Islamabad, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Free medicines will likely not be available for patients in three government hospitals of Pakistan's Rawalpindi as the Health Department has not yet released funds requested by hospitals, local media reported.

Holy Family Hospital's (HFH) Satellite Town has stated that Punjab government has not yet released the amount requested by the hospital, leading Pakistani daily Dawn reported.

“Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Satellite Town, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Murree Road and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (RTC) Raja Bazaar had demanded Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 4.5 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. However, the Punjab government released PKR 2.5 billion and promised to provide the remaining amount of Rs2 billion in May 2026. It did not release the amount so far and vendors have refused to provide more medicines without being paid,” Dawn quoted HFH's senior official as saying.

He said HFH, BBH and RTC bought medicines till June 30. However, he mentioned that no funds were available to pay to distributors and vendors for the supply of more medicines. He said, "If funds are not released, the distributors will not provide medicines for the next month."

The senior official said HFH had requested for PKR 1.5 billion for buying medicines but were provided PKR 400 million. Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH) also requested for PKR 1.5 billion and government released only PKR 380 million. RTC sought PKR 1 billion, however, it was provided PKR 250 million, Dawn reported.

He said, "The situation will deteriorate in coming days when the hospitals will not provide any free medicines to patients." He stated that Punjab government had ordered the hospitals to provide free medicines to outdoor, indoor, emergency and admitted hospitals. However, he noted that inadequate funds will impact the free medicine programme and people would criticise the government and the hospital administration.

Last month, the WHO's Global Hepatitis Report 2026 revealed that Pakistan is the single largest contributor to the number of people living with hepatitis C in the world, even as field reports from different parts of the country revealed continued availability of banned reusable syringes and fake auto-disable syringes in the market, which experts fear can cause transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, when used repeatedly by unqualified practitioners.

Pakistan is among the 10 nations that accounted for 58 per cent of the world's hepatitis C-linked deaths in 2024. The WHO has said that global progress in eliminating hepatitis is slow, with 1.34 million people losing their lives due to hepatitis B and C. On hepatitis C, the report stated that the global burden is caused by historical transmission, unsafe medical practices and injecting drug use, with gaps in diagnosis and treatment access impacting the extent to which the burden has been lowered, according to the report in Pakistan's daily The News International.

"These drivers suit Pakistan to a tee, with recent field reporting from different cities finding continued availability of banned reusable syringes and fake auto-disable syringes, which experts fear can fuel transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV when used repeatedly by unqualified practitioners. Health experts also say unnecessary injections and quackery remain common in Pakistan, and infection prevention practices are poorly enforced in both formal and informal healthcare settings," an editorial in The News International stated.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Bangladesh grapples with an escalating measles outbreak, three more children died from the symptoms of the diesease on Monday, raising the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 588 since March 15 this year, local media reported.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Monday morning.

Among the latest fatalities, all were identified as suspected, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported.

Reports suggest that while the number of confirmed deaths remained at 90, the total number of suspected deaths climbed to 498.

The DGHS recorded a total of 1,134 suspected measles cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall tally of suspected cases to 72,070.

Additionally, 45 new confirmed cases were reported, increasing the total to 9,094 during the same period.

Amid the worsening health crisis in Bangladesh, the measles cases and deaths continue to rise across the country despite the conclusion of the preliminary phase for the one-and-a-half-month special measles-rubella vaccination drive on May 20, Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, reported.

The data from DGHS showed that daily cases exceeded 1,000 per day throughout the last month with exceptions only on May 9, 16 and 23.

Last month, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said that it had repeatedly warned the country's earlier interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, both through written communication and meetings with Health Ministry officials, about vaccine shortages that could trigger a major health crisis, local media reported.

Addressing a press briefing in Dhaka, Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, said that the UN agency sent five to six letters to the health authorities on the issue and raised the matter in 10 meetings during the tenure of the previous interim government.

“From 2024, we were warning the government that the shortage of vaccines could lead to an outbreak. From 2024 to 2025 and into 2026, we sent letters, and we had 10 different meetings signalling this was a problem and that orders for vaccines needed to be given. They could not," The Daily Star quoted Flowers as saying.

According to Flowers, Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, raised concerns over vaccine shortages at a meeting with the Foreign Ministry during his visit to Bangladesh in August last year.

She added that the UN agency would provide evidence to assist the investigation launched by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government on the measles outbreak.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Another dengue-related death was recorded in Bangladesh on Monday, taking the overall death toll from dengue to six this year so far, local media reported.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 110 new patients were admitted to hospitals in the last 24 hours and, so far, a total of 3,307 dengue cases have been recorded across the country, out of which 62.6 per cent are male and 37.4 per cent female.

The number of recoveries and hospital discharges in 2026 reached 3,138, with 83 dengue patients being discharged in the last 24 hours.

According to the DGHS, among the newly hospitalised patients, 35 were admitted in Barishal Division, 12 in Chattogram Division, 15 in Dhaka Division, one in Dhaka North City Corporation, 12 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 21 in Khulna Division, eight in Mymensingh Division, five in Rajshahi Division, and one in Sylhet Division.

A total of 1,02,861 dengue cases and 413 dengue-related deaths were recorded in 2025.

In 2024, Bangladesh reported 1,01,214 dengue infections and 575 deaths from mosquito-borne disease.

Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates across the world, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control. There is no specific treatment for dengue; however, early detection and access to proper medical care lower fatality rates of severe dengue.

Bangladesh is also facing another worsening health crisis with the ongoing measles outbreak; with the death toll reaching 585 by May 31, with 495 confirmed and 90 suspected measles deaths.

–IANS

ksk/as

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Employees' State Insurance Corporation has launched a centralised online patient feedback system across all hospitals and dispensaries nationwide to capture real‑time patient experience on cleanliness, staff behaviour and medicine availability, an official statement said on Monday.

The system is equipped with OTP validation, multilingual support, and real-time monitoring dashboards to instantly flag service ratings below 3 for immediate corrective action, the statement from the Ministry of Labour & Employment said.

The digital platform enables Insured Persons (IPs) and beneficiaries to seamlessly share their healthcare experiences, raise specific concerns, and provide actionable suggestions for institutional improvement.

To ensure wider participation and absolute ease of access, the system offers multiple feedback channels for the beneficiaries. After availing services through the ESIC HIS (Dhanwantri) Module beneficiaries receive a direct feedback link via SMS.

Beneficiaries can also quickly share their feedback by scanning QR codes displayed on customized, multilingual posters prominently placed at all OPDs and hospital locations.

Feedback can also be submitted directly through the official ESIC website, the statement noted.

The user-friendly interface requires patients to simply scan the QR code using their mobile devices, enter their IP Number, rate their experience, and submit their feedback in a matter of seconds.

To translate patient feedback into immediate administrative action, the system integrates robust, role-based digital dashboards, the ministry said.

It helps in continuous monitoring at headquarters, regional offices and local ESI health facilities.

The system validates IP details through OTP verification to ensure authenticity of feedback. Further it prevents duplicate submissions and supports multiple languages to widen participation.

Critical issues are automatically flagged when service ratings fall below 3, helping relevant authorities to take timely and targeted corrective actions.

Additionally, the platform supports the performance ranking of all healthcare facilities, thereby promoting a culture of continuous improvement, healthy competition, and strict institutional accountability, the statement said.

—IANS

aar/ag

Source: IANS

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Chennai, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) PMK President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to challenge a recent Supreme Court order directing that 151 unfilled super-speciality medical seats reserved for government doctors in Tamil Nadu be surrendered to the All India Quota, describing the decision as unjust and detrimental to the state’s public healthcare system.

In a statement issued on Monday, Anbumani said the reserved seats in government medical colleges are crucial for ensuring the availability of highly specialised doctors in Tamil Nadu’s government hospitals.

He argued that these seats represent the only reliable mechanism through which the state can retain specialist doctors in public service.

According to him, Tamil Nadu has a total of 670 super-speciality postgraduate medical seats, of which 415 are available in government medical colleges. Fifty per cent of these seats, amounting to 215 seats, are reserved for doctors serving in government hospitals. Doctors admitted under this quota are required to execute a bond committing them to continue working in government hospitals until retirement.

Anbumani pointed out that most doctors who complete super-speciality training often prefer employment in private hospitals due to higher salaries and better opportunities. Therefore, he said, the reservation policy has played a critical role in ensuring that government hospitals continue to have access to highly qualified specialists capable of providing advanced and life-saving treatments.

