-Economic and Political Weekly The importance of hand-washing in personal and public hygiene has evolved over the centuries. While the market with its countless number of soaps and hand-wash products for personal hygiene with the accompanying advertising has created a false sense of security, it is community hygiene implemented through Public Health measures that is really effective in the battle against disease. Lekha D Bhat (lekhabhatd@gmail.com) teaches at the Department of Social...

-The Hindu New Delhi travelled to tribal heartland. The expert group offers hope; an opportunity to ensure that the tribals have a say in policies that are framed for them. Earlier this month, a motley group of 50 academicians, government officials and activists gathered at Shodhgram village in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. This is an area known for malaria, malnutrition and Maoists, not necessarily in that order. Everyone left technology behind (mobile phones and...

-The Hindu The launch of the inactivated polio vaccine injection marks a shift in addressing vaccine derived poliovirus cases. After nearly five polio-free years, and with the launch of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) injection in the national immunisation programme tomorrow (November 30), India will be pushing for “endgame polio”. The injectable vaccine, which uses killed polio viruses, will be used alongside the oral polio vaccine (OPV). For now, immunisation using IPV will be...

-The Times of India AHMEDABAD: Late Monday night in Boston, 25 students pursuing masters in Public Health from Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health gathered post-dinner for an important class. At the same time, three Self Employed Women's Association (Sewa) workers assembled at their office in Ellis bridge early on Tuesday morning to impart lessons to the students on the cooperative body's work and on leadership. The interaction session...

-Scroll.in Rajasthan has drafted a progressive policy that includes a broader definition of homeless people. But it falls short on other counts. Rajasthan could soon become the first Indian state to draft a policy for the homeless. This could be a historic moment as homelessness is a Public Health crisis in India. It is caused by the negligence of the government since policies and funds for building shelters that ensure that homeless...