Health

In a landmark two-day visit (December 4–5, 2025) by Vladimir Putin to New Delhi, the governments of India and Russia unveiled one of the most extensive packages of bilateral agreements in recent years.

The dual pressure – aggressive regulation of both ground-level dust and industrial emissions – makes clear: this winter, Delhi’s fight for breathable air will be fought on multiple fronts.

Sri Lanka faces a challenging road ahead: rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring health services, and ensuring clean water access are urgent priorities.

WHO plans to update the recommendations as new evidence emerges and will work with partners in 2026 to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are prioritised.

Public health advisories issued on days like these typically urge people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, reduce outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and use air purifiers where possible. But for many living in low-income neighbourhoods without access to such safeguards, these recommendations offer little relief.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that floods significantly raise the risk of vector-borne, food-borne and water-borne diseases, urging communities to prevent mosquito bites, ensure food safety and use safe drinking water wherever possible.

A production-based model, per September 2025 talks, could align incentives, but unions fear diluted guarantees. The government eyes hybrid funding, yet delays breed unrest.

Recent pledges from multilateral funding platforms – notably the replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – and renewed donor commitment signal that global solidarity may yet rescue the response.