He noted that counselling for admission to the 215 reserved seats began in April. During the first round, 100 candidates were invited for counselling from among 170 applicants who had secured the qualifying marks in the NEET Super Speciality examination. Of these, 71 candidates were allotted seats and 68 accepted their allotments.

While the second round of counselling to fill the remaining seats was yet to take place, a petition was filed before the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of unallotted seats to the All India Quota. The court subsequently ordered that the remaining 151 seats be surrendered.

Anbumani contended that such seats are usually filled only after the qualifying marks are reduced, a process that the Centre is expected to undertake this year as well.

He said that if the qualifying criteria were relaxed correspondingly in Tamil Nadu, all 151 seats could be filled quickly by eligible government doctors.

Stating that the seats were created using taxpayers’ money and belong to the people of Tamil Nadu, Anbumani warned that surrendering them could lead to a shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals.

He urged the state government not to transfer the seats and to file an appeal before a larger bench of the Supreme Court against the ruling.

Source: IANS

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Rome, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Italy's Ministry of Health has said that in a suspected case of Ebola in Cagliari, investigations are underway on a patient who returned from Congo and is now in the Sardinian capital, local media reported.

The patient, symptomatic, has undergone the Ebola test, which will be analysed by Spallanzani in Rome on Sunday evening.

The patient is currently in isolation at a hospital facility.

The Ministry of Health stated in a note, is in contact with the local health authorities of Sardinia and with Spallanzani (Italy's National Institute for Infectious Diseases) to monitor the evolution of the situation, Adnkronos news agency reported.

The patient is hospitalised in the Infectious Diseases department of the Santissima Trinita hospital in the city.

Test samples to ascertain the presence of the virus were sent to Rome by air ambulance.

All protective procedures foreseen in these cases have been activated in the Is Mirrionis hospital.

Italy's government also urged Europe to step up surveillance coordination at its borders to combat the spread of Ebola, Italy's Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni's office said in a statement on Friday.

Italy is sending a team of experts from Rome's Spallanzani infectious diseases hospital to Congo to help combat the outbreak and strengthen monitoring and control of the virus, PM Meloni's office added.

"Italy believes that the epidemiological situation in Central Africa linked to the recent outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus (BVD strain) in Congo and (neighbouring) Uganda requires the utmost attention," the statement said.

"For this reason, Meloni has written to the European Union Council President Nikos Christodoulides, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen," the statement added.

"The aim is to urge -- while respecting national prerogatives on health protection -- enhanced coordination of border surveillance through common rules for managing direct and indirect arrivals from the affected areas," the statement said.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ahmedabad Civil Hospital provided free haemophilia treatment worth more than Rs 17 crore to 669 patients during the 2025-26 financial year, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said, describing the initiative as a reflection of the state government's commitment to ensuring access to life-saving care for patients suffering from the rare bleeding disorder.

Pansheriya said the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has undertaken a dedicated programme for patients with haemophilia, a serious inherited condition that affects the body's ability to clot blood.

"As part of this initiative, during the financial year 2025-26, 669 haemophilia patients at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, were provided injections worth more than Rs 17 crore completely free of cost within a single year," he said.

The minister added that expensive clotting factor injections required for haemophilia treatment are being provided free of charge not only at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital but also at government hospitals across Gujarat for patients in need.

Pansheriya said the government had taken several decisions aimed at reducing the burden of costly medical treatment on poor and middle-class families.

"The clotting factor injections required by haemophilia patients are extremely expensive, and many ordinary and economically weaker patients cannot afford them. Understanding this financial hardship, the government has procured these costly injections in bulk through GMERSCL (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Services Corporation Limited)," he said.

Haemophilia is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factors VII, VIII or IX, proteins that are essential for blood coagulation. Because of this deficiency, the body's natural ability to stop bleeding is impaired.

Patients can experience prolonged or spontaneous internal or external bleeding even after minor injuries, and timely administration of clotting factor injections is often necessary to prevent serious complications and save lives.

Providing details of the treatment administered during the year, Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Rakesh Joshi said injections worth more than Rs 17 crore had been supplied free of cost to patients.

According to the hospital, the treatment included 2,095 Factor VIII injections, 1,100 Factor IX injections, 397 Factor VII injections, 103 Factor IX inhibitor treatments, 278 Factor VIII inhibitor treatments, 626 FEIBA injections and 243 Emicizumab injections.

Explaining the treatment approach, Dr Joshi said patients are administered the specific clotting factor protein that is deficient in their bodies.

"The exact factor that is lacking in a patient's body is administered directly in the form of an injection. These injections are a highly effective treatment for controlling bleeding in haemophilia patients and saving their lives," he said.

Dr Joshi credited the state government's financial assistance for enabling patients to access treatment without personal expense.

"The financial support and sensitive approach of the state government have ensured that all patients at Civil Hospital receive this expensive treatment without spending a single rupee. As a result, we have succeeded in saving hundreds of lives," he said.

The programme provided specialised clotting factor therapies and advanced treatments throughout the year, ensuring that patients with haemophilia received uninterrupted access to care that would otherwise be financially out of reach for many families.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two more children have died from measles-like symptoms in Bangladesh in 24 hours till 8 a.m. on Sunday, raising the death toll to 585 since March 15, local media reported.

Both the deaths have been classified as suspected, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

With the latest casualties, the total number of suspected measles death in Bangladesh has reached 495 while the confirmed deaths stood at 90, United News of Bangladesh reported.

As many as 1,324 suspected measles cases were recorded in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, raising the suspected cases to 70,936. During the same period, 53 confirmed measles cases were reported in Bangladesh, increasing the total number of confirmed infections to 9,049.

As many as 56,886 suspected measles patients have been hospitalised in Bangladesh since March 15, of whom 52,841 have recovered, according to the DGHS, United News of Bangladesh reported.

Last week, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said that it had repeatedly warned the country's earlier interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, both through written communication and meetings with Health Ministry officials, about vaccine shortages that could trigger a major health crisis, local media reported.

Addressing a press briefing in Dhaka, Rana Flowers, UNICEF representative to Bangladesh, said that the UN agency sent five to six letters to the health authorities on the issue and raised the matter in 10 meetings during the tenure of the previous interim government.

“From 2024, we were warning the government that the shortage of vaccines could lead to an outbreak. From 2024 to 2025 and into 2026, we sent letters, and we had 10 different meetings signalling this was a problem and that orders for vaccines needed to be given. They could not," The Daily Star quoted Flowers as saying.

According to Flowers, Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, raised concerns over vaccine shortages at a meeting with the Foreign Ministry during his visit to Bangladesh in August last year.

She added that the UN agency would provide evidence to assist the investigation launched by the current Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government on the measles outbreak.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged serious manufacturing, maintenance and data integrity lapses at a Dabur India manufacturing facility in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, at a time when Indian pharmaceutical and healthcare product makers are facing increased scrutiny from US regulators over quality standards and manufacturing practices.

According to the FDA inspection report, the regulator identified multiple deficiencies at the plant, raising concerns over potential microbiological contamination and non-compliance with manufacturing standards.

The agency observed lapses in equipment cleaning, maintenance and quality control procedures at the facility. It also alleged that certain manufacturing records had been falsified to hide the use of equipment for products other than those for which it had been designated.

Among the observations mentioned in the report, FDA inspectors found a live bird and bird droppings inside a raw material warehouse located close to packaging materials. Inspectors also reported spotting an unidentified black substance covering large portions of ceiling surfaces in raw material and finished product storage areas.

The FDA further raised concerns regarding the reliability of microbiological testing carried out at the plant. While official records reportedly showed that samples met prescribed safety limits, inspectors observed significant contamination in several samples during the inspection process.

The report also stated that the company’s management failed to adequately review production and quality records before releasing batches into the market, potentially compromising regulatory compliance.

Dabur India, one of the country’s oldest consumer goods companies and a major supplier of Ayurvedic and over-the-counter healthcare products in the US market, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment on the FDA observations.

Companies issued an FDA Form 483 are generally required to submit corrective action plans addressing the deficiencies identified during inspections.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu has emerged as one of India’s strongest performers in maternal and child healthcare, with nearly every birth in the state now taking place in a medical institution. However, while the state has largely overcome many of its traditional public health challenges, a growing burden of obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases is emerging as a major concern.

According to the sixth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023-24), institutional deliveries in Tamil Nadu have reached an impressive 99.7 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 90.6 per cent.

The figures show remarkable parity between rural and urban areas, with institutional deliveries standing at 99.6 per cent and 99.8 per cent respectively, reflecting the success of the state’s healthcare network.

Despite these achievements, the survey highlights worrying trends in lifestyle-related diseases.

