Lifestyle diseases and NCDs

Aligning national air-quality standards with the stringent guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) is an essential, non-negotiable step in safeguarding public health.

Resistance genes are specific DNA sequences that enable bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents. They can spread rapidly between bacteria, causing widespread drug resistance.

According to forecasts, temperatures in Delhi-NCR are expected to climb sharply, potentially touching 44°C, triggering a multi-day heatwave alert beginning this week.

The narcotics ban is one of the Taliban’s most visible governance tests. It demonstrates their ability to impose nationwide edicts in a fragmented country, but it also exposes the limits of ideology without economic support.

The Atlas urges a “whole-of-society” approach under the theme “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives.” Recommendations include food system reforms, anti-stigma campaigns, workforce training for compassionate care, and cross-sector partnerships involving agriculture, education, and trade.

The problem isn’t unique to Sri Lanka, but the country’s rapid adoption of sugar-focused measures without NSS safeguards has amplified it.

The EPA, which enforces federal environmental laws, said it would stop estimating the economic value of health benefits from reducing ozone and fine particulate matter, even though it acknowledges that they contribute to pulmonary disease, heart attacks, and premature deaths. 

The meeting also reviewed management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, with emphasis on designating C&D waste sites, stopping demolition activities during peak pollution periods, and partnering recycler associations for scientific disposal.