A report by Swachh Bharat Mission says that 74.5 per cent of public places are equipped with toilets. Another report by the Ministry of Jal Shakti states that there are 2.23 lakh Community Sanitary Complexes built across all States and UTs under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) since October 2014. Over 92 lakh toilets have been constructed since the launch of SBM Gramin (SBM (G)) in April 2020.

While toilets are there, are they accessible? This is the question one should ask. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) focuses on 131 health indicators, but not until the NFHS 5 survey did they include the question of accessibility of toilets in the survey. This happened after the inputs from the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare questioned the accessibility.

One might ask, why is the question of accessibility so important? The answer is quite simple. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene is the most basic human need and is also included under the Sustainable Development Goals by the UN.

Are These Numbers Real?

This thought crossed my mind because back in 2021, I went on a solo trip, on a bus to Udaipur from Delhi. There, the bus made two stoppages. This was done so people could get a quick dinner and freshen up, relieve themselves and be prepared for the rest of the journey. This was a nightmare. The bus only stopped for 10 minutes. While some men used the washroom, others went to the bushes.

For the women, there were three cubicles. One of them was broken, and the other one did not have a light bulb, which meant only one was usable. There was a long queue for that cubicle, and time was short. There was no point in trying to find an isolated corner, because it was past midnight, in an unknown area.

I waited anxiously. When finally, my turn came, I saw an overused, dirty washroom. The toilet seat is in a horrible condition. I wanted to touch nothing there. But I had to pee. So, I used my mask to cover my nose from the odour, folded my pants so they did not touch the floor and squatted. It was quite a task to balance.

On my way back to Delhi, I made sure to not drink any water for over a 13-hour bus journey. I dehydrated myself so I did not have to use the washroom. When I did reach, I was severely dehydrated and was sick for three days.

I shared my experience with my friends only to realise that many women have faced the same. There are no washrooms for women.

A friend of mine told me that it is because these roads and dhabas are mainly designed to serve men. They are the ones who travel at night or are on the roads most of the time. As a result, the few women who do travel or are on the road suffer.

Health Risks Women Are Prone To

Well, it is true, but partially. While holding your pee for too long can lead to health risks, peeing on a dirty toilet seat cannot lead to infections unless your urethra is in contact with the bacteria present on that toilet seat. However, nobody wants to sit on a dirty toilet seat, even if you do not get an infection. A safe and hygienic toilet is a basic need.

One of the regular saleswomen, Usha, who visits my house shared her experience with me. “Being on the road constantly means I must use the dirty public washrooms. But I do not want to use them. So, sometimes I ask my regular customers to let me use their washrooms. Some say yes, and some say no. I understand they are also concerned about their safety and privacy,” she says. As a result, Usha spends most of her day not drinking enough water and holding her pee when she is at work. Due to this, she also suffered from a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).

Her friend, Halima too faced similar problems and due to increased levels of uric acid in her body, she suffered from Hyperuricemia.

Other health risks are kidney stones and other kidney problems, headaches, dull skin, xerostomia or dry mouth, fatigue, and urinary incontinence, which means losing control over your pelvic floor muscles leading to uncontrolled leakage of urine, seizures and weakness.

What Can You Do?

Wear comfortable clothes and capris. Capri pants are comfortable and are short in length, which means this won’t touch the toilet floor when you squat or sit.

Carry Essentials

Even though you cannot get a UTI alone from sitting on a toilet seat, it is always safe to carry a toilet seat sanitiser. If nothing, it can help you get rid of the bad odour so you can use your stand and pee device inside the toilet. You can also use disposable toilet seat covers if your knees are weak, and you cannot squat. Always flush with your seat down.

Always keep disposable gloves, a portable bidet (fill it with water before use), a pocket liquid handwash, wet wipes, tissues and sanitiser handy. Do not forget to keep extra sanitary pads. It might sound a lot, but I promise that it all fits in one pouch. Use this travel-friendly pouch every time you are on the road, or using a public washroom.

What Can We Learn From Others?

However, in case we do not get these technologically advanced toilets here, you can always pack a travel-friendly toilet kit!

A team of US researchers has developed a novel nasal swab test, akin to those used to detect COVID-19 infections, which can spot early signs of Alzheimer's Disease -- affecting over 55 million people worldwide.

The condition is treatable in early stages to manage symptoms and slow cognitive decline. However, it remains the hardest to detect, affecting treatment outcomes. The brain changes can begin 10 to 20 years before symptoms become apparent.

The novel outpatient nasal swab, developed by Duke University researchers, has shown promise in picking up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer's. It can spot the degenerative condition, even before problems related to thinking and memory begin to appear.

"We want to be able to confirm Alzheimer's very early, before damage has a chance to build up in the brain," said Bradley J. Goldstein, professor at Duke University's School of Medicine.

"If we can diagnose people early enough, we might be able to start therapies that prevent them from ever developing clinical Alzheimer's," Goldstein added.

How Effective Was The Nasal Swab?

In the study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the team placed a gentle swab high inside the nose of 22 participants.

The swab collected thousands of nerve and immune cells to see which genes are active.

The analysis clearly differentiated people with early or diagnosed Alzheimer's from those without the disease -- 81 percent of the time. It also included people with no symptoms.

Alzheimer’s Disease: The Leading Cause of Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US, 65 and older, live with the condition, and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate and damage cells responsible for memory.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity

unhealthy diet

social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Other signs include:

• losing or misplacing things
• getting lost when walking or driving
• being confused, even in familiar places
• losing track of time
• difficulties solving problems or making decisions
• difficulties performing familiar tasks
• misjudging distances to objects visually.

Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

Currently, there is no cure for this progressive brain disorder, and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition, or infection. These complications can result in death.

Being physically active and taking part in activities and social interactions that stimulate the brain and maintain daily function can help prevent the condition.

Heart diseases are viewed as a universal health concern, and advancements in cardiology have hugely improved diagnosis and treatment outcomes around the world. At the same time, emerging research is shedding more light on how cardiovascular disease affects women.

In India, this perspective is especially important. Of the more than 10 million deaths recorded annually in the country, nearly two million are attributed to diseases of the circulatory system, with women accounting for about 40% of these cases. Significantly, more than half of the nearly 800,000 cardiovascular deaths among Indian women each year occur prematurely, underscoring the importance of greater awareness, early detection, and timely medical care.

How Cardiac Research Has Evolved

It is evident that modern cardiology has been shaped by the findings from large, well-characterized populations of patients. The frameworks that have been established from such findings are the ones that guide the approaches that are currently used in the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of heart disease.

Such frameworks have been instrumental in the advancement of the management of various forms of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. As the research expands to include larger populations, there is an increased understanding that the manifestation of cardiovascular diseases differs from one group to another, particularly in females.

Recognizing Differences In Symptoms

This growing awareness is particularly useful in recognizing symptoms. Although women, like men, may experience chest pain as a symptom of a heart attack, there are other, less common symptoms that women may also experience.

These include fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, as well as neck, jaw, or back discomfort. The awareness of these symptoms will allow women to seek treatment sooner, as well as help healthcare providers better understand their symptoms.

The Role of Life Stages in Women’s Heart Health

Women’s heart health is influenced by various life stages and the hormonal changes that accompany them. For instance, after menopause, estrogen levels decline, and since this hormone offers some protective benefits for the heart, the risk of developing heart disease may gradually rise.

Certain pregnancy-related conditions, including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and high blood pressure during pregnancy, may also indicate a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease later in life. Recognising these factors allows doctors to monitor heart health more closely and recommend preventive measures that support long-term wellbeing.

Strengthening Prevention And Early Detection

Prevention continues to be one of the most effective strategies for reducing heart disease. Regular health check-ups, along with monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, are essential for lowering cardiovascular risk. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits further supports long-term heart health. Awareness is equally important.

Symptoms such as fatigue or breathlessness are not always immediately linked to heart disease, particularly among women. Raising awareness about heart health can help people recognize early warning signs sooner and seek timely care.

Moving Toward More Inclusive Cardiac Care

Encouragingly, the field of cardiology is constantly evolving with the help of emerging research that is further enlightening us about the health of the heart in both men and women. With more women being included in research and better developments in diagnostic procedures, healthcare professionals are refining their strategies to deal with heart health.

Thus, by adopting the best strategies and emerging research about the health of women’s hearts, awareness and early intervention are the keys to better outcomes and reduced risks among women in India.

The recent deaths of two young people and more than a dozen confirmed cases have brought meningitis back into the public conversation in the United Kingdom. According to Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, who wrote for The Guardian the situation is concerning but also a reminder of how public health systems and vaccination programmes shape disease patterns.

Sridhar explains that meningitis has long been a serious public health concern. In the 1990s, the UK recorded around 2,500 laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal disease each year. Most of these were caused by meningococcal group C bacteria. When the MenC vaccine was introduced in 1999, cases linked to that strain dropped dramatically, falling by about 96 percent to just a few dozen cases annually. Later, vaccination programmes expanded to include the ACWY strains, which also helped reduce infections by limiting transmission.

Another factor behind the current rise is the unusual drop in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Sridhar notes, restrictions on social mixing and other preventive measures in 2020 caused meningitis cases to fall to historic lows, with only about 80 confirmed cases in England that year. Since then, the numbers have gradually increased as normal social activity returned.

Read: Meningitis Outbreak: How to Differentiate The Symptoms From a Common Rash

Sridhar points out that a different strain of bacteria, known as MenB, is now responsible for most recent cases, particularly among younger people. The MenB vaccine was added to the routine childhood immunization programme in 2015, but it only protects children born after that year. Many teenagers and university students therefore remain unvaccinated against this strain.

Read: Meningitis Outbreak: University of Kent Student Among Two Who Died of the ‘Invasive’ Disease

University environments can also contribute to outbreaks because meningitis spreads through close contact such as coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like vapes. According to Sridhar, public health teams respond by tracing close contacts, providing antibiotics, monitoring symptoms and offering targeted vaccinations.

In Kent, authorities have launched a ring vaccination programme focusing on university students to contain the spread. Sridhar says such measures highlight the continued importance of strong public health systems and sustained investment in vaccination programmes to prevent future outbreaks.

What Is Meningitis?

Meningitis is a serious medical condition that affects the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, the meninges. While fever is not always present, it is usually considered as one of the classic symptoms of meningitis. It is important to know the varied symptoms, causes, and treatments of meningitis for early diagnosis and proper management of the disease.

Meningitis is an infectious illness that brings about inflammation in the meninges. The most common cause of such inflammation is bacterial or viral infections, though other causes are also possible including fungal, parasitic, or non-infectious causes (autoimmune disease, head injury, or brain surgery). Meningitis may be caused by bacterial meningitis, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates can be so severe and bring about conditions like hearing loss, vision problems, and death if not received on time.