Tamil Nadu ranks among the most obese states in the country. Nearly 44.2 per cent of women aged 15-49 are overweight or obese, up from 40.5 per cent in the previous survey and substantially higher than the national average of 30.7 per cent. In urban areas, almost one in every two women falls into this category. Among men, 38.8 per cent are overweight or obese, compared with the national average of 27.3 per cent.

The impact is already evident in rising diabetes levels. About 25.2 per cent of women and 26.7 per cent of men in the state have high or very high blood sugar levels, both figures exceeding national averages.

Public health experts warn that these trends could lead to increased hospitalisation, higher healthcare costs and a greater burden of premature deaths in the coming years.

Former World Health Organisation Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan has emphasised the need to strengthen primary healthcare systems, focusing on prevention, early diagnosis and timely intervention. While investments in advanced tertiary care remain important, preventing disease before it develops into a serious condition should be the priority, she has said.

The survey also points to rising rates of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension, factors contributing to a growing number of caesarean deliveries.

Nearly 46.9 per cent of births in Tamil Nadu are now delivered through caesarean section, compared to the national average of 27.2 per cent.

While surgical deliveries have increased in government hospitals, healthcare professionals note that timely interventions have played a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant mortality. However, experts are concerned about a decline in antenatal care.

Early registration of pregnancies during the first trimester has fallen from 77.4 per cent to 71.2 per cent, while the proportion of women completing at least four antenatal visits has dropped from 90.6 per cent to 87.6 per cent. Though most women ultimately reach hospitals for childbirth, health specialists caution that delayed prenatal care could undermine long-term maternal and child health outcomes.

The findings suggest that Tamil Nadu’s next public health challenge will not be improving access to healthcare, but addressing the growing number of lifestyle-related diseases while ensuring that women receive timely care throughout pregnancy.

Source: IANS

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Kinshasa, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), is visiting Congo amid the Ebola outbreak in the nation.

"I had the opportunity to meet with Lieutenant-General Johnny Luboya Nkashama, the Governor of Ituri, which is currently the province in the Congo reporting the highest number of cases in the ongoing Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus," Ghebreyesus wrote on X on Saturday.

"During our discussions, we agreed that a key priority for responding to the outbreak is to enhance the coordination among all health and humanitarian actors, ensuring their operations align with the government's overall leadership in managing this response," he added.

He arrived in Kinshasa on Thursday and noted that he had come to show affected communities that "they are not alone” and that the WHO was there to support the response.

He said that the Ebola outbreak in Congo was "very complex", with conflict, insecurity, displacement, food shortages and community mistrust complicating efforts to contain the disease.

India on Friday expressed readiness to continue assisting affected countries and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in dealing with the health emergency.

Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the medical supplies sent to the Africa CDC were handed over by the Indian High Commissioner in Uganda, Upender Singh Rawat, to its office there.

"We have sent medical supplies to the Africa CDC. This was handed over by our High Commissioner in Uganda to the CDC office there. We look forward to further helping in whatever manner we can with the countries and with the Africa CDC in dealing with this public health emergency that has happened on the continent. We will keep you updated as and when we have more developments on that account. But we have sent the first tranche of medical supplies to the Africa CDC," Jaiswal added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), has crossed the landmark milestone of 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) across the country, the government said on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh leads with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra with 7.1 crore each, Bihar with 6.3 crore, and West Bengal with 5.9 crore ABHAs.

Significant contributions have also come from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka, reflecting the nationwide adoption of digital health services.

The achievement marks a major step in India's journey towards a connected, interoperable and citizen-centric digital health ecosystem. The growth in ABHA creation has been consistent since the launch of ABDM.

On a calendar year basis, cumulative ABHA creation increased from 14.7 crore in 2021 to 30.4 crore in 2022, 50.6 crore in 2023, 72.2 crore in 2024, and 84.5 crore in 2025, before crossing the 90-crore milestone in 2026, according to Health Ministry.

“The creation of over 90 crore ABHAs reflects the growing participation of citizens, States, UTs and ecosystem partners in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. ABHA is an important step towards empowering citizens with secure, consent-based access to their own health information,” said Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, National Health Authority.

As ABDM adoption deepens, ABHA will enable continuity of care, reduce dependence on physical records and support a more seamless, transparent and citizen-centric healthcare delivery system, he mentioned.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have achieved full saturation.

Females account for nearly half of all ABHAs created, constituting 49.75 per cent of total ABHA holders. This marks an important step towards empowering women, including those in rural areas, with secure digital access to their health records.

ABHA can support continuity of care from the first point of contact with the health system, including maternal and child healthcare, immunisation and other essential health services.

For citizens, ABHA facilitates digital linking of health records generated across different healthcare facilities and applications, reducing the need to carry physical medical documents and enabling secure sharing of health information with healthcare providers whenever required and with consent.

Source: IANS

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Lucknow, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) A six-year-old boy was killed on Saturday in Uttar Pradesh's state capital Lucknow after a heavy iron gate of a day care centre fell on him while he was playing nearby.

Speaking to IANS about the incident, a relative of the victim blamed negligence on part of the authorities, saying that despite repeated complaints, the heavy gate of the 'Bachpan Day Care Centre' was not fixed by them.

The centre is an initiative by the Uttar Pradesh government for children with special needs and persons with disabilities.

The mother of the deceased boy said: "My son was playing right there. The gate was in a dilapidated condition. Everyone had been informing the authorities, but the government did not listen. When the child touched the gate, it fell on my child."

A neighbour described the victim as a grandchild of a woman who stays in his locality.

"The boy went to play at 9 a.m. in the morning and was playing near the gate of the day care centre. The gate, which was already in a dilapidated condition, suddenly fell on him," he told IANS.

He added: "Since the gate was very heavy, the child died on the spot. Still, we took him to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival."

Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manoj Singh said: "Children play near the gate of this day care centre. CCTV footage showed that a child was trying to open it. However, why the gate collapsed is a matter of investigation."

Singh said that the child had come to his relatives' house in the area.

He assured that the family members would receive all the necessary help from the administration.

Earlier this month, a five-year-old boy was crushed to death in Noida after a heavy iron gate collapsed on him while he was playing near his home.

According to locals, the child had climbed onto the gate while playing when it suddenly gave way and came crashing down on him.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Saturday announced that the health department will start "live monitoring" of district hospitals in the state to curb malaises plaguing the healthcare system.

He said that through this live monitoring of functioning of hospitals, the government wants to cure three long-standing malaises, namely absence of doctors during official duty hours, rampant reference of patients to medical colleges and hospitals in Kolkata without adequate reason and agents’ networks.

“There will be a 24-hour control room to monitor functioning of the district hospitals. We are hiring professionals to ensure that no broker operates in the hospitals and that no patient is referred unnecessarily. The government will adopt a zero-tolerance policy in this matter,” the Chief Minister told media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration programme of a cervical cancer vaccination camp at Bidhannagar on the northern outskirts of Kolkata on Saturday.

He also said that patients or their family members will be able to lodge their complaints by dialling the dedicated number of the control-room set up for the purpose.

The system will be operational mainly in district hospitals as well as in medical colleges and hospitals in West Bengal.

The live monitoring will be controlled from Swastha Bhavan, the headquarters of the state health department at Salt Lake on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also said around six crore people of West Bengal will be brought under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which is replacing the Swastha Sathi, the state’s own health insurance scheme introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal.

He also said that the state government had already started searching for land for setting up the proposed unit of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in North Bengal.

He also said that private hospitals which secured land at just Re 1 from the previous government, will now have to mandatorily introduce free-bed systems in those hospitals.

“Patients coming from economically weak backgrounds will get the treatment facilities for free over there,” the Chief Minister said.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Food and Civil Supplies Minister P. Venkataramanan on Saturday called for greater public participation in the fight against tobacco addiction and in ensuring transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS), urging citizens to directly report ration shop irregularities and assuring swift action against the hoarding or diversion of essential commodities.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a tobacco awareness rally at Marina Beach to mark World No Tobacco Day, the Minister stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns to reduce tobacco consumption and safeguard public health.

“Tamil Nadu must become a tobacco-free state. The harmful effects of tobacco have been known for decades. It is our collective responsibility to work towards eliminating tobacco use and creating a healthier society,” Venkataramanan said.

The Minister noted that tobacco addiction continues to affect a significant section of the population, leading to serious health consequences and social challenges. While several organisations and individuals are actively engaged in de-addiction efforts, he said, awareness remained the most effective tool in preventing people, particularly the younger generation, from falling into addiction.

