Pakistan continues to be dealing with a polio outbreak as four fresh cases have emerged, pushing the national tally to 37 this year, according to health officials on October 19, 2024. Health officials said that the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in two children-one from each Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In recent cases, a girl has been affected from Pishin, and two boys from Chaman and Noshki of Balochistan, and a girl from Lakki Marwat in KP. These are the first detections of the virus within Noshki and Lakki Marwat this year; isolated cases of poliovirus were previously reported within Chaman and Pishin. The province of Balochistan was the worst hit with 20 cases, Sindh had 10, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had five, and Punjab and Islamabad had one case each.

A gigantic fight against polio has been on going in Pakistan- especially in Balochistan and southern KP-over the last two years. Immunisation campaigns have often been suspended or delayed because of local protests, insecurity, and community boycotts. Consequently, quite a number of children did not get the necessary vaccinations, making existing patches of vulnerability for the virus to flow within those pockets.

Noshki, located near Afghanistan's border, and Lakki Marwat have also recently reported some positive environmental samples that confirm the virus is present here, said a local reference laboratory official. Samples of latest cases are currently under genetic sequencing for checking spread of virus and origin.

As the threat of polio continues to grow, Pakistan has vowed to mount a nationwide campaign against it beginning from October 28. With the zeal to tackle the menace in the most effective manner, over 45 million children under the age of five will be vaccinated across the country.

Today, Afghanistan and Pakistan remain one of the few countries where polio has not yet been eradicated. The WHO said the virus remains a potential serious public health threat in areas with low vaccination coverage and weak surveillance.

India On Alert Against Polio

The country declared itself polio-free since 2014 and has kept the disease on bay almost a decade with very robust vaccination programs; however, two cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus cases reported in recent days from Meghalaya create some amount of doubts over a possible resurgence. Experts observe that in India, despite these detections taking place, strong coverage of vaccination at 90-95% and mandatory surveillance measures keep the risk of this widespread outbreak at bay.

The experts point out, however, that such stable situation in India requires continued surveillance. "Countries like Pakistan and parts of Africa remain at a high risk because vaccination rates in those areas are much lower," Dr. Siddharth, public health expert, said. Vaccination is an indispensable act in order to avoid the spread of this incapacitating disease that manifests most importantly as a nervous system affliction leading to the paralysis of a long period.

With concerted efforts from health authorities, there is hope someday that the scourge of polio will be completely eradicated from the face of the earth and future generations will never suffer from its effects.

Ebola is still showing no sign of slowing down as the patient count is still increasing steadily, and the country that has faced the most adverse effects of this is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), followed by its neighboring nation, Uganda, but it is still trying to help DRC even while trying to contain the fatal disease within its borders.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said that Uganda has deployed a team of health workers to DRC to contain the outbreak. She made that statement while she was in a meeting with visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Kampala.

As per the post by the health ministry of Uganda, it is also setting up 50-bed treatment units to support Ebola response efforts in eastern DRC, which is considered the epicenter of the disease.

What Is The Current Situation Of Ebola In Africa?

The situation regarding the outbreak of Ebola is nowhere near slowing down, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that this outbreak of Ebola is far from under control. The outbreak of the disease in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda has already reached the 500 mark.

On Saturday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported that its total number of Ebola cases had increased to 488 from 515 cases and caused 91 deaths. Its neighbor, Uganda, also has reported 19 cases.

This time, the Ebola outbreak has caused most harm to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and during this mayhem, its neighboring nation, Uganda, which is also fighting to contain the disease as it is also seeing a surge in cases, has completely closed off its western border with DRC.

The worsening condition of the situation is clear, as the global health monitoring organization, the World Health Organization (WHO), has already declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.

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What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe and deadly disease caused by a virus mostly found in Africa. The spread of the disease happens through contact with infected body fluids.

Some symptoms can indicate a possible infection. This includes fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding. This eventually leads to severe complications like bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa. The virus takes its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Three strains of the virus — Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus — have caused the largest outbreaks in Africa. Among them, the Ebola virus is considered the deadliest, with fatality rates reaching up to 90% without treatment.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a crackdown on children's access to social media within days. A speech from the prime minister, which is expected to include a new policy on social media, is planned for next week.

The UK is the latest country considering restrictions on social media use among those under the age of 16 amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several countries have introduced or proposed regulations on children's access to social media as concerns mount over the impact of these platforms on young people's health and safety.

