers. What better way to elevate your festive mood than by gifting your family cleaner, fresher air? As air quality dips during the festive season, a high-performance air purifier can ensure your home stays healthy and comfortable. Also Read | Online Trading Scam in Mumbai: Fraudsters Dupe 83-Year-Old Cancer Patient of INR 82 Lakh via Fake Government-Endorsed 'Finadexa' Website in Chembur; Wife Files Complaint After Husband's Death. This Diwali, Bajaj Finserv is making it easier than ever to b ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, while extending Eid-al-Adha greetings and urging citizens to uphold harmony and follow government guidelines, also remarked on the completion of one month of Operation Sindoor, stating that Pakistan, a 'territory of terrorism', must eliminate the executioners of oppression and crime who, he said, are a threat to both humanity and Islam. Speaking to reporters after offering Namaz at Imamia Hall, Shia Jama Masjid, Naqvi said that everyone should respect the government's guidelines and ensure that the spirit of unity and brotherhoo ...Read More >
Kochi: A 38-year-old woman in Kerala's Palakkad district has tested positive for the Nipah virus, while a suspected case from Malappuram district is currently awaiting test results, health officials said on Friday. The woman, who is a resident of Nattukkal, is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Perinthalmanna in Malappuram district. Her samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for Nipah virus testing. "The district collector informed me that the woman has tested positive for Nipah virus," president of the local panchayat Muhammed Saleem KP sa ...Read More >
The story highlights the plight of migrant families, particularly children, working in brick kilns in Uttar Pradesh. Despite the promise of income, families often remain in poverty, with children missing out on education and other basic rights. The systemic exploitation keeps them trapped in a cycle of labor. In Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh district, countless migrant families toil in brick kilns, with many children like 12-year-old Rajni bearing the brunt of invisible labor. While parents strive for ...Read More >
Lucknow: The urban development department has launched a campaign to ensure cleanliness, lighting, and drinking water arrangements in urban bodies in view of the upcoming Kanwar Yatra.Acting on the directives of CM Yogi Adityanath, the state govt will also be conducting a communicable disease control campaign from July 1 to July 31 and the Dastak campaign from July 11 to July 31. A meeting was held under principal secretary Amrit Abhijat to discuss these preparations.The govt officials instructed all urban bodies to conduct daily cleaning campaigns from 5am to 8am. Micro-plans will be created ...Read More >
MUMBAI: Stencilled just above the stairs, the red mark in Mumbai's Dharavi slum is tantamount to an eviction notice for residents like Bipinkumar Padaya. "I was born here, my father was born here, my grandfather was born here," sighed the 58-year-old government employee. Advertisement "But we don't have any choice, we have to vacate." Soon, bulldozers are expected to rumble into Asia's largest slum, in the heart of the Indian megalopolis of Mumbai, flattening its labyrinth of filthy alleyways for a brand-new neighbourhood. The redevelopment scheme, led by Mumbai authorities and billionaire ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 14 (PTI) President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said behavioural change in every citizen is crucial to bringing energy efficiency to all sectors in the country. Addressing National Energy Conservation Day Function here, she said the consciousness of adopting a balanced lifestyle in harmony with nature is fundamental to India's cultural tradition -- this very sentiment forms the basis of our message to the world, "Lifestyle for Environment -- LiFE". "Participation of every sector and citizen is essential for the success of India's energy transition. Behavioural change is crucial fo ...Read More >