HIV, Cuba, AIDS, WHO - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Health

Explanation:
India and Cuba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhanced cooperation in the health sector, on Dec 6, 2017.

MOU on cooperation in the field of health and medicine between India and Cuba is important for exchanges in the health sector and to develop institutional framework for cooperation in the health sector between the two countries.

One potential area is pharmaceutical and biotechnology. Cuba has made remarkable strides in the field of bio-technology and pharmaceuticals.

The objective of this MoU is to establish comprehensive inter-ministerial and inter-institutional cooperation between the two countries in the field of health by pooling technical, scientific, financial and human resources with the ultimate goal of upgrading the quality and reach of human, material and infrastructural resources involved in health care, medical education & training, and research in both countries.

Main Areas of India-Cuba health MoU cooperation

The main areas of cooperation include:

• Exchange & training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts
• Assistance in development of human resources, health services and setting up of health care facilities
• Short term training of human resources in health
• Regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and exchange of information;
• Promotion of business development opportunities in pharmaceuticals and others identified by parties
• Procurement of generic and essential drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies;
• Procurement of health equipment and pharmaceutical products;
• Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.
• Procurement of health equipment and pharmaceutical products;
• Collaboration in the prevention of NCDs of mutual interest, such as neurocardiovascular diseases, cancer, COPDs, mental health and dementia, with an emphasis on SDG3 and related factors;
• Collaboration in the field of climate change impact on communicable diseases and vector borne diseases;
• Nutritional aspects of food intake, including malnutrition (over-nutrition and under-nutrition) in the light of the SDG2 and organization of nutritional services;
• Safety of production, transformation, distribution and food delivery;
• Research and training of food industry operators;
• Information and communication to citizens on hygiene and food safety and healthy eating habits;

ANSWER: Child sex abuse

Explanation:
In a first, the World Health Organisation has formulated clinical guidelines on responding to children and adolescents who have been sexually abused.

The guidelines put forward recommendations for the frontline health care providers - general practitioners, gynaecologists, paediatricians, nurses and others - who may directly receive a victim of sexual abuse or may identify sexual abuse during the course of diagnosis and treatment.

While Indian doctors have welcomed the new guidelines, they feel that there is more than just guidelines required in the country.

In 2010, the IAP released similar guidelines on 'recommendations on recognition and response to child abuse and neglect in the Indian setting.

Like the IAP guidelines, the new WHO guidelines too focus on the recommendations and good practice suggestions in terms of disclosure made by the child, obtaining medical history, conducting physical examinations and forensic investigations, documenting findings, offering preventive treatment for HIV post exposure, pregnancy prevention, and other sexually transmitted diseases, psychological and mental health interventions among others.

The guidelines highlight that child sexual abuse has a short-term as well as long-term mental health impact like lifetime diagnosis of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, externalising symptoms, eating disorders, problems with relationships, sleep disorders and suicidal and self-harm ideation and behaviours.

Health consequences of the abuse include the risk of pregnancy, gynaecological disorders such as chronic non-cyclical pelvic pain, menstrual irregularities, painful periods, infections and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

One of the most commonly seen mistakes in handling child sexual abuse cases is re-traumatising the child as well as his parents with questions. Such mistakes can be avoided if those dealing with such cases are well trained.

ANSWER: Saima Wazed Hossain

Explanation:
Saima Wazed Hossain was on 6 July 2017 appointed as the WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in the South-East Asia region.

A globally renowned champion for the cause of autism spectrum disorder, Hossain has been appointed for a period of two years.

In the last one year while championing for the cause of autism for WHO, Hossain facilitated the ‘Thimphu Declaration’ on autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders at an international conference in Bhutan in April 2017.

As WHO Goodwill Ambassador, Hossain will be promoting the Thimphu declaration which emphasises on integrating the needs of autism affected people into national health and socioeconomic development plans.

Hossain was designated as WHO Regional Champion for Autism in May 2016.

Autism: Know More

• Autism is a life- long disability that affects brain functioning.
• When left without proper treatment and support, Autism can cause significant impairment in exercising of an individual’s human rights and fundamental freedoms.
  Globally, autism prevalence rates are estimated to be 160 cases in a population of 10000.
• In low and middle income countries, children with autism do not get the medical attention and care they need.

ANSWER: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Explanation:
Former Ethiopian Health Minister Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been elected as the new Director-General of the World Health Organisation.

This election has earned the distinction of being the first election which saw the participation of all WHO member states in the voting process.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defeated the other two contendors to the post, namely, UK’s Dr David Nabarro and Pakistan’s Dr Sania Nishtar.

The head of the organization is the Director-General (DG), appointed by the World Health Assembly. Earlier stincts of Dr Tedros includes the post of Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister (2012-2016) and Health Minister (2005-2012).

He has also served as chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Also as chair of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board, as well as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

During his tenure at the helm of WHO, Dr Tedros will have to tackle challenges like the spread of the Zika virus and Ebola, along with existing challenges posed by Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, to name a few.

WHO is also at present facing the financial challenges as a result of the squeeze on donor funds. WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health.

WHO: Know More

• Established on 7 April 1948, it succeeded the Health Organization, which was an agency of the League of Nations.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Group and its headquarters are located at Geneva. WHO flag features the Rod of Asclepius as a symbol for healing

ANSWER: Founding of WHO in 1948

Explanation:
World Health Day is on the 7th of April each year. This day marks the anniversary of the World Health Organization which was founded in 1948.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the leading global health authority within the United Nations System.

The work of WHO is varied and can mostly be summarized through their 6 point agenda.

