Global Hunger Index report is released by the Washington based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
The GHI score is a multidimensional index composed of four indicators—proportion of undernourished in the population, and prevalence of child mortality, child stunting, and child wasting.
The World Polio Day is observed annually on 24th October with an aim to generate awareness about this disease.
It was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis.
Use of this inactivated poliovirus vaccine and subsequent widespread use of the oral poliovirus, developed by Albert Sabin, led to the establishment of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988. Due to this effort, Polio cases have decreased by over 99.9% since 1988, from an estimated 3,50,000 cases then, to just 37 reported cases in 2016 worldwide.
Today, there are only three countries where transmission of wild poliovirus is occurring: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
About Polio
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children (under 5 years of age).
The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can inter the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
There is no cure for polio. It can only be prevented by immunization.
Status In India
India received polio-free certification along with the entire South-East Asia Region of WHO on 27 March 2014 by WHO.
January 2017 marks six years since the last case of polio was reported in India.
This milestone, in a country once considered the most difficult to stop polio, demonstrates the importance of strong surveillance systems, intensive vaccination drive and targeted social mobilization efforts.
Although, Polio is eliminated from India, the risk of importation still persists from remaining three countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria) where poliovirus is still circulating. Hence, the need for the country is to maintain the population immunity and sensitive surveillance till global polio eradication happens.
That is why on National Immunization Days children are vaccinated across the country to maintain high levels of childhood immunity.
Paika Bidroha’ To Be Named As 1st War Of Independence
In News
According to Minister for Human Resources Development, the ‘PaikaBidroha’ (Paika rebellion) of 1817 will find a place in the history books as ‘the First War of Independence’ from the next academic session.
So far, 1857Sepoy Mutiny has been regarded as the First War of Indian Independence.
Earlier, in April 2017, Prime Minister of India honoured the descendants of 16 families associated the Paika rebellion.
