14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020
“A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at.” — Bruce Lee
ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.
RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.
BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !
BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.
PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.
Today's Must Read Articles :Page Contents:
818 mln Children Lack basic Hand-Washing Facilities
HEADLINES:
Around 818 mln children lack basic hand-washing facilities in schools: Report
WHY IN NEWS:
Around 818 million children across the world lacked basic hand-washing facilities in their schools, making them prone to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), said the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) August 13, 2020.
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Survey
ISSUE:
WASH PROGRAMME
- The programme produces internationally comparable estimates of progress on drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
- The programme is responsible for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and indicators related to WASH.
KEY FINDINGS
- Access to these basic facilities can keep the novel coronavirus — that causes COVID-19 — and other transmittable diseases from spreading.
- These basic hygiene measures form a key requirement for schools to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- More than a third — or 295 million children — of the 818 million children who lacked these basic facilities were from sub-Saharan Africa.
- Global school closures since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have presented an unprecedented challenge to children’s education and well-being.
- Three in four of the children in 60 countries — at the highest risk of health and humanitarian crises from COVID-19 .
- Half these children lacked basic water and sanitation services respectively.
- One in three schools had either limited drinking water facilities or no such services at all.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- We must prioritise children’s learning.
- This means making sure schools are safe to reopen, including with access to hand hygiene, clean drinking water and safe sanitation.
- Governments, however, needed to balance the social and economic impacts from these measures by implementing public health measures.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
Pavitrapati Masks and Aushada Tara Suits
HEADLINES:
“Launching of “Pavitrapati” Ayurvedic Biodegradable Face Mask and Anti-Microbial Body Suit Named “Aushada Tara””
WHY IN NEWS:
Hot from PIB !
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Diseases : Recent innovations
ISSUE:
PAVITRAPATI
- The first ever Aurvedic based biodegradable face mask named “Pavitrapati” for sale. M/s Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra developed initially 10,000 Nos .
AUSHADA TARA
- Another ToT has been transferred to M/s. Siddheshwar Techtessile Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra by DIAT for development of anti-microbial body suit in the name of “Aushada tara”.
- The fabric material of the suit has the approval for fighting against the COVID-19.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- The suit had cleared the splash resistant tests and it has got good repellent property of any fluids.
- The demand of this suit will be for medical hospitals, private companies, airlines and Govt agencies.
- The production of the Aushada Tara has started and the initial order is already placed and executed.
- The above two products are the Trademarked products of DIAT (DU).
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
Price Monitoring and Resource Unit
HEADLINES:
Price Monitoring and Resource Unit set up in Karnataka under the aegis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
WHY IN NEWS:
A Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) has been set up in Karnataka under the aegis of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: NPPA
ISSUE:
PRICE MONITORING AND RESOURCE UNIT
- PMRUs are societies registered under the Societies Registration Act .
- The Board of Governors of PMRU includes the representatives from Central Government and State Government concerned and other stakeholders.
- NPPA, under its Central Sector Scheme named Consumer Awareness, Publicity and Price Monitoring (CAPPM), has already set up of PMRUs in 12 States/ UTs.
PRIMARY FUNCTION
- They act as collaborating partners of NPPA with information gathering mechanism at the grass-roots level.
- They will render necessary technical assistance to both the NPPA and the respective State Drug Controllers of States/ Union Territories.
- The PMRUs are expected to strengthen drug security and affordability at regional levels.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- NPPA has plans to set up PMRUs in all the 36 States/ UTs.
- The expenses of PMRUs, both recurring and non-recurring are borne by NPPA under the Scheme.
- Till now National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is headquartered at Delhi only and with the setting up of PMRUs in States/ UTs, NPPA shall have outreach at State Level as well.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | 14th Aug Current Affairs News Analysis
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