South Asia – News Agency nabakhabar https://www.en.3danews.ir Find the latest breaking news and information on the top stories, weather, business, entertainment, politics, and more. Sun, 31 Mar 2024 19:05:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.4 https://dlen.3danews.ir/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/cropped-2-1-32x32.jpg South Asia – News Agency nabakhabar https://www.en.3danews.ir 32 32 How Climate Change is Exacerbating South Asia’s Snakebite Epidemic https://www.en.3danews.ir/environment/global-waming/67610/are-snakebites-rising-in-south-asia-and-whats-responsible https://www.en.3danews.ir/environment/global-waming/67610/are-snakebites-rising-in-south-asia-and-whats-responsible#respond Sat, 02 Mar 2024 14:30:50 +0000 https://www.en.3danews.ir/?p=67610 Snakebites already inflict tremendous suffering across South Asia, where lack of awareness and access to treatment leaves thousands dead or disabled each year. Now, climate change threatens to dramatically worsen this humanitarian crisis.

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Snakebites already inflict tremendous suffering across South Asia, where lack of awareness and access to treatment leaves thousands dead or disabled each year. Now, climate change threatens to dramatically worsen this humanitarian crisis.

Rising temperatures are altering snake habitats, forcing species into new areas where human encounters are more likely. Floods and extreme weather also compromise shelter, exposing vulnerable groups like children to greater risk.

Research confirms each added degree Celsius significantly heightens bite probabilities. Yet adapting to warming conditions stresses snakes, increasing unpredictable behavior that can endanger nearby communities.

Declining habitats also emerge as snakes lose territory to urban expansion, agricultural changes and infrastructure development. With few natural predators, uncontrolled rodent populations follow – jeopardizing food security and public health.

While antivenoms exist, production and distribution remain inadequate across the region. Improving treatments alone neglects socioeconomic root causes. Addressing poverty, education and gender inequities through integrated strategic planning remains key to empowering at-risk populations.

With climate impacts worsening, decisive cooperation is needed from governments, aid groups and researchers. Prioritizing prevention, early response training and snake-friendly coexistence models can curb rising bites if combined with efforts empowering communities most vulnerable to the evolving threats. As the crisis grows, so too does the call for global solidarity with South Asia’s marginalized.

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]]> https://www.en.3danews.ir/environment/global-waming/67610/are-snakebites-rising-in-south-asia-and-whats-responsible/feed 0 South Asia: Sharp rise in child and maternal deaths due to COVID-19 https://www.en.3danews.ir/world/42721/south-asia-sharp-rise-in-child-and-maternal-deaths-due-to-covid-19 https://www.en.3danews.ir/world/42721/south-asia-sharp-rise-in-child-and-maternal-deaths-due-to-covid-19#respond Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:28:02 +0000 https://www.en.nabakhabar.ir/?p=42721 Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday. In a new report, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that the impact also included sharp […]

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Severe disruptions in health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in an additional 239,000 child and maternal deaths in South Asia last year, United Nations agencies said on Wednesday.

In a new report, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that the impact also included sharp drops in the number of young children treated for severe acute malnutrition as well as in childhood immunizations.

According to George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, the fall-off of these critical services has had a devastating impact on the health and nutrition of the poorest and most vulnerable families.

“It is absolutely vital that these services are fully restored for children and mothers who are in desperate need of them, and that everything possible is done to ensure that people feel safe to use them”, he stressed.

The region also suffered increased levels of unemployment, poverty and food insecurity due to the pandemic, further undermining public health, the report said

Millions of girls unlikely to ever return to school

The report – which covered Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – also found that about 420 million children were out of school due to the pandemic and its related control measures.

It warned that 4.5 million girls are likely to never return to school, and are at particular risk due to deteriorating access to sexual and reproductive health and information services.

“Given the cultural and social context of South Asia, the suspension of these services is deepening inequalities and is likely to lead to an increase in the number of maternal and neonatal deaths”, Bjorn Andersson, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific said.

“There are also likely to be an additional 3.5 million unintended pregnancies in this region”, Mr. Andersson warned.

Wider impact of COVID-19 also included increased risk of child marriage and stunting – impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition and health.

Prioritize essential health services

The UN agencies called for prioritizing essential health services for pregnant women, adolescents and young infants, as well as strengthening supply chains for the delivery of vaccines and other essential childhood medicines.

Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, underlined that maintaining essential health services is vital for the region’s COVID-19 response strategy “as disruption would only increase the risk of deaths from preventable causes”.

The report also called for ensuring uninterrupted and improved health services for all, helping vulnerable populations address health needs, and stepping up of key COVID-19 prevention measures.

It also urged cash transfer programs to support the poorest families.

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