India has highest preterm deaths

As per recent publication Born too soon: Global Action Report on preterm births,India has the highest number of preterm deaths. Out of an estimated annual 2.7 crore live births in India,35 lakh babies are born preterm. Of these,3.05 lakh die, Azad said,adding that steps were being taken to reduce such deaths,including a hike in allocation for child and reproductive health scheme from Rs 898 crore to Rs 4,002 crore.

Study on cellphone health effects is on

THE Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR is studying whether cellphones affect nervous and cardiovascular systems and whether long-term exposure can be carcinogenic.

ICMR has initiated a multi-centric study in Delhi/NCR to address this issue. Efforts are on to examine whether use of cellphones can create risk of neurological,cardiological,cancer,ENT and reproductive disorders, Azad told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

DMK targets Centre over TN Council Bill

THE government came under attack from its ally,the DMK,in Rajya Sabha when Law Minister Salman Khurshid moved a Bill to repeal a 2010 law to constitute a Legislative Council in Tamil Nadu.

The law was passed on the recommendation of the DMK-led Assembly. But before it could come into effect,the DMK lost power. The new Assembly,in which the AIADMK has a majority,passed a resolution recommending that the law be withdrawn.

Survey finds about 7 Indians diabetic

THE ongoing diabetes screening in 100 selected districts of the country under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer,Diabetes,Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke has revealed an incidence rate of 6.74 per cent. Of the total 62,19,882 people screened across 21 districts till May 18,as many as 4,19,212 were suspected to be suffering from the disease. Details given by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad show the highest incidence of diabetes,11.29 per cent,is in Tamil Nadu. The least incidence of 1.96 per cent was found in Maharashtra.