medical-voice-for-policy-change] The way science is moving

Dr K K Aggarwal

Sri Lanka eliminates measles: The World Health Organization has announced that Sri Lanka has eliminated measles, interrupting transmission of the indigenous virus that causes the killer childhood disease.

Sri Lanka’s achievement comes at a time when globally measles cases are increasing. The country’s success demonstrates its commitment, and the determination of its health workforce and parents to protect children against measles.

The country reported its last case of measles caused by an indigenous virus in May 2016. Sporadic cases, reported in the last three years have all been importations that were quickly detected, investigated and rapidly responded to. The country has a strong surveillance system and all vaccine-preventable diseases are an integral part of the communicable disease surveillance system. Measles is a notifiable disease in the country.

What India can do

Start with making it notifiable

Alterative to Oxytocin

Heat-stable carbetocin has been added to the WHO Essential Medicines List of uterotonics for the prevention of excessive bleeding after childbirth.

 WHO guidelines recommend heat-stable carbetocin for PPH prevention in settings where oxytocin is unavailable or its quality cannot be guaranteed, and where its cost is comparable to other effective uterotonics..Heat-stable carbetocin was developed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals to address limitations in refrigeration and cold-chain transport of medicines in low- and lower-middle income countries.

Cleveland Clinic has delivered the first baby in North America after a womb transplant from a dead donor.

Uterine transplants have enabled more than a dozen women to give birth, usually with wombs donated from a living donor such as a friend or relative. In December, doctors in Brazil reported the world’s first birth using a deceased donor’s womb. These transplants were pioneered by a Swedish doctor who did the first successful one five years ago.

Camel milk and diabetes

A study conducted by ICMR in Rajasthan shows how camel milk has helped a caste stay away from the fast-spreading lifestyle disease.