• Promote Development
• Foster Health Security
• Strengthen Health Systems
• Harness information, research and evidence
• Enhance Partnerships
• Improve Performance

WHO uses the anniversary of their founding day not only as an opportunity to celebrate the organization and its work but also as an opportunity to highlight a current global health priority.

For each World Health Day, WHO designates a health challenge or theme. Previous years themes have included:

• Road Safety (2005)
• Shape The Future Of Life (2003)
• Protecting Health From Climate Change (2008)
• International Health Security (2007)
• Anti microbacterial Resistance: No Action Today No Cure Tomorrow (2011)
• Aging and Health (2012)

Each year is given a theme to highlight a different global health concern. This year’s (2017) is Depression: Let's Talk.

WHD 2017 is the highlight of a year-long campaign which seeks to raise awareness of depression and encourage those who are suffering with it to seek and get help.

Previous themes have included diabetes, vector-borne diseases, protecting health from climate change and road safety.

Depression: Know More

• Depression is the leading cause of ill health world wide, according to WHO.
• It is estimated that more than 300 million people are living with depression, an increase of more than 18 per cent between 2005 and 2015.
• Depression has strong links with other noncommunicable disorders and diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and increases the risk of substance abuse.
• Depression is also an important risk factor in suicide, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year.
• Treatment usually involves psychotherapy, antidepressant medication or a combination of both.
• The so-called talking cure administered by general doctors, nurses, or health care workers can be just as effective.

ANSWER: Unite to End TB

Explanation:
This year, the theme of World TB Day 2017 is Unite to End TB.

WHO has placed a special focus on uniting efforts to Leave No One Behind.

India has the highest number of TB patients internationally.

This constitutes about 25 percent of all cases.

While urban TB afflicts more individuals annually, a similar case in rural area remains infectious for a longer time period as per new research findings.

WHO: Know More

• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded: 7 April 1948
• Head: Margaret Chan
• Customer service: 011 6656 4800
• Founders: India, Philippines, Brazil, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, more
• Parent organization: United Nations

ANSWER: 12 families

Explanation:
WHO on 28th Feb 2017 published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" - a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.

The list was drawn up in a bid to guide and promote research and development (R&D) of new antibiotics.

This is as part of WHO’s efforts to address growing global resistance to antimicrobial medicines.

The list highlights in particular the threat of gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

These bacteria have built-in abilities to find new ways to resist treatment and can pass along genetic material that allows other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well.

The WHO list is divided into three categories according to the urgency of need for new antibiotics: critical, high and medium priority.

Priority 1:	CRITICAL
	Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant
	Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant
	Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant, ESBL-producing
Priority 2:	HIGH
	Enterococcus faecium, vancomycin-resistant
	Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant, vancomycin-intermediate and resistant
	Helicobacter pylori, clarithromycin-resistant
	Campylobacter spp., fluoroquinolone-resistant
	Salmonellae, fluoroquinolone-resistant
	Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cephalosporin-resistant, fluoroquinolone-resistant
Priority 3:	MEDIUM
	Haemophilus influenzae, ampicillin-resistant
	Streptococcus pneumoniae, penicillin-non-susceptible
	Shigella spp., fluoroquinolone-resistant

ANSWER: Cuba

Explanation:
European Union and Cuba signed a political accord on 12th Dec

It is hoped that the EU hopes will position its companies for Cuba's transition to a more open economy.

It will also allow it to press for political freedoms on the island.

EU lifted sanctions on the communist-ruled island in 2008, the so-called political dialogue and cooperation agreement is the first accord between Cuba and the 28-nation bloc.

Normalisation of relations has been tortuous partly because of resistance from the EU's eastern members due to their own communist past.

Havana’s arrest of dissidents in 2003 led the bloc to impose diplomatic sanctions, limiting contacts.

ANSWER: Both are the same

Explanation:
Late Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s ashes were taken on 30th Nov to a symbolic reunion with fallen comrade in arms Ernesto Che Guevara .

This marks the first stop in the journey of the ashes across Cuba

The flag covered urn was placed in a mausoleum and museum dedicated to Guevara

The urban will be placed next to 19th century independence hero Jose Marti in the eastern city of Santiago in Cuba eventually

Cubans are observing 9 days of mourning for Casto following his death.

Casto ruled from 1959 till 2006, handing power over to brother Raul.

About Che Guevara

• Full Name: Ernesto Guevara
• Moniker: Che
• He met Castro in 1955 while in exile in Mexico.
• He was a doctor by profession.
• He won the crucial battle for Cuba’s freedom in 1958 in Santa Clara.
• He was given high ranking positions in the government.
• Guevara left in 1966 to lead a guerrilla expedition in Bolivia.
• He was executed on Oct 9, 1967 at La Higuera.
• His remains were taken back to Santa Clara three decades later.
• Santa Clara is also home to a museum dedicated to the revolutionary icon.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The WHO for the first time has recommended HIV self-testing in the privacy of one's home using HIV kit. This is a move that may result in a major breakthrough in HIV treatment by improving access to diagnosis.

The UN agency's guidance has even prompted the health ministry here to evaluate the proposal.

Lack of HIV diagnosis is one of the biggest problems of this disease

Estimates show around 87% of HIV-infected people in India are not even aware that they are suffering from the disease and may be unknowingly spreading the virus.

Globally, around 40% of all people with HIV or over 14 million remain unaware of their status.

Self Testing and HIV AIDS

• Particularly relevant for people who find accessing tests in clinical settings difficult.
• Results of the test can be seen within 20 minutes or less.
• Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics.
• In 2015, the total number of people living with HIV in India were estimated at 21.17 lakh.
• Around 86,000 new HIV cases were found.