“Many people continue to suffer because of tobacco dependence. Though rehabilitation and de-addiction initiatives are being carried out across the state, creating awareness is equally important. Only through continuous public education can we build a stronger, healthier, and more productive society,” he said.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to public welfare, Venkataramanan said the state administration was actively working to resolve long-pending grievances raised by citizens and improve the delivery of essential services.

“People continue to bring forward issues and demands that have remained unresolved for years. The government is addressing these concerns systematically and is committed to ensuring that welfare schemes reach beneficiaries without delay,” he said.

On the issue of the functioning of ration shops, the Minister urged the public to remain vigilant and report any irregularities directly to the Food and Civil Supplies Department. “If anyone has complaints regarding ration shops, they can approach us and submit their grievances. The department will investigate every complaint. If ration rice or any other PDS commodities are found to be hoarded, diverted or misused, immediate and stringent action will be taken against those responsible,” he warned.

When asked about Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s next visit to New Delhi, the Minister declined to comment.

Source: IANS

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Phnom Penh, May 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Cambodia achieved its 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets last year, and is on track to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, the country's Minister of Health Chheang Ra has said.

The targets mean 95 per cent of the people who are living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 per cent of the people who know that they are living with HIV are on life-saving antiretroviral treatment, and 95 per cent of people who are on treatment are virally suppressed.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

Chheang Ra disclosed this significant milestone during a meeting in Phnom Penh with Patricia Ongpin, country director of UNAIDS for Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, on Friday, according to a Ministry of Health press release issued late on Friday.

"Achieving the 95-95-95 targets is a clear testament to the progress and effectiveness of Cambodia's National AIDS Programme," he said.

"It shows that Cambodia is firmly on track towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030."

The minister added that the country will continue integrating HIV prevention, testing, and treatment into its health system and expanding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and self-testing services while boosting funding sustainability for AIDS programmes.

For her part, Ongpin congratulated Cambodia on its remarkable progress in its AIDS response, saying that UNAIDS will prepare to formally validate and recognise the country's achievement of the 95-95-95 targets in line with international standards, Xinhua news agency reported.

Cambodia has approximately 76,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, according to a 2025 Ministry of Health report.

The report noted that nearly 700 AIDS-related deaths and about 1,200 new HIV infections were recorded last year.

HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection.

HIV targets the body’s white blood cells, weakening the immune system. This makes it easier to get sick with diseases like tuberculosis, infections and some cancers.

HIV is spread from the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids. It is not spread by kisses, hugs or sharing food. It can also spread from a mother to her baby.

HIV can be prevented and treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Untreated HIV can progress to AIDS, often after many years.

Source: IANS

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Abuja, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nigerian public health authorities have identified 21 of the country's 36 states as being at high or moderate risk of Ebola importation, amid growing concerns over cross-border transmission.

In a statement issued by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said that recent Ebola outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa had increased the risk of the disease being imported into Nigeria, although no confirmed case has yet been recorded in the country.

The NCDC classified the capital city Abuja, the southern states of Lagos, Rivers, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, as well as the northern states of Kano, Borno, Taraba and Adamawa, as high-risk areas because of active travel and trade routes linked to international airports and porous land borders, Xinhua news agency reported.

The agency also listed Ogun, Ebonyi, Abia and Bayelsa states in the south, along with Nasarawa, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Jigawa, Katsina and Bauchi states in the north, as moderate-risk areas requiring enhanced surveillance and preparedness measures.

Jide Idris, Director General of the NCDC, said the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s declaration of the Ebola outbreak as a "public health emergency of international concern" underscored the need for Nigeria to strengthen preparedness efforts.

He warned that Ebola symptoms closely resemble those of malaria and Lassa fever, increasing the risk of delayed detection and further transmission.

With a population of more than 242 million, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and the world's sixth most populous nation.

Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the Ebola outbreak in Congo was "very complex", with conflict, insecurity, displacement, food shortages and community mistrust complicating efforts to contain the disease.

Speaking to reporters on late Thursday at the airport upon arriving in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa, Ghebreyesus noted that he had come to show affected communities that "they are not alone" and that the WHO was there to support the response.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Taking a significant step toward ensuring better healthcare and a dignified life, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of nine major healthcare projects with an outlay of Rs 100 crore at a state-level event in Panchkula, near here.

The Chief Minister inaugurated 30 health institutions constructed at a cost of Rs 22.29 crore and laid the foundation stones for 16 costing Rs 21.50 crore.

In addition, he laid the foundation stone for a rest house at the District Civil Hospital in Sonipat at a cost of Rs 6.45 crore.

He also launched "Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar" Clinics (Women Clinics) in 23 district hospitals at an annual operational cost of Rs 0.34 crore.

Expanding CT scan and MRI services under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, the Chief Minister inaugurated MRI facilities at district hospitals in Panipat and Kurukshetra at a cost of Rs 12 crore and CT scan services at the Sub-Divisional Hospital in Bahadurgarh and district hospital in Dadri at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Chief Minister Saini also launched tele-ECG services across 600 health institutions at an annual cost of Rs 3 crore to ensure timely detection and treatment of heart diseases.

Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), healthcare equipment of more than Rs 24 crore, including anesthesia workstations, defibrillators, X-ray machines, TrueNat machines, and ICU beds, was also dedicated to the people.

Free dialysis facilities were also launched at Maharishi Chyavan Medical College in Koriawas in Narnaul and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Chhainsa in Faridabad at an annual cost of Rs 3.6 crore.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for Amrit Pharmacies in 23 district hospitals at a cost of Rs 1.73 crore to provide branded medicines at affordable prices to the public.

Additionally, a special disaster management training programme for 4,600 ASHA workers was launched at a cost of Rs 0.91 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Saini said the day was especially significant as the nation is celebrating 12 years of dedicated public service under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He added that the historic transformation witnessed in India's healthcare sector during these 12 years has been unprecedented.

Recalling earlier times, Chief Minister Saini said poor families were often forced to travel to major cities for medical treatment.

Illnesses not only caused physical suffering but also severely impacted the financial stability of families.

However, today, initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the Digital Health Mission, the expansion of medical colleges, and advanced diagnostic facilities have brought healthcare services to the doorsteps of the poor.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Friday released the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 that reflected progress in health, nutrition, and social development indicators linked to sustained policy interventions flagship programmes, an official said.

The NFHS-6 was conducted during 2023-24 by MoHFW with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency.

Covering nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts, the survey provides vital evidence on population, health, nutrition and family welfare indicators and supports evidence-based planning and programme implementation up to the district level.

"Key findings from NFHS-5 (2019-21) to NFHS-6 (2023-24) showed significant improvement in the areas of safe motherhood, institutional deliveries, improved maternal and child healthcare," a statement said.

The NFHS-6 highlights significant improvements in maternal and child healthcare services across the country.

As many as 95.9 per cent of pregnant women received antenatal care (ANC), while mothers receiving ANC in the first trimester increased from 70 to 76.2 per cent.

"Mothers receiving at least four ANC visits also increased from 58.5 to 65.2 per cent, reflecting stronger continuity of maternal healthcare services," the statement added.

Institutional deliveries increased from 88.6 to 90.6 per cent, moving India closer towards universal coverage.

"Births attended by skilled health personnel improved from 89.4 to 91.3 per cent, while postnatal care for newborns by doctor/nurse/Lady Health Visitor (LHV)/Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM)/Midwife/other health personnel within two days of delivery improved from 79.1 to 85.3 per cent," the statement said.

"Maternal nutrition indicators also showed notable improvement. Mothers consuming iron folic acid supplements for 100 days or more during pregnancy increased from 44.1 to 54.9 per cent, while those consuming supplements for 180 days or more rose from 26 to 37.8 per cent," the statement added.

"These gains reflect strengthened public health infrastructure and improved access to maternal and child healthcare services across the country, driven by focused implementation of initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA/e-PMSMA), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), Facility Based New-born Care, Home-Based Newborn Care, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY 2.0)," the statement said.

"These programmes have enhanced antenatal and postnatal care coverage, ensured quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, and promoted safe motherhood and child health practices," it added.

The NFHS-6 also indicated encouraging progress in child nutrition outcomes.

As many as 95.6 per cent of children aged under six months were found to be breastfed during the survey period.

"The percentage of children aged under three years breastfed within one hour of birth increased by nearly 10 percentage points from 41.8 per cent to 50.1 per cent," the statement said.

"Stunting (low height for age) among children under five years declined substantially from 35.5 to 29.3 per cent, reflecting improvement in long-term nutritional outcomes," it added.

