Current Affairs Digest: Your Gateway to Timely Information

 

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Definition: 

• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. 

Causes of AMR: 

• Resistance in bacteria can arise naturally by genetic mutation or by one species acquiring resistance from another. 

• It can also appear spontaneously because of random mutations or through the spreading of resistant genes through horizontal gene transfer. 

The main causes of AMR are: 

• Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials 

• Lack of clean water and sanitation 

• Inadequate infection prevention and control 

Lack of awareness Health Concerns: 

• A 2021 report by Lancet, documenting data from 204 countries, estimated that 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial AMR and 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to bacterial AMR. 

• The magnitude is equal to that of diseases such as HIV and malaria. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia had the highest death rates, signifying a high susceptibility to AMR. 

• The rising levels of antimicrobial resistance, driven by excessive antimicrobial use threaten to compromise not only public health gains in the field of infectious diseases but also jeopardize cancer treatment, transplants, etc. 

Main drivers of AMR: 

• The main drivers of antimicrobial resistance include the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, and the lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for both humans and animals.

High Rates of AMR: 

• India’s high rates of AMR are a serious problem. Antibiotic-resistant infections are a growing threat to public health globally. High rates of AMR can result in antibiotics becoming ineffective in treating common infections, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. 

• India has one of the highest rates of AMR in the world, with more than 60,000 newborns dying each year from antibiotic-resistant infections. 

• The ICMR report showed a sustained rise in drug-resistant pathogens, resulting in difficulty in treating certain infections with available medicines.

High Burden of Infectious Diseases: 

• India faces a significant burden of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, typhoid, cholera, and pneumonia. The emergence of AMR makes these diseases more difficult to treat effectively. 

• It's especially concerning because these diseases are already major public health challenges in the country.

Unregulated Antibiotic Market: 

• The existence of a large and unregulated market for antibiotics is a major contributing factor to AMR. Overuse, misuse, and self-prescription of antibiotics can lead to the development of resistance. This issue calls for better regulation and enforcement to control the distribution and use of antibiotics. 

Lack of Surveillance and Monitoring: 

• The absence of adequate surveillance, monitoring, and reporting systems for AMR is a significant concern. Effective monitoring and reporting are essential for tracking the spread of resistant strains and implementing appropriate interventions.

Inadequate Infection Control Measures: 

• The absence of infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings is problematic. Proper infection control practices are essential to prevent the transmission of resistant infections in healthcare facilities, which can contribute to the spread of AMR.

Limited Research and Innovation: 

• Research and innovation in the development of new antibiotics, diagnostics, and vaccines to combat AMR are crucial. The scarcity of such efforts in India is concerning, as it limits the arsenal of tools available to combat resistant infections. 

Measures can be taken to address the AMR issue 

Global Efforts:

• Collaborative Action Plans: Countries, particularly G20 nations, should work together to develop regional action plans to combat AMR. These plans should include strategies for surveillance, research, and control of AMR. 

• International Funding Mechanism: Establish an international funding mechanism dedicated to AMR research and development. This funding can support the creation of new antibiotics, treatment options, and technologies to combat AMR. 

Local Efforts: 

• National Action Plans (NAPs) Implementation: Prioritize the implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs) related to AMR at the country level. These NAPs should include specific strategies for addressing AMR within each nation. 

• Surveillance and Research: Focus on surveillance and research efforts to better understand the extent of AMR and develop innovative, affordable interventions. Expanding the scope of monitoring networks is essential to gather data and track the spread of AMR. 

• Utilize Government Initiatives: Utilize government initiatives, such as Free Diagnostic Services and Kayakalp (or similar programs in other countries), to strengthen AMR containment efforts by improving healthcare services and maintaining strict protocols.

Cancer: 

• It is a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body, and/or spread to other organs. The latter process is called metastasizing and is a major cause of death from cancer. 

• A neoplasm and malignant tumor are other common names for cancer. 

• Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach, and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, and thyroid cancer are the most common among women. 

Cancer Burden: 

• Cancer remains one of the leading causes of adult illness and death due to chronic and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) worldwide including in India. 

• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, and in 2018, there were approximately 18 million cases globally, of which 1.5 million were in India alone. 

• There were around 0.8 million cancer deaths in India in 2018 against 9.5 million globally. The numbers of new cases are estimated to double in India by 2040. 

Deaths due to Cancer can be Prevented: 

• Between 30% and 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding the key risk factors. 

• Key risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol use, diet, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, pollution, chronic infections, etc. 

Treatment: 

• Options include surgery, cancer medicines, and/or radiotherapy, administered alone or in combination. 

• Palliative care, which focuses on improving the quality of life of patients and their families, is an essential component of cancer care. 

Global Initiative: 

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was created in 1965 by a resolution of the World Health Assembly, as the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. 

• World Cancer Day is observed on 4th February every year.

 

 

Purchasing Managers Index

• It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception about key business variables as compared with the previous month. 

• The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors. 

• It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is also constructed. The PMI is a number from 0 to 100. 

• A print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction. 

• A reading at 50 indicates no change. 

• If the PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month, it represents that the economy is contracting. It is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity. 

• PMI is compiled by IHS Market for more than 40 economies worldwide. 

• IHS Market is a global leader in information, analytics, and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. IHS Market is part of S&P Global. 

Significance of PMI 

• The PMI is widely followed as an indicator of economic health because the manufacturing and services sector is a key driver of economic growth. 

• In general, a high PMI reading is seen as a positive sign for the economy, as it indicates that the manufacturing and services sectors are performing well and contributing to economic growth. 

• A low PMI reading is seen as a negative sign, as it indicates that the manufacturing and services sectors are struggling and may be dragging down overall economic performance.

 

Palm Oil & Its Use About: 

• Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil palms. 

• It is used as cooking oil and in everything from cosmetics, processed foods, cakes, chocolates, spreads, soaps, shampoo, and cleaning products to biofuel. 

• The use of crude palm oil in making biodiesel is being branded as ‘green diesel’. 

Production: 

• Indonesia and Malaysia together account for almost 90% of the global palm oil production, with Indonesia producing the largest quantity at over 45 million tonnes in 2021. 

Issues with the Oil Palm Industry: 

• The oil palm industry has come under criticism for what are reportedly unsustainable production practices leading to deforestation, and exploitative labor practices carried forward from the colonial era. 

• However, palm oil is preferred by many as it is inexpensive, oil palms produce more oil per hectare than some other vegetable oil plants like soybean. 

Global Supply Chain: 

• Palm oil is the world’s most widely used vegetable oil with its global production in the year 2020 being over 73 Million Tones (MT), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

• It is estimated to be 77 MT for the current year FY 2022-23. 

• According to Reuters, palm oil makes up 40% of the global supply of the four most widely used edible oils: palm, soybean, rapeseed (canola), and sunflower oil. 

• Indonesia is responsible for 60% of the global supply of palm oil. 

Status of India in Palm Oil Import: 

• India is the biggest importer of palm oil, which makes up 40% of its vegetable oil consumption. India meets half of its annual need for 8.3 MT of palm oil from Indonesia. 

• In 2021, India unveiled the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm to boost India’s domestic palm oil production. Given the advantages pertaining to Palm oil for India’s cooking requirements, Indian farmers should be incentivized to intensify efforts for area expansion under oil palm to enhance palm oil production in the country. India should also diversify its procurement as well as requirements.