- STATIC SHIV SHAKTI APPROVED AS NAME OF CHANDRAYAN – 3 LANDING SITE
- International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the working group for Planetary System Nomenclature
- It has approved the name “Statio Shiv Shakti” for the landing site of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander
- The approval was given on March 19
- Meaning and Significance: “Statio Shiv Shakti” is a Sanskrit compound meaning “Station of Shiva and Shakti”
- Compound word from Indian mythology that depicts the masculine [“Shiva”] and feminine [“Shakti”] duality of nature.
- IAU’s Role in Planetary Nomenclature The IAU is the international body responsible for assigning names to features on planets and moons
- They have a set of rules, including avoiding political or religious references (with some exceptions)
- Except for names of political figures prior to the 19th century
- In this case, the name was approved as it refers to a mythological concept, not a specific religion
- This event highlights the intersection of science, culture, and mythology in space exploration. It also showcases international cooperation in naming celestial features
2. TB CONTROL IN INDIA CALLS FOR PERSON CENTRED SOLUTIONS
- TB Control in India: A Person-Centred Approach
- The Problem – Despite goals to eliminate TB, India struggles with high prevalence and limited access to quality care
- The current approach often overlooks the needs and experiences of patients
- Social determinants like poverty and malnutrition contribute to the spread of TB
- A Person-Centred Solution – Prioritise patient needs: Improve access to diagnosis, treatment, and mental health support
- Empower communities: Strengthen community-based care models and address stigma
- Address social determinants: Invest in poverty alleviation, nutrition, and better housing
- Actionable Ideas – Expand TB testing facilities, especially in rural areas
- Ensure availability of free, high-quality TB drugs
- Train frontline workers on delivering comprehensive TB care
- Implement digital health solutions for TB diagnosis and adherence monitoring
- Promote nutritional support programs for TB patients
- Partner with communities for TB awareness campaigns
- Advocate for policies that address poverty, housing, and sanitation
- Benefits of a Person-Centred Approach ○ Improved treatment outcomes and reduced stigma
- Empowered communities better equipped to fight TB
- Reduced economic burden of TB on individuals and the healthcare system By prioritising people over policies and focusing on the human aspects of TB, India can make significant progress towards eliminating this age-old disease
3. ON THE RESURGENCE OF MUMPS IN KERALA
- Mumps Resurgence in Kerala: A Cause for Concern
- The Situation – Kerala is experiencing a significant increase in mumps cases, with outbreaks in schools
- Other states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are also reporting a rise in mumps
- The total case count in Kerala this year has reached over 15,000
- Health Concerns – Mumps, while usually self-limiting, can lead to complications like meningitis, pancreatitis, and infertility in some cases
- The under-reporting of asymptomatic cases suggests the actual number of infections might be much higher
- Why No Mumps Vaccine in Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)?
- Mumps was traditionally not considered a high-priority disease due to its low mortality rate
- Lack of robust data on long-term complications and limited public health studies contributed to this perception.
- Controlling the Outbreak – Public awareness about the disease and the importance of isolation are crucial to curb transmission
- Improved overall immunisation coverage, including the MMR vaccine, is necessary
- Strict isolation of infected individuals for three weeks is essential to prevent further spread
- Future Strategies – The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends integrating mumps control with existing measles and rubella programs. The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) advocates including the MMR vaccine in the UIP
- Kerala has requested the central government to replace the MR vaccine with the MMR vaccine in the UIP
- Key Takeaways – The mumps resurgence in Kerala highlights the need for better public health data and a re-evaluation of vaccine strategies
- Including the MMR vaccine in the UIP can significantly reduce mumps cases and complications
- Increased awareness and proper isolation protocols are essential to control the current outbreak
4. ANTI PIRACY ACT HAS BEEN A GREAT ENABLER SAYS NAVY CHIEF
- The Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022: Empowering the Indian Navy
- Background – The Act was enacted in 2022 and aligns with India’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
- Operation Sankalp, the Navy’s ongoing anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, has benefited significantly from the Act
- Significance of the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022, for the Indian Navy’s anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden
- The Act empowers the Navy to board, search, seize suspicious vessels suspected of piracy
- This includes inspecting for weapons, ammunition, or other indicators of piracy attempts
- The Act allows prosecution of captured pirates in Indian courts with penalties of life imprisonment, fines, or both
- The Act fills a legal gap that previously existed for handling captured pirates
- Benefits of the Act – Enhanced Enforcement: The Act provides a clear legal framework for the Navy’s anti-piracy operations.
- Improved Efficiency: Enables faster processing of captured pirates through designated coastal police stations.
- International Cooperation: The Act facilitates extradition of pirates to countries with relevant treaties, like Somalia.
- Current Situation The Indian Navy is undertaking extensive surveillance efforts in the Indian Ocean Region with a large deployment of ships, submarines, and aircraft
- Conclusion The Maritime Anti-Piracy Act strengthens India’s ability to combat piracy and ensure maritime security in the region
5. TO CRUB ILLEGAL TRADE, HEALTH MINISTRY TELLS STATES TO PLUG GAPS IN COMPILING DATA OF ORGAN DONORS
- India’s organ transplant program faces a challenge due to incomplete data collection on organ donors, both living and deceased
- Monitoring program effectiveness – The national registry maintained by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is crucial for monitoring the program’s efficiency and identifying areas for improvement
- Preventing commercial organ trade: Complete data is essential to ensure organs are allocated fairly based on the waitlist and not through illegal means.
- The Problem – The Health Ministry identified that some states are not providing complete data on organ donations ○ Certain states lack a system for collecting data on living donors
- The Solution – The Health Ministry has issued an advisory urging states to Ensure all transplant hospitals are linked to the NOTTO web portal
- Regularly update data on organ donation and transplant activities
- Submit monthly reports on deceased and living donors
- Benefits of a Robust Registry – Improved program monitoring and better resource allocation
- Reduced risk of commercial organ trade and exploitation
- Promotion of deceased organ donation through hospital initiatives
- Looking Ahead – Stricter enforcement of data collection guidelines by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA)
- Hospitals establishing protocols for brain stem death certification to facilitate deceased organ donation Addressing the data gap in organ donation is essential for ensuring transparency, preventing illegal practices, and ultimately saving more lives through ethical organ transplants
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- National Crime Records Bureau has developed an app called Sankalan
- New Zealand government has said it will ban disposable e- cigarettes
