Important Daily Facts of the Day

Azerbaijan, Tajikistan reaches malaria-free milestone (GS Paper 2, Health)

Why in news?

• Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Azerbaijan and Tajikistan as malaria-free for eliminating the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease in their territories.

 

Details:

• In Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria were discovered in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
•  With the latest announcement, the WHO officially declared 41 countries and one territory, including 21 countries in the European Region, malaria-free.

 

Criteria:

• The declaration came after an extensive, century-long campaign by the two nations to eradicate the disease.
• The WHO certifies a country as malaria-free, typically when the latter can provide evidence showing the malaria transmission cycle has been broken for at least the last three years.
• Despite providing rigorous, credible evidence, a country must also demonstrate its capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.

 

Strategies adopted by both nations:

• Through a variety of investments and public health initiatives, the governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were better able to manage malaria over time. The countries have provided everyone with free basic healthcare for over 60 years, according to WHO.
• They have actively backed targeted malaria interventions, such as spraying insecticides on interior walls of homes to prevent the disease, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment of all cases, and maintaining the abilities of all health professionals working to eradicate the disease.
• Both Azerbaijan and Tajikistan use national electronic malaria monitoring systems to establish whether an infection is indigenous or imported and provide real-time case data
• They also employed biological larval control strategies, like mosquito-eating fish and water management practices to lessen malaria carriers.

 

About Malaria:

• Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites.
• It is predominantly found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
• It is preventable as well as curable.

 

Spread:

• The parasites spread through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• After entering the human body, parasites initially multiply within the liver cells and then attack the Red Blood Cells (RBCs) resulting in their rupture.

 

India Post Payments Bank launches WhatsApp Banking Services

(GS Paper 3, Economy)

Why in news?

• Recently, the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), in collaboration with Airtel, announced the launch of WhatsApp Banking Services for IPPB customers in New Delhi, enabling them to access banking services on their mobile phone.

Key Highlights:

• The newly launched IPPB WhatsApp Banking channel will enable IPPB customers to seamlessly connect with the bank on WhatsApp and effortlessly avail a host of banking services, including doorstep service request, locating nearest Post Office and much more.
• Airtel has been working with IPPB to deliver as many as 250 million messages per month to the bank’s customers many of whom are located in mofussil towns and tier 2,3 cities.
• The addition of the WhatsApp messaging will add to customer’s accessibility to connect with the bank on their fingertips, furthering Digital India mission of the Government, as part of which IPPB has been working tirelessly to deliver banking services in the rural pockets of the country.

 

Multi-lingual:

• In line with the ambition of the Government to bring digital and financial inclusion to citizens in their language, the Airtel – IPPB WhatsApp Banking solution is also working on to build multi-language support, enabling added convenience to customers, especially to those in the rural parts of the country to access banking services in their preferred language.

 

Way Forward:

• The IPPB and Airtel IQ are working towards further integrating a LIVE interactive customer support agent into the WhatsApp solution which will enable customers to access 24X7 support and get quick resolutions for their queries.

 

Ministry says MGNREGS workers will build almost 75% of anganwadis in 2023

(GS Paper 3, Economy)

Why in news?

• Almost three out of every four anganwadi centres to be constructed in 2023 will be built in convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Women and Child Development Ministry has said.

 

Financial allocation:

• The Ministry has informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Youth and Sports that the ₹12 lakh cost of construction of each anganwadi would also be split, with ₹8 lakh being provided under MGNREGS.
• The remaining ₹4 lakh will be paid by the Central and State governments in equal amounts.

 

Demand of anganwadi centres:

• There was a demand for 27,000 anganwadi centres in the country in the current year, out of which 20,000 are to be constructed under MGNREGS.
• The government has also identified 40,000 anganwadi centres for upgradation in aspirational districts across the country this year.
• The Centre has also informed State governments that under the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 schemes, it is proposed that States may seek CSR funds on their own discretion, apart from accepting donations from individuals, companies, business houses and institutions of repute for construction of anganwadis.
• The Ministry also requested all States to revisit the actual requirements of anganwadi centres vis-à-vis the population of the area, the number of children actually attending, and the number of centres already available, and then furnish a detailed proposal.

 

About Anganwadi:

• Anganwadi is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the States / UTs which serves as a rural child and maternal care centre in India.
• It was started by the Government of India In 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition.
• Anganwadi centres provide a package of six services: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, immunisation, health check-up, nutrition and health education, and referral services.
• The beneficiaries under the Anganwadi Services Scheme are identified on the basis of Aadhaar.