The marked reduction in stunting prevalence provides strong evidence of improvement in long-term nutritional transition and child health outcomes in India.

The NFHS-6 recorded that the use of hygienic methods of menstrual protection among women aged between 15-24 years has increased from 77.6 to 79.2 per cent, supported by initiatives such as the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) within the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) and the affordable sanitary products under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.

"These initiatives have enhanced awareness, accessibility, and adoption of safe menstrual hygiene practices in the nation," the statement said.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Frontline health workers in Pakistan continue to operate in one of the world's most violent security environments, complicating efforts to eradicate polio from the country. They have been frequently targetted during polio vaccination campaigns. In once such attack last month, one police personnel was killed and four others injured after their vehicle escorting polio vaccinators was attacked in Hangu district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.

"The attack captures a paradox at the heart of Pakistan’s final mile fight against polio. Pakistan is one of just two countries — the other is Afghanistan — where polio is still endemic. Fortunately, the country is closer than it has ever been to ending a disease that once paralysed thousands of Pakistani children every year. Yet frontline health workers are operating inside one of the world’s most violent security environments, complicating efforts to reach the finish line," Manal Fatima, an Assistant Director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative and Michael Kugelman, a resident senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, wrote in a report in Atlantic Council.

On May 24, a police official deployed with the polio vaccination team was seriously injured in a firing incident near Ishaqzai Qila area of Chaman district in Pakistan's Balochistan province. However, the members of the polio team remained safe, Pakistan's daily Dawn reported. The injured police personnel was taken to hospital for treatment.

On May 18, at least two police personnel escorting polio vaccination teams were killed in separate incidents in Bajaur district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Unidentified assailants attacked the polio vaccination teams in Tabbai and Dag Qila regions of Salarzai, Pakistan-based Geo News reported, citing a senior police official.

"Recent years have brought a surge in cross-border militancy, including the resurgence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an al-Qaeda-allied group that in an earlier era was responsible for thousands of attacks across Pakistan. These included multiple assaults on polio workers and their security details that killed nearly sixty people from 2012 to 2014. How Pakistan navigates this paradox this year will shape the outcome of a thirty-year global eradication effort. If the eradication campaign falters, wild poliovirus cases could rise in Pakistan and Afghanistan, squandering years of progress and risking transmission beyond the region," the writers mentioned.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has said that six poliovirus cases have been reported across the world so far in 2026, all in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024, showcasing more than a ten-fold rise from just six in 2023. Polio vaccination campaigns in Pakistan have helped to bring the total number of polio cases to 30 in 2025. So far in 2026, Pakistan has reported three new cases of polio.

"Mapping Pakistan’s polio landscape against its biggest hotspots for terrorist violence yields an unsettling fact: The geography is nearly identical. The majority of attacks are concentrated in KPK and Balochistan provinces. Those same two provinces continue to host persistent reservoirs of wild poliovirus, accounting for the bulk of Pakistan’s recent caseload, including both KPK cases confirmed so far in 2026. Vaccinators have become the biggest casualty of this geographic overlap," the Atlantic Council report stated.

Pakistani officials have said that over 200 polio workers and police escorts have been killed since the 1990s. As many as 96 deaths and 170 injuries have been reported from attacks on polio campaigns, including 61 police officers and 27 health workers, with the TTP and affiliated Islamist militant factions responsible for the majority of the attacks, according to the government data tracked since 2012.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proactively put Mumbai's healthcare system on high alert following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa (specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda) as a public health emergency.

While health officials emphasise that there is currently no Ebola outbreak or community transmission in India, the BMC has initiated strict precautionary and surveillance measures to prevent any potential entry or spread of the virus.

The BMC has designated Kasturba Hospital as the primary isolation facility for any suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever. Kasturba serves as Mumbai’s specialised infectious diseases hub and has been equipped to handle strict isolation protocols.

A special 10‑bed isolation ward has been set up at the city’s primary infectious diseases centre, Kasturba Hospital.

Following Kasturba Hospital, a special 8‑bed isolation ward has also been established at Mumbai’s Cama Hospital.

Mumbai’s Deputy Mayor, Sanjay Ghadi, stated that the BMC is fully prepared and there is no need for the public to panic. He said arrangements for beds have been made at Mumbai’s Kasturba Hospital, and similar arrangements will be made at other hospitals across the city in the near future.

The BMC administration has issued directives across major municipal medical colleges, including KEM, Sion, Nair and Cooper hospitals, to prepare their teams and establish readiness protocols.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has issued a formal advisory outlining standard infection prevention and control practices for frontline medical staff.

Strict emphasis has been placed on rigorous hand hygiene and universal precautions during patient interactions. MARD has mandated precise adherence to clinical waste disposal laws to eliminate accidental contamination vectors.

The advisory clarifies that Ebola is not airborne in ordinary community settings (unlike COVID‑19 or influenza) and spreads strictly through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or heavily contaminated medical equipment/surfaces.

Frontline workers are instructed to be situationally ready without creating unnecessary anxiety.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The United States imports nearly 40 per cent of its generic medicines from India because of the trust it has in the country’s pharmaceutical capabilities, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Friday.

Speaking at the Advancing Partnership in Research and Innovation event at Indian Institute of Technology here, Gor said India-US ties have expanded significantly across sectors including trade, defence, technology, health and space cooperation.

“On pharmaceuticals, we import close to 40 per cent of our generics from India. There is a reason the United States does that: it is because we trust India. These are critical life-saving ingredients that are needed in the United States,” Gor said.

The US Ambassador described the India-US relationship as one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century and said bilateral trade between the two countries has increased sharply over the past two decades.

“In just over two decades, bilateral trade has grown from 20 billion dollars to over 220 billion dollars in goods and services. That’s not just volume; it reflects deeper, broader engagement and stronger economic integration,” he said.

Gor also expressed optimism about the proposed interim trade agreement between India and the United States, saying negotiations were in their final stages.

“Our current interim trade agreement is on the table for us to finalise that will unlock prosperity for both of our countries. We fully expect that the trade deal will be signed over the next few weeks and months,” he said.

Highlighting growing American investments in India, Gor said major US technology companies are significantly expanding their presence in the country.

According to him, Amazon plans to invest 35 billion dollars in India by 2030 to support AI-driven digitisation, exports and job creation.

He added that Microsoft has announced an investment of 17.5 billion dollars in India, including the expansion of hyperscale cloud infrastructure, while Google recently began work on a subsea cable landing terminal project valued at around 15 billion dollars.

“These are incredible things that we have seen just from a handful of companies,” Gor said, adding that many investors visiting the US Embassy regularly ask whether India is a safe destination for investment and partnership. “Our answer to them is yes,” he said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) As Africa grapples with a deadly Ebola outbreak, India on Friday expressed readiness to continue assisting affected countries and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in dealing with the health emergency.

Addressing a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the medical supplies sent to the Africa CDC were handed over by the Indian High Commissioner in Uganda, Upender Singh Rawat, to its office there.

"We have sent medical supplies to the Africa CDC. This was handed over by our High Commissioner in Uganda to the CDC office there. We look forward to further helping in whatever manner we can with the countries and with the Africa CDC in dealing with this public health emergency that has happened on the continent. We will keep you updated as and when we have more developments on that account. But we have sent the first tranche of medical supplies to the Africa CDC,” Jaiswal stated.

Last week India dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to the Africa CDC.

In a post on X, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed India's commitment to supporting Africa in responding to the emerging Ebola public health emergency.

"India dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to the Africa CDC today. Committed to support Africa in responding to the emerging Ebola public health emergency," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

On Wednesday, the Ethiopia-headquartered Africa CDC said in a social media said that the consignment, donated by the Government of India, was received in Uganda by its Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre and to be deployed to affected communities in eastern DR Congo.

The supplies comprise essential diagnostics, therapeutics, infection prevention and control materials, and case management support, the agency said.

“Africa CDC welcomes the arrival of emergency pharmaceutical supplies generously donated by the government and people of India to support the ongoing response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC,” the continental public health agency said.

It thanked India for its “continued support and commitment to protecting lives and advancing health security across the continent”.

WHO declared the ongoing Ebola situation in the region a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17.

Ebola often turns into a fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated materials or infected animals, with symptoms ranging from fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

India has stepped up medical assistance to African countries in recent years, supplying medicines and vaccines, particularly during public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam on Friday said that the Maharashtra government remains firmly committed to continuing the ‘Ladli Bahen’ scheme and accused the Opposition of spreading confusion and misinformation regarding the welfare initiative.

