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Health

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New global commitment to primary health care for all at Astana conference

“Although the world is a healthier place for children today than ever before, close to 6 million children die every year before their fifth birthday mostly from preventable causes, and more than 150 million are stunted,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “We as a global community can change that, by bringing quality health services close to those who need them. That’s what primary health care is about.”

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New Zika virus cases detected in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, count in state hits 55

A control room has been activated at the National Centre for Disease Control to monitor the situation. The number of monitoring teams in Jaipur has been increased from 50 to 170 and a special isolation ward created at the Hira Bagh Training Centre to treat Zika virus-affected patients.The virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful to pregnant women, as it can lead to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is significantly smaller than expected, in newborn children

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Coming of age: Adolescent Health

Adolescence is a highly formative time for future health. While many of the challenges that emerge at this age are rooted in experiences in the womb or in young childhood, effects of the neurobiological changes in the very early years can emerge in adolescence. This will influence behaviours that can lead to heart disease and other chronic conditions that also tend to be established at this crucial time of life, including levels of physical activity, nutrition, tobacco smoking, and alcohol use.

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China and India lead in Asia’s health protection gap

A report by the reinsurer, titled, “Asia’s Health Protection Gap: Insights for building greater resilience”, shows that both China and India  have a high share of out-of-pocket expenses—30% in China and 65% in India—which are much higher than that of mature markets globally at 10-14%. In addition, China and India represent more than 75% of total nontreatment cases in Asia, affecting around 32m households.

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