24th January 2025 (3 Topics)
24th January 2025
Editorials
Context
The United States, under President Donald Trump, announced its decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing it of bias, particularly towards China, and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision, along with halting financial contributions, raised serious concerns about the future of global health collaboration and the impact on essential health programmes worldwide.
Impact of U.S. Withdrawal
- Financial Consequences: The U.S. is the largest financial contributor to WHO, providing around 18% of its budget. A withdrawal of funding would significantly disrupt WHO's global health programmes, including efforts in HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and the fight against infectious diseases.
- Global Health Programs at Risk: WHO plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to life-saving drugs, improving healthcare infrastructure, and preventing global disease outbreaks. The loss of U.S. funding could derail critical health interventions, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic has reinforced the importance of global collaboration in combating health crises. Isolating a country from WHO's efforts would undermine the essential principle that no nation is safe until all are safe, and collective action and information sharing are key to preventing pandemics.
Response from the Global Health Community
- WHO’s Appeal for Reconsideration: WHO has reached out to the U.S., urging reconsideration of its decision, emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation in global health.
- Consequences of Withdrawal: While Trump’s decision may be rooted in political considerations, the global health community views this as short-sighted. It risks hindering efforts to tackle global health challenges through collective action, which is increasingly vital in the age of pandemics.
- Hope for Re-engagement: Despite the strong stance taken by the U.S. government, there is hope that a change of heart will occur, given the unprecedented nature of global health crises and the need for cooperation in addressing future pandemics.
Practice Question
Q. Assess the potential consequences of the United States' decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on global health programs and international cooperation. What should be done to address the challenges posed by this move?
Editorials
Context
The 75th anniversary of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is marked on January 25, celebrated as National Voters Day. However, recent issues with voter registration in the Maharashtra State elections have raised concerns about the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls. The rapid increase in voter registrations has prompted discussions on how to improve the credibility of voter data in the country.
Issues with Electoral Rolls in Maharashtra
- Discrepancy in Voter Numbers: In the 2024 Maharashtra State elections, the ECI enrolled 9.7 crore voters, exceeding the state's total estimated adult population of 9.54 crore, raising doubts about the authenticity of the voter list.
- Rapid Enrollment of New Voters: A significant surge of 48 lakh new voters were registered in just six months between the Lok Sabha and State elections, a sharp increase compared to previous years, leading to concerns about the validity of these enrollments.
- Uneven Voting Patterns: The sudden addition of new voters seems to coincide with a notable shift in voting patterns. This raises questions about the transparency and accuracy of voter enrollment and its possible impact on election outcomes.
Transparency and Electoral Integrity
- Lack of Data Transparency: The ECI has not publicly released detailed data about the newly registered voters, leaving unanswered questions regarding their legitimacy and how they were verified.
- Need for Clear Verification Mechanisms: To ensure the integrity of the electoral rolls, there is a need for more robust verification processes during voter registration. This would help eliminate potential errors and fraudulent registrations.
- Role of Technology in Ensuring Accuracy: The integration of technologies like Aadhaar for biometric verification of voters could help improve the accuracy of electoral rolls and minimize the chances of discrepancies or duplication.
Practice Question
Q. Discuss the concerns regarding the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls in India. What measures can be implemented to ensure the credibility of voter registration data?
Editorials
Context
India remains at the forefront of the global tuberculosis (TB) burden, with significant challenges in managing the disease, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite India's ambitious goals to eliminate TB by 2025, the country continues to grapple with issues like drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and gaps in the implementation of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).
Challenges in TB Management
- Vulnerable Groups at High Risk: High-risk groups, including those working in mines and stone carving, migrants, and people with underlying conditions like diabetes, are at an increased risk of contracting TB. Lack of access to healthcare further exacerbates their situation.
- Treatment Supply Chain Issues: Despite a well-established drug supply system, a nationwide disruption in 2023 has led to shortages of essential TB drugs, affecting treatment adherence and increasing the risk of drug resistance.
- Extrapulmonary TB: Extrapulmonary TB (EP-TB), which affects organs other than the lungs, often goes undiagnosed due to vague symptoms, delayed diagnosis, and reliance on expensive tests, leading to advanced disease progression.
Implementation Challenges and Solutions
- Need for Trained Healthcare Providers: There is a significant shortage of trained healthcare workers in both government and private sectors, hindering the timely diagnosis and treatment of TB. Improvements in training and sensitization of frontline workers are essential.
- Technological Gaps in Diagnosis: While molecular diagnostic tests like CBNAAT and Truenat are available, logistical issues such as the absence of trained lab technicians and shortages of test cartridges delay results, impacting timely treatment initiation.
- Community Participation and Local Solutions: Successful interventions, like Kerala's collaboration with Kudumbashree, highlight the importance of community involvement and political leadership in driving TB elimination efforts. This approach can be adopted across different regions for effective TB control.
Practice Question
Q. Evaluate the effectiveness of India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in addressing the challenges of TB management. Suggest measures to improve the implementation of the programme and achieve the target of TB elimination by 2025.
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