Health

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November 6, 2022 In 2020, 559 million children were affected by four to five heatwaves a year; numbers could increase four-fold by 2050, as per a report by UNICEF
Heat-related mortality is four times higher among children under 1 year of age than in persons aged 1–44 years (Image: Taqver, Wikimedia Commons)
September 26, 2022 This study found that the sanitary quality of neighbourhood drains, in addition to toilets, affected sanitation and hygiene and incidences of ill-health in rural households.
Dirty drainages, harbingers of illhealth. Image for representation only (Image Source: SuSanA Secretariat via Wikimedia Commons)
September 9, 2022 Highlights from a new report released by iFOREST
An old coal-fired power plant has been dumping vast quantities of ash out in the open for many years. (Image: Lundrim Aliu/ World Bank; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
August 19, 2022 Better access to clean water coupled with health education to bring about changes in behaviour are critical to prevent exposure to dangerous cholera bacteria that lurk in untreated waters.
The hidden threat of cholera in India (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
July 20, 2022 This study found a high concentration of trihalomethanes (THMs) in water treatment plants in Delhi that were associated with increased risk of cancer.
What's in your tap water (Image Source: India Water Portal)
July 5, 2022 Studies reveal that children are the most vulnerable to the health risks associated with groundwater contamination due to nitrate and fluoride, highlighting the need for urgent remedial measures.
POisoned waters, dangerous outcomes (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Pre-recorded webinar- Water for Public Health, NIH Roorkee
The 26th lecture on "Communication and outreach activities on water for public health" by India Water Portal was webcasted on 28 September.
Posted on 26 Sep, 2021 12:06 PM

About the webinar:

The National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee has organized a webinar on 'Water for Public Health (W4PH): Preparing for Disasters and Pandemic'. The webinar featured 33 speakers from India and abroad bringing their insights into distinguished themes.  

Webinar themes:

Communication and outreach activities on water for public health by India Water Portal
Shrinking forests, declining biodiversity - a ticking time bomb!
A fatal tick borne disease is on the rise in the Western Ghat states. Deforestation, declining biodiversity and increasing human animal conflicts are to blame. Posted on 21 Sep, 2021 10:17 PM

The Western Ghats region of South India is one of the world's most important biodiversity hotspots, and the rainforests of this region are known to harbour 500 types of bird species, 225 reptile species, 219 amphibian species, and 133 mammal species.

The Western ghats forests, under threat (Image Source: India Water Portal)
India needs to wake up to severe air pollution
With each new report, the number of polluted cities in India is increasing Posted on 10 Sep, 2021 10:32 AM

Two studies released on September 1, 2021, on the damage to human health due to increasing air pollution in India have revealed very worrying facts.

According to a Greenpeace India report released on January 21, 2020, 80 per cent of the country's cities are polluted by national standards (Image: Max Pixel, License CC0)
Uranium in drinking water: A growing concern for India
A recent report by CGWB reveals that uranium contamination of groundwater is on the rise with Punjab and Haryana being the most affected. Posted on 07 Sep, 2021 04:47 PM

Groundwater continues to be extracted at frightening proportions in India and the fear of severe depletion of groundwater resources in the coming years is real. As if this is not enough, the available groundwater is also deteriorating in quality posing a severe threat to the health of the population.

India drinks water poisoned with uranium

Uranium contamination of drinking water on the rise in India  (Image: Pxhere)
Kudrati kheti (natural farming) - A manual in Hindi
Farming the natural way - going back to the age old traditions and practices Posted on 01 Sep, 2021 05:04 PM

This manual (third edition) in Hindi developed by Rajinder Chaudhary on natural farming, also known as organic, zero budget or alternative farming, is an attempt to spread awareness among Indian farmers about the above sustainable agriculture methods.

Poisoned waters, deadly outcomes!
A study shows that high arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bihar is linked with increase in cancer cases. Districts located near the Himalayan river basins have more people with cancer. Posted on 29 Aug, 2021 12:22 AM

While groundwater is an important source of drinking water worldwide, contamination of groundwater sources is on the rise. Arsenic contamination of groundwater has been found to affect as high as 300 million people worldwide exposing them to a number of health risks.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater in India

Drinking water in Bihar, linked to cancer (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Poisonous encounters: Nitrate contamination of groundwater in Rajasthan
This study from Rajasthan found that anthropogenic factors led to nitrate contamination of groundwater. High nitrate levels in drinking water posed major health risks to children. Posted on 26 Aug, 2021 08:24 AM

Groundwater in arid and semi arid regions continues to be a valuable and often the single most source of freshwater and conservation of this resource remains crucial for the survival of communities residing in the area. At the same time, a serious decline in the quality of groundwater is adding pressure on these water resources.

A well in Rajasthan (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Ganga, a sink of microplastics
A study by Toxics Link reveals that Ganga is heavily polluted by microplastics, the highest concentration being at Varanasi. Posted on 25 Jul, 2021 01:28 PM

A new study by the Delhi-based environment NGO Toxics Link reveals the presence of microplastics in all samples collected from the river at Haridwar, Kanpur and Varanasi.

Cleaning efforts on the Ganga has so far focussed on focussed on creating sewage treatment capacities in the major urban centres along the river. (Image: Richard IJzermans, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Rural realities amid second COVID surge in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Rural areas emerge as sites of mass COVID outbreaks Posted on 05 Jun, 2021 11:33 AM

COVID-19 has been spreading fast in rural areas while issues related to its management and the government’s response to the pandemic remain.

COVID-19 has had an adverse impact on the livelihood of people doing small jobs due to lockdown. (Image: Gospel for Asia; Wikimedia Commons)
Second wave, new challenges: Civil society on the frontlines
How community radio is helping in times of COVID Posted on 29 May, 2021 02:26 PM

The onset of a second wave of COVID-19 has inflicted havoc in urban centers and even in the national capital which has somewhat sound state-of-the-art health system.

Involved in COVID relief (Image: SM Sehgal Foundation)
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