Micro Notes : Today The Hindu Newspaper Editorials ( 8/3/2024)
Topic-1 : Challenges of TB Care for Homeless Women in India
GS-1 ( Women Section)
GS-2 ( Health)
Context:
• International Women’s Day highlights plight of homeless women with TB in India.
Reasons for Spread:
• Overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions.
• Malnutrition, weak immunity.
• HIV, alcoholism, smoking, tobacco chewing.
• Lack of shelter delays diagnosis and treatment, increases drug resistance.
India’s TB Burden:
• Highest TB cases globally (2022 WHO report).
• Homeless population: 85 TB cases per 1,000 people.
• Homeless women: 1.5 times higher TB prevalence than homeless men.
Government Programs:
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NKY): Monthly cash incentive (₹500).
• Nikshay Mitra: Food baskets (₹700) and online access to information/doctors.
Barriers for Homeless Women:
• ID cards and bank accounts required for programs.
• Difficulty navigating digital services.
• Vague early TB symptoms mimic daily struggles of poverty.
• Sputum microscopy may miss extrapulmonary TB (common in women).
• High illiteracy rates among homeless women migrants.
Recommendations:
• Include homelessness and gender in TB Mukht Bharat program.
• Legally guarantee healthcare rights under government schemes.
Topic-2 : India Fights Cervical Cancer with HPV Vaccination
GS-2 Mains (Health)
Context:
• Interim Budget 2024-25 includes HPV vaccination for girls (9-14 yrs).
• Aims to reduce cervical cancer, the second most common in India.
HPV Vaccination – Global Efforts:
• WHO’s “90-70-90” targets by 2030:
o 90% of girls vaccinated by 15.
o 70% of women screened by 35-45.
o 90% of women with cancer treated.
• Over 100 countries have HPV vaccination programs.
• Success stories like Rwanda’s campaign reducing HPV types.
India’s Initiatives:
• Sikkim model: Effective communication & outreach achieved 97% coverage.
• Cervavac: India’s affordable indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine.
Challenges and Solutions:
• Vaccine hesitancy and equitable access.
• U-WIN: Electronic registry for real-time vaccination tracking.
• Addressing cultural norms: Tailored messages through diverse channels (social media, schools).
• Collaboration: Public & private partnerships with communities and healthcare providers.
Conclusion:
• India’s success with COVID-19 vaccination offers hope for scaling up HPV vaccination.
हिन्दी