Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti launched MIS for monitoring
Jul42017
Jul42017
The public sector pay cap: what you need to know
The Scottish Government has announced that from next year the public sector pay cap will be lifted, ensuring that public sector pay increases better reflect rising living costs.
Jul42017
Rising cholera, diarrhoea and malnutrition ‘deadly’ for children in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan, warns UNICEF
4 July 2017 – Access, funding and security are urgently needed to ensure humanitarians can reach hundreds of thousands of children suffering from cholera and diarrhoea across Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
On top of these diseases, rising rates of malnutrition in these countries “could be deadly for children,” Christophe Boulierac, a spokesperson for the UN agency, said at a regular news briefing in Geneva.
“Access, funding and security are needed in the four countries so that UNICEF and our partners can reach children with an integrated response that deal simultaneously with both malnutrition and disease prevention treatment,” he added.
According to the UNICEF spokesperson, Yemen is presently the worst cholera outbreak in the world with over 260,000 suspected cases and over 1,600 deaths. Of these, half the suspected cases and a quarter of the deaths are among children.
Furthermore, the situation of South Sudan is equally worrying. The current cholera outbreak in the country, which started in June last year, has for the first time lasted through the entire dry season and there are fears that it could worsen as the new rainy season progresses.
About 6,870 suspected cases of cholera have been reported in South Sudan so far this year, informed Mr. Boulierac, noting that children and teenagers accounted for about 51 per cent of the cases.
On top of this, about 1.1 million are malnourished in the country and almost 290,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
In Somalia, there are about 53,000 cases of cholera (three times more than in 2016 and ten times more than in 2015) and some 1.4 million children are feared to be malnourished, 275,000 of them severely malnourished, the UN spokesperson added.
Furthermore, in Sudan, over 20,000 suspected cases of acute water diarrhoea, with over 400 deaths, had been recorded.
“Over 20 per cent of the affected population are children,” he noted.
Response in midst of daunting challenges
In their response, UN agencies, including UNICEF as well as humanitarian partners have stepped up their efforts but face considerable challenges.
In Yemen, UNICEF delivered a total of 36 tons of life saving medical and water purification supplies to Yemen on board chartered aircrafts. However, with limited access and a national health system ravaged by conflict, there are significant challenges reaching those in need.
Similarly, access is a major obstacle in Sudan where the most affected areas lack safe water and proper sanitation. In the country, UNICEF is also in urgent need of some $22 million to provide life-saving interventions to over 100,000 children.
As part of its programmes, UNICEF along with partners is providing therapeutic and life-saving food treatment to severely malnourished children South Sudan (200,000), Somalia (200,000) and Yemen (320,000). The UN agency is also restoring and equipping health facilities, developing medical and nutritional supply pipelines and providing clean and safe water to vulnerable children and families.
Jul42017
Indian Air Force Celebrates World Health Day
On the occasion of World Health Day on 07 Apr 17, IAF organized a seminar at AF Auditorium, Subroto Park on the theme “Depression: Let’s Talk”. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC,
Jul42017
Press release: Business rates boost for broadband
Homes and businesses across England are set to benefit from better broadband thanks to new laws introduced by the government today (4 July 2017).
The Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill is paving the way for a gold standard of full-fibre broadband and future 5G communications. By enabling 100% business rates relief for operators who install new fibre on their networks, the Bill will incentivise operators to invest in the broadband network.
By seeking to improve the speed, service quality, security and reliability of broadband services, the Bill has the potential to transform the way in which modern businesses work together, reach their consumers and target their export markets.
The benefits of better broadband will be felt wider than businesses. It will also increase internet speeds for households and enable households with multiple devices and users to download and upload huge amounts of data. For example, simultaneously streaming high definition TV and films, playing online games, and working from home quicker and more reliably than ever before.
These measures will provide important support for a more productive economy and boost the prospects for economic growth.
Minister for Local Government Marcus Jones said:
Regardless of where you live or work, we want everyone to benefit from access to the fast, affordable and reliable broadband they need to thrive.
From making it easier to work from home to allowing digital businesses to flourish, our measures are creating the right conditions for more high-skilled, high-paid jobs of the future.
We’ve already committed £400 million for new digital infrastructure fund and this government’s Digital Strategy is helping bring together business organisations, local authorities and communications providers.
Now the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill is going one step further to kick start the installation of new fibre, paving the way for better connectivity across the country.
Minister of State for Digital, Matt Hancock said:
We want Britain to remain the digital world leader that it is, and that means having the right infrastructure in place that will allow us keep up with the rapid advances in technology now and in the future.
We want to see more commercial investment in the gold standard connectivity that full-fibre provides, and the 100% business rate relief and the Digital Infrastructure investment fund will provide a strong incentive for this.
At the 2016 Autumn Statement, the government announced £1 billion of new funding to boost the UK’s digital infrastructure. This includes investment of £400 million in a new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund to support emerging fibre broadband providers.
Today’s announcement builds on the recent, pioneering new Digital Strategy, which has skills, infrastructure and innovation at its heart to support Britain’s world-leading digital economy.
As we make the most of the opportunities presented by exiting the European Union, it will help to make the UK the best place to start and run a digital business – creating more of the high-skilled, high-paid jobs of the future.
This 100% rate relief for new full fibre infrastructure in England will apply for 5 years and be backdated to 1 April 2017. The relief will provide £60 million of It will support to telecom companies who invest in their fibre network by installing new fibre lines to support our digital infrastructure.