IIT Guwahati discovers modified graphene oxide potential in medicine (GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed cost-effective experiments for modifying graphene oxide that can be used by other academic institutions to train personnel needed for cutting-edge projects in semiconductors, nanoelectronics, healthcare and quantum technologies.
Graphene Oxide:
- Graphene is an exceptionally strong material and possesses outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Its oxidised form, called Graphene Oxide (GO), offers a large surface area and low cytotoxicity, making it suitable for medical applications.
- GO can be further engineered through defects, doping and functional modifications, which enhance its optical and electrical properties for improved biomedical sensing applications.
- The IIT-Guwahati researchers are focusing on a specific functional modification of graphene involving the attachment of an amino acid, Cysteine or simple amine group, attachment over grapheme.
Way Forward:
- The team's extensive knowledge of Graphene-based materials has led to the development of innovative laboratory experiments designed to provide students with hands-on skills and inspire them to explore the possibilities of advanced materials.
- These experiments are integrated into a Biomedical Science and Engineering (BMSE) course at the Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology.
WHO acknowledges India success in declining TB incidence
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- The World Health Organization released its Global TB Report 2023 recently.
- According to the report, India has made tremendous progress in improving case detection and reversed the impact of COVID-19 on the TB programme.
- The treatment coverage has improved to 80% of the estimated TB cases, an increase of 19% over the previous year.
Interim report:
- In the Global TB Report 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, had agreed to publish the data for India as “Interim” with an understanding that the WHO would work with the technical team of the ministry, to finalize the figures.
- Following this, there were more than 50 meetings between the technical teams of WHO and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, wherein Indian team presented all the newer evidence generated, the in-country mathematical modelling developed including the data from Ni-kshay portal which captures the lifecycle of every TB patient during the course of their treatment.
Highlights:
- India’s efforts have resulted in reduction of TB incidence by 16% in 2022 (from 2015) almost double the pace at which global TB incidence is declining (which is 8.7%).
- The mortality of TB has also reduced by 18% during the same period in India and globally.
- The World Health Organization has made a downward revision of the TB mortality rates from 4.94 lakhs in 2021 to 3.31 lakhs in 2022, a reduction of over 34%.
- India’s intensified case detection strategies have resulted in the highest ever notification of cases in 2022, during which, over 24.22 lakh TB cases were notified, surpassing the pre-COVID levels.
Key initiatives:
- The key initiatives launched and scaled up by the government like specialised active case finding drives, scaling up of molecular diagnostics to block levels, decentralization of screening services through Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centres and private sector engagement have resulted in significantly bridging the gap in missing cases.
- The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has received a tremendous response across the country with over 1 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras from all walks of life coming forward to adopt over 11 lakh TB patients.
- Under Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana about Rs 2613 Cr have been disbursed to over 95 lakh TB patients since its launch in 2018.
- Newer patient centric initiatives like Family Care Giver Model and Differentiated Care have been introduced to ensure further reduction in mortality and improvement in treatment success rates.
Way Forward:
- India has taken bold steps to prioritize TB elimination efforts with investing additional resources to the National TB Elimination Programme being implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission.
Kerala forms Organic Farming Mission to boost agriculture
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Why in news?
- The Kerala government has created an Organic Farming Mission to encourage the adoption of sustainable organic and climate-smart farming practices in the State.
Aim:
- The mission aims at expanding organic farming to 5,000 hectares in the next five years through an annual target of 1,000 ha.
Key Highlights:
- In farms run by the Agriculture Department, at least 10% of the area will be set aside for organic farming. Another mandate of the mission is to make sure that selected beneficiaries/farms of organic farming schemes pursue the system at least for five years.
- The mission will take steps to expand the system for certification, branding, and marketing of organic agricultural products from Kerala.
- An organic farming protocol, which is in sync with protocols prevalent at the national and international levels, will be implemented as part of the activities.
- The mission will also focus on value addition of organic products.