His remarks came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticised Opposition parties for allegedly misleading the public over issues related to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, farm loan waivers, and crop insurance schemes.

Addressing a Shiv Sena rally in Ahmedpur on Thursday, Shinde said farmers and women beneficiaries of government welfare schemes would not be neglected under any circumstances.

“Farmers work tirelessly in difficult weather conditions to feed the nation, but natural calamities often push them into debt. Farmers have the first right over the state treasury. Farmers and women beneficiaries of welfare schemes will not be abandoned,” Shinde had said while accusing the Opposition of spreading false information regarding the Ladki Bahin Yojana and other welfare programmes.

Speaking to IANS, Sanjay Nirupam reiterated that the government would continue providing financial support to women through the scheme.

“The Opposition and certain individuals are trying to create confusion regarding the Maharashtra government’s ‘Ladli Bahen’ scheme. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has already clarified that the scheme will not be discontinued. Under all circumstances, the government will continue to provide financial assistance to mothers and sisters,” Nirupam said.

He further alleged that false narratives about the state’s financial condition were being circulated deliberately to create fear among beneficiaries.

“A conspiracy is being hatched against the scheme through false propaganda regarding Maharashtra’s economic condition. The government stands firmly with women and will not allow any such conspiracy to succeed,” he added.

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that illegal intruders should voluntarily return to their home countries without facing legal action, Nirupam said strict action against Bangladeshi infiltrators would begin once there is a change in government in West Bengal.

He stated that the BJP had promised during elections to take strong action against illegal immigrants.

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah has adopted a firm stance on this issue. A large number of illegal Bangladeshis are residing in West Bengal and surviving on forged documents. In the interest of national security and demographic balance, strict action should be initiated across the country,” Nirupam said.

Commenting on the political developments in Karnataka following Siddaramaiah’s resignation as Chief Minister, Nirupam remarked that the political situation in the southern state was far from settled.

“The political drama in Karnataka is not over yet. By refusing the Rajya Sabha offer, Siddaramaiah has made it clear that he intends to remain active in state politics. The question is how easy it will be for the new Chief Minister to function effectively in the presence of such a towering political leader. Stepping down from the post of Chief Minister does not mean the end of one’s political career,” he added.

Nirupam also reacted to the deaths of several people in Pimpri-Chinchwad after allegedly consuming spurious liquor.

“Alcohol itself is harmful, but spurious liquor becomes directly fatal. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” he said.

He demanded strict action against those involved in the production and sale of illicit liquor and called for a crackdown on liquor mafias operating across Maharashtra.

“Stringent measures must be taken so that poor and common people do not lose their lives because of cheap and toxic alcohol,” Nirupam added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) Reaffirming the Central government’s fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction, Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Friday launched the pilot version of the Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Application.

The Health Secretary said that the ToFEI app is a digital initiative aimed at strengthening implementation and monitoring of tobacco-free norms across schools and colleges in the country.

Speaking at an event to mark World No Tobacco Day 2026, Srivastava said that the ToFEI app is a digital initiative aimed at strengthening implementation and monitoring of tobacco-free norms across schools and colleges in the country.

Srivastava stated that this year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day, “Unmasking the Appeal - Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction”, is especially relevant in the context of protecting young people and future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine addiction.

The national event was organised under the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), said a statement.

Srivastava said the app is designed to facilitate self-assessment and reporting by educational institutions and monitoring of compliance with ToFEI guidelines.

It will help implementation of tobacco control signage requirements; prohibition of sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions; awareness and sensitisation activities for students and teachers; and strengthening enforcement of tobacco-free campus measures, she said.

The digital platform is expected to support states/UTs, educational institutions, and programme officials through standardised monitoring, reporting, and compliance assessment mechanisms, thereby enhancing accountability and promoting healthier, tobacco-free environments for children and adolescents, said the statement.

The pilot implementation of the application in three states -- Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Maharashtra -- will help assess operational feasibility, strengthen implementation and reporting mechanisms, and inform future scale-up of the platform across the country, it said.

On the occasion, the Ministry also released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Sample Collection of Tobacco Products, aimed at strengthening surveillance, regulatory compliance and quality assurance related to tobacco products.

The SOP provides standardised procedures for collection, handling, storage, transportation and documentation of tobacco product samples to ensure consistency and reliability in testing processes, said the statement.

She stated that strengthening regulatory and enforcement mechanisms is a critical component of tobacco control efforts.

The Secretary said that scientific sample collection, proper testing procedures and maintenance of the integrity of the entire chain are essential for ensuring effective enforcement and regulatory action.

The SOP, she noted, will help standardise procedures and support states and implementing agencies in strengthening compliance and enforcement efforts.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad/Bhuj, May 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) A newborn girl born with a rare and life-threatening congenital defect was successfully treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after doctors performed a complex surgery to restore her breathing, Gujarat health officials said on Friday.

The infant was born through normal delivery on May 1 in Naliya town of Kutch district to the family of labourer Anmol Nod.

The baby weighed 2 kg at birth and developed severe breathing difficulties immediately after delivery. She was initially treated at local hospitals before being referred to Bhuj, where she underwent six days of intensive treatment.

As her condition did not improve, she was later shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on May 8 and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), under the supervision of Dr. Charul Mehta, Head of Unit of the Paediatric Department.

Doctors said the infant was diagnosed with bilateral choanal atresia, an extremely rare congenital condition in which both nasal passages are blocked from the back, preventing a newborn from breathing through the nose.

Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital and Head of the Paediatric Surgery Department Dr. Rakesh Joshi said doctors suspected the condition during examination when a Ryle’s tube could not be passed through the baby’s nose.

“During examination, a Ryle’s tube could not be passed through the nose, which raised suspicion of a blockage. A CT Scan-PNS (Paranasal Sinuses) later confirmed bilateral choanal atresia,” Dr. Joshi said.

Following the diagnosis, the baby was immediately placed on oxygen support through an oral tube.

Doctors later decided to perform an Endoscopic Transnasal Choanoplasty surgery on May 12. “In this highly delicate surgery, the blocked nasal passage was cleared and the breathing pathway was completely opened through septatectomy,” Dr. Joshi said.

He added that Assistant Professor Dr. Mrunalini and her anaesthesia team handled the administration of anaesthesia during the surgery.

“The anaesthesia team successfully managed the delicate responsibility of administering anaesthesia to the newborn during this complex procedure,” he said.

After the operation, the baby was shifted back to the NICU for post-operative care. Doctors Charul Mehta, Komal Chaudhary and Priyanka Gajjar closely monitored the child while she remained on ventilator support for five days.

On the fifth day, the ventilator support was withdrawn and the nasal tubes inserted during treatment were gradually removed. “At present, Baby Anmol is completely healthy. She is breathing naturally through her nose without any support and is feeding properly on mother’s milk,” Dr. Joshi said.

Minister of State for Health, Praful Pansheriya, said the successful treatment highlighted the capability of Gujarat’s government-run civil hospitals to provide advanced treatment free of cost to economically weaker patients.

“Such highly complex and sensitive surgeries, which cost lakhs of rupees in private hospitals, have been performed completely free of cost at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital,” Pansheriya said.

He said the successful outcome reflected the advanced technology, skilled doctors and multidisciplinary teamwork available at the hospital. “The entire Civil Hospital team deserves congratulations for giving a new life to the beloved daughter of a poor family,” the minister added.

Doctors said bilateral choanal atresia is a rare congenital defect seen in approximately one out of every 5,000 to 8,000 births and is more common among female infants.

Babies suffering from the condition are unable to breathe through the nose and can take in limited air through the mouth only while crying, making the condition a medical emergency because of the risk of severe oxygen deficiency.

Source: IANS

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Ottawa, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The United States, Mexico and Canada on Thursday issued a trilateral statement on public health travel measures in the wake of the Ebola virus outbreak in parts of Africa.

“The United States, Mexico and Canada have announced aligned public health travel measures for individuals arriving from African regions considered at greatest risk from the Ebola virus. This coordinated approach aims to protect our citizens and the millions of visitors, fans, athletes and tourists expected during the FIFA World Cup 2026, while maintaining travel and commerce across our borders,” the statement said.

“The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America,” it added.

Earlier on Wednesday (local time), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration was working aggressively to prevent Ebola cases from entering the country amid growing concern over the outbreak in parts of Africa.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Donald Trump at the White House, Rubio said the administration’s top priority was protecting Americans from any potential spread of the virus.

“We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” Rubio said.

He said the State Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other federal agencies were coordinating efforts to contain the outbreak in affected regions, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“We’ve surged assistance to make sure that that is being contained there,” Rubio said.