A look at the countries planning to implement social media ban:

Australia: Banned social media for children under 16, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

China: Uses a "minor mode" system that limits screen time and access based on a child's age.

Denmark: Plans to ban social media for children under 15, with limited parental exceptions for those aged 13–14.

France: Approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, pending final legislative approval.

Germany: Children aged 13–16 can use social media only with parental consent.

Greece: Preparing to introduce a social media ban for children under 15.

India: Karnataka has banned social media for children under 16. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Bihar are considering age restrictions.

Italy: Children under 14 need parental consent to create social media accounts.

Malaysia: Barred users under 16 from registering new social media accounts.

Norway: Proposed raising the minimum age for social media consent from 13 to 15 and introducing a 15-year minimum age limit.

Poland: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and require age verification.

Slovenia: Preparing a law that would prohibit social media access for children under 15.

Spain: Plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require age verification.

Sweden: A government commission has recommended a minimum social media age of 15.

Turkey: Passed legislation banning social media use by children under 15.

United States: Several states require parental consent for minors, while federal legislation seeks stronger protections for young users.

European Union: Considering stricter child safety rules, including parental consent for under-16s and a ban for children under 13.

Will A Blanket Ban on Social Media Work?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned last month.

"Online harms to children's safety, privacy, and wellbeing result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Türk cautioned that such bans can be easily circumvented and risk pushing children towards riskier, less-monitored spaces.

"Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint," he said.

The UN Office also issued a 10-point framework urging governments and technology companies to go further and faster in protecting children online. The guidelines, titled Getting Children's Safety Online Right, come as age-based social media restrictions proliferate worldwide. It includes:

• Embedding child safety measures directly into platform design from the outset.

• Not leaving parents and children solely responsible for managing online risks.

• Conducting mandatory child-rights impact assessments for digital platforms.

• Implementing tightly regulated age-verification systems to protect privacy.

• Consulting children meaningfully when developing online safety regulations and policies.

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"The intent to protect young minds from addiction, misinformation, and harmful content is welcome. However, effectiveness will depend less on restricting children and more on regulating platforms," Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman of Health Parliament, creator of SHE App, and former adviser to the Union Health Minister, told HealthandMe.

"Stronger platform accountability, age-appropriate design, and algorithmic responsibility are crucial. Combined with digital literacy and parental awareness, oversight and control, such measures can create a healthier digital ecosystem. Without platform control, regulations risk remaining largely symbolic," Dr. Gupta said.

With inputs from Reuters

West Bengal today became the 36th state to implement the Indian government's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The scheme aims to achieve universal health coverage and ensure seamless access to quality healthcare for every eligible citizen across the country.

The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the state.

Over 12 Crore Treatments Availed Under PM-JAY

“Beneficiaries under the AB PM-JAY scheme have availed over 12 crore treatments worth more than Rs 1.82 lakh crore, providing substantial financial protection to poor and vulnerable families,” said JP Nadda, Union Health Minister.

He noted that one of the most significant outcomes of the government's efforts has been the reduction in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, which has declined from 64.6 per cent before 2018 to 43.4 per cent today.

Nadda further stated that AB PM-JAY has enabled timely access to quality healthcare through a cashless, paperless, and fully digital platform.

Referring to findings published in The Lancet, he noted that nearly 90 per cent of eligible cancer patients under the scheme were able to access treatment within 30 days, demonstrating the program's role in improving timely healthcare access.

Who Will Benefit From AB PM-JAY in West Bengal?

Also read: India working on grand preventive and holistic health vision: PM Modi

Chief Minister of West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari noted that under the National Health Mission has recently released Rs 527 crore to the state, which will further support healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.

The scheme will cover:

• 1.43 crore families in total
• 1.24 crore eligible beneficiary families
• Around 3.06 lakh families of ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and helpers
• Nearly 15.95 lakh families of senior citizens aged 70 years and above

Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said that AB PM-JAY is not merely a health scheme but a transformative initiative that has brought financial protection and healthcare security to millions of vulnerable families across India.

She noted that AB PM-JAY, "now covers more than 62 crore people, including poor and vulnerable families, senior citizens aged 70 years and above, and gig and platform workers" in India.

Achievements include:

• More than 44 crore Ayushman Cards have been created.
• Over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme.
• Women are accounting for nearly half of all beneficiaries.

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

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Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched in September 2018 and has since emerged as the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme.

The scheme provides health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It covers around 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

The program was later expanded to include 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.