The Secretary of State added that US agencies were also monitoring travellers and border movements to ensure infected individuals did not enter the country.

Meanwhile, Uganda has banned mass public gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of Ebola in the East African country.

In a circular issued late on Wednesday, Uganda’s Ministry of Health said activities that attract large crowds, including music concerts, cultural festivals, public rallies, political mobilisation events, marathons and cross-border marketing activities, had been prohibited.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Trump administration said on Thursday it has mobilised $112 million and established a quarantine facility in Kenya as part of a rapid response to a recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The American response was launched within 24 hours of receiving alerts about the outbreak and involves multiple federal agencies, a senior administration official told reporters here. The official added that the US has established a 50-bed quarantine facility in Kenya that will become operational on Friday.

“We have set up a camp in Kenya that will be a facility that we will use to quarantine American citizens who may have been exposed to the glendo Gio variant of the Ebola virus,” the official said during a background briefing.

The administration said the operation is being carried out in two phases. The first phase involves the quarantine facility, while the second will add biocontainment and isolation units for patients who develop symptoms or test positive.

“We brought in a cadre of over 30 Commission Corps officers into the DC area. They trained on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. They departed for Kenya last evening,” the official said.

According to officials, the officers received specialised training in personal protective equipment, quarantine procedures, and Ebola patient care. Several had previously participated in the US response to the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

The administration described the facility as having “increased ability, superior ability to care for patients and to quarantine” compared with the Monrovia Medical Unit used during the earlier Ebola response.

Another senior administration official said the government had “been able to deploy $112 million mobilized in less than two weeks” through foreign assistance funding.

The official added that Washington had recently announced “$80 million in new commitments supporting PPE procurement, delivery, border screening, and surveillance contact tracing diagnostic supplies”.

Officials said the Kenyan government had approved the establishment of the facility and that the United States was also coordinating closely with Britain on access and logistics.

“We do have full approval and have been in conversation with the president of Kenya on the establishment of this facility,” an official said.

American citizens deemed at high risk of exposure could be transported to the Kenyan facility for quarantine. Patients who develop Ebola symptoms or test positive would receive care there before being transferred to advanced medical centres closer to the region.

“Time can be of the essence,” an official said, explaining that shorter transport times could provide faster access to specialised treatment than moving patients over longer distances.

The facility is being established at Wajir Air Base in Kenya. Officials said aircraft have been placed on standby to transport patients if necessary.

The administration also disclosed that three isolation units, each capable of housing four patients, and two biocontainment units, each capable of housing two patients, are being prepared for deployment.

The objective is to provide “the absolute best care for American citizens” while ensuring rapid access to advanced treatment facilities if patients require intensive medical support, the official said.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The United States has mobilised more than $112 million in bilateral foreign assistance in less than two weeks to combat the fast-spreading Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the State Department said on Thursday.

The announcement came as US health officials warned that the outbreak remained “rapidly evolving and fluid”, while insisting that the current risk to the United States remained low.

The State Department said it had finalised plans to allocate an additional $80 million in bilateral assistance to strengthen the response on the ground.

“With this new $80 million commitment, the Department has mobilised more than $112 million in bilateral foreign assistance for the Ebola response in less than two weeks,” the statement said.

The funding will support procurement and delivery of personal protective equipment (PPE), border screening, surveillance, contact tracing and diagnostic supplies in affected regions.

The Department said UNICEF and the World Food Programme would expand procurement and distribution of PPE for healthcare workers in high-risk areas.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will strengthen health screening at airports and key border crossings while also expanding public awareness campaigns.

Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) World Health, World Vision and UNICEF will expand contact tracing efforts and community surveillance operations to identify people exposed to Ebola.

FHI 360 will procure and distribute test kits and improve transportation of samples for laboratory testing.

In addition to the bilateral aid, the State Department said it had committed another $50 million through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to establish up to 50 Ebola response clinics in affected areas.

The Department also said it was providing $300 million through OCHA pooled funds to the DRC and Uganda for broader humanitarian assistance.

State Department-backed responders have already been deployed to dozens of health facilities in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in eastern Congo.

Earlier, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was intensifying support operations in both countries.

CDC Ebola Response Incident Manager Dr Satish Pillai said the agency had deployed “20 trained disease detectives to the outbreak zone” and was training “50 community healthcare workers to strengthen local capacity for early reporting”.

“In Uganda, 23 CDC-trained field epidemiologists are supporting response operations,” Pillai said during a media briefing.

He said the CDC was also preparing to deploy seven additional viral haemorrhagic fever experts to the region.

Pillai stressed that Ebola was not spread through casual contact.

“You cannot get Ebola from passing someone in an airport, sitting near someone briefly, or through other casual contact,” he said.

“Currently, the risk to the United States remains low because Ebola is spread through direct contact with body fluids and because the United States has a strong public health monitoring, infection control and healthcare preparedness system in place,” he added.

The State Department has also created a dedicated Ebola travel advisory page to provide updated information for Americans travelling abroad.

The latest outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a less common species that previously caused outbreaks in Uganda and eastern Congo.

US officials said early testing challenges and difficult transport conditions delayed confirmation of the outbreak in the DRC.

The DRC has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks over the past two decades because of weak healthcare infrastructure, armed conflict and population displacement in eastern regions.

Uganda has also experienced several Ebola outbreaks in recent years, prompting regional health authorities to maintain surveillance systems along porous borders.

Source: IANS

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Bhopal, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Thursday directed officials to give top priority to the recruitment of doctors and specialist doctors in remote and underserved regions of the state.

Chairing a review meeting of the Public Health and Medical Education Department at the Mantralaya, Shukla said healthcare services must reach the last person in need.

He reviewed staffing, infrastructure projects, and hospital management during the meeting.

“Recruitment of doctors and specialist doctors in underserved and remote areas should be accorded the highest priority so that quality health services can reach the last person in need,” Shukla said.

He also stressed the need for adequate nursing and paramedical staff.

Officials were asked to take concrete, results-oriented steps to strengthen healthcare services.

The meeting also reviewed the construction of nursing colleges, maintenance of hospitals, strengthening of laboratories, and availability of human resources in government health institutions.

During the meeting, Shukla also reviewed the approval process for posts at the Cancer Hospital in Sagar.

He directed officials to ensure timely reimbursement of additional expenditure in organ transplant cases under the CM Cares initiative.

The Deputy Chief Minister also asked officials to prepare a proposal for including cancer treatment packages under the ‘Ayushman Bharat Scheme’.

“This will provide greater financial support to cancer patients and improve their access to quality treatment,” he said.

Shukla further stressed that the departmental transfer process should be “transparent, simple and sensitive”.

He directed officials to ensure adequate availability of doctors in tribal and remote areas.

He also said special consideration should be given in transfer cases involving serious illness, husband-wife postings, dependents with disabilities, widows, and abandoned women.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bangladesh continues to grapple with an escalating measles outbreak with five more children reportedly dying from the disease and similar symptoms on Thursday, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected deaths to 565 since March 15 this year.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) in Dhaka, the deaths were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Thursday morning.

Among the latest fatalities, five were confirmed measles cases, with none listed as suspected, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported.

Reports suggest that the total number of confirmed deaths from measles has surged to 88, while suspected deaths have reached 477.

The DGHS recorded a total of 826 suspected measles cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall tally of suspected cases to 67,905.

Additionally, 51 new confirmed cases were reported, increasing the total to 8,885 during the same period.

Amid the worsening health crisis in Bangladesh, the measles cases and deaths continue to rise across the country despite the conclusion of the preliminary phase for the one-and-a-half-month special measles-rubella vaccination drive on May 20, Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, reported.

The data from DGHS showed that daily cases exceeded 1,000 per day throughout this month, with exceptions only on May 9, 16 and 23.

Public health experts and physicians warned that mass gatherings, long-distance travel and family visits during Eid holidays could further accelerate the spread of the measles.

They advised families with young children to avoid unnecessary gatherings, restrict movement and adhere to the preventive measures, cautioning that approaching the hot season may intensify the transmission risks.

Experts noted that the lack of adequate treatment facilities in remote areas remains a serious concern, especially for children who may fall sick while travelling.

"In this situation, it is best for people to stay where they are. Unnecessary movement should be limited as much as possible," Bangladesh’s leading daily, Dhaka Tribune, quoted the director of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, FA Asma Khanom, as saying.

Addressing a programme at the Secretariat in Dhaka last week, Bangladesh’s Health Minister Sakhawat Husain said that unrestricted Eid travel and crowded public transport could fuel transmission of measles.

Stressing the contagious nature of measles, Husain urged families not to expose infected or recently recovered children to crowded public spaces or relatives' homes.

He added that while vaccination significantly reduces the risk, it does not provide 100 per cent protection, noting that social distancing and public awareness remain key preventive measures.

Source: IANS

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Daund (Maharashtra), May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A case of medical fraud has come to light in Maharashtra's Daund, where a fake doctor illegally practising medicine was apprehended, and medicines, injections and cash amounting to Rs. 6.54 lakh have been seized from him, police said on Thursday.

According to the official information, the accused, identified as Omprakash Bansilal Swarnkar, had allegedly started an illegal clinic in the Akhadevasti area of Kasurdi village in Yavat without possessing any valid medical degree, registration with the Maharashtra Medical Council, or a license to sell medicines.

Police said that the accused is a resident of Sadar Bazaar in Hurda tehsil of Rajasthan's Bhilwara district.

The illegal operation was exposed after police personnel raided the clinic. During the raid, allopathic medicines of various companies, injections, syringes, bottles filled with suspicious unlabelled liquids, and cash were recovered from the place.

The seized items include medicines from Cipla, Intas, and Leeford companies, 381 suspicious bottles, syringes, and Rs 85,100 in cash. Police also seized a Honda City car (registration number GJ 15 CM 8453) parked outside the clinic, in which additional stock of medicines was found.

Based on a complaint filed by Dr Ashish Shankar Shirase of the Primary Health Centre in the Khamgaon area of Daund, a case has been registered against the accused under Section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and Sections 33(1) and 33(2) of the Medical Practice Act, 1961.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was illegally practising medicine, misleading people, and endangering the lives of patients. Further investigation is underway by the Yavat police.

Earlier, three alleged doctors employed at "Sanjeevani Clinics", operated under the National Health Mission, were apprehended by the police in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh.

According to the police, on May 16, the Kotwali police station received an investigative report from the office of the Chief Medical and Health Officer.

The report said that Kumar Sachin Yadav, a resident of Gwalior, and Rajpal Gaur, a resident of Sehore, had submitted forged and fabricated MBBS degrees, Medical Council registration certificates, and other educational documents to secure appointments at the Sanjeevani Clinic located in Subhash Colony of Damoh.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday interacted with government school principals and Education Department officials on the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, vowing to make institutions safer and more sensitive for girls.

During the virtual interaction, the Chief Minister announced several major policy decisions under the ‘Menstrual Health Matters’ campaign, said a statement.

“As part of the initiative, a special advisory will be issued to ensure regular maintenance and timely refilling of sanitary pad vending machines installed in government schools, government offices, public toilets and Arogya Mandirs,” she said during the meeting held through a video conference.

The entire system is now being centralised to ensure that every girl in Delhi has access to high-quality biodegradable sanitary pads. The government, she said, will focus on providing safe, hygienic and quality-tested sanitary products.

In addition, large-scale awareness programmes will be conducted across Delhi through ASHA and Anganwadi workers so that accurate information related to menstrual health reaches every household, she said.

To strengthen awareness at the school level, menstrual health education for Classes 6 to 9 will be made more robust and effective in the curriculum, said a statement.

She stressed the need to create an environment in schools where girls can openly share their concerns and receive support to overcome mental stress.

Expressing concern over the condition of toilet blocks in some schools, she said complaints had been received regarding poor sanitation and damaged facilities.

She directed that all school toilets be kept clean, that broken doors and other damaged infrastructure be repaired promptly, and that school funds or coordination with concerned officials be used to resolve such issues without delay.

Chief Minister Gupta said girls would also be made aware of important health issues beyond menstruation, including PCOS, anaemia, cervical cancer, menopause and HPV vaccination. Regular health sessions will be organised at Arogya Mandirs, where doctors and trained staff will interact directly with women and girl students.

Education Minister Ashish Sood said menstrual health is not merely a health issue, but also one linked to dignity, awareness and self-confidence.

He said it is the responsibility of the Education Department to continue awareness campaigns in schools on a subject that has traditionally received limited public discussion.

He also recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue during his Independence Day address from the Red Fort and remains deeply conscious of the matter.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) The India Meteorological Department has announced a significant abatement of the prevailing heat wave to severe heat wave conditions across many parts of northwest India starting Thursday.

However, some pockets in Rajasthan, Vidarbha, and east Madhya Pradesh are likely to continue experiencing hot conditions for a few more days before temperatures drop notably from Friday.

According to the latest weather bulletin, maximum temperatures are expected to fall by 6-8 degrees Celsius over northwest India between May 28 and 30, followed by a slight rise later.

In the past 24 hours, several areas recorded extreme heat, with Sriganganagar in Rajasthan touching 48.2 degrees Celsius.

Heat wave conditions were observed at many places in west Rajasthan and in isolated pockets across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and east Madhya Pradesh.

A major weather shift is underway with the approach of a Western Disturbance and active monsoon systems.

Moderate to severe thunderstorm activity accompanied by squally winds is likely over northwest, central, and east India from May 28 to 31.

Gusty winds reaching 60-80 kmph, with gusts up to 100 kmph in some areas, along with lightning and hailstorms, are expected, particularly over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan on May 28 and 29.

Isolated heavy rainfall is forecast over Northeast India, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and parts of South Peninsular India, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka, in the coming days.

The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into parts of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Lakshadweep, with conditions favourable for more progress in the next 2-3 days.

In Delhi and NCR, the capital is likely to witness partly cloudy skies turning generally cloudy by evening on May 28 with a spell of light rain and thunderstorms. Strong winds gusting to 70 kmph are expected during the evening and night.

A sharp drop in temperatures is predicted with maximums falling to 35-37 degrees Celsius on May 29 and 34-36 degrees Celsius on May 30, providing much-needed relief after days of scorching 44-46 degrees Celsius heat.

The IMD has issued warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds that could cause damage to trees, power lines, and vulnerable structures. Citizens are advised to stay indoors during peak thunderstorm activity, avoid taking shelter under trees, and unplug electrical appliances.

Farmers have been urged to secure standing crops and harvested produce.

With the monsoon advancing steadily, this transition is expected to bring cooler temperatures and rainfall across large parts of the country, though authorities caution against complacency due to risks of localised flooding, hail, and gusty winds. Residents in vulnerable areas should remain alert and follow safety advisories issued by local administrations.

Source: IANS

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Kampala, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Uganda on Thursday assured tourists that national parks and other tourist attractions across the East African country remain safe to visit, saying Ebola prevention measures have been strengthened at all sites.

Robust health and preventive measures have been put in place at tourist destinations, Bashir Hangi, communications officer of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the state agency responsible for managing national parks, told Xinhua by telephone.

"Our parks are safe. We are practising safe tourism. We have put in place SOPs (standard operating procedures) at our game parks and tourist attraction centres to protect the safety of our tourists," he said, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have thermal temperature screening stations at the park entrance, mandatory sanitisation, and have installed handwashing facilities, among others, to prevent and contain Ebola at our game parks," Hangi said.

He noted that the Ebola outbreak has prompted some tourists to postpone their travel plans to Uganda.

"Some of them (tour companies) are telling us they are getting reschedules. People are not refusing to come, but are choosing to come at a later date," Hangi said.

Some countries have issued travel advisories against travel to Uganda following Ebola outbreaks reported in the country and neighbouring eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ugandan authorities, however, say the outbreak in the country has been contained, noting that no new cases have recently been reported.

According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda has recorded seven confirmed Ebola cases, while contacts linked to the cases are under quarantine.

Uganda has banned mass public gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of the Ebola virus disease in the East African country.

In a circular issued late Wednesday, the Ministry of Health said activities that attract large crowds, including music concerts, cultural festivals, public rallies, political mobilisation events, marathons, and cross-border marketing activities, are prohibited.

"These activities increase risk by promoting close physical interaction, uncontrolled crowd mixing, and unnecessary movement, which may facilitate transmission of Ebola infection where an infected person is present," the statement said.

The ministry said official, institutional, and other essential gatherings may still be permitted, provided organisers strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures on Ebola prevention.

For approved gatherings, organisers are required to ensure controlled attendance to avoid overcrowding, enforce mandatory handwashing or the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, conduct temperature screening before entry, and designate a focal person to oversee compliance with Ebola prevention and control measures.

Security agencies and district authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the measures, particularly in high-risk and border areas, in order to limit non-essential movement and prevent further spread of the disease.

–IANS

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Source: IANS

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