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What is Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)?

Why in news?

Recently, a 12-year-old boy from the USA became the first person in the world with sickle cell disease to begin a commercially approved gene therapy that may cure the condition.

About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD):

• Sickle Cell Disease is an inherited blood disorder.
• It is characterized by defective hemoglobin.
• Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that transports oxygen throughout the body.
• Individuals with SCD possess abnormal hemoglobin known as hemoglobin S, which can cause RBCs to take on a distorted sickle or crescent shape.
• This distortion hampers the effective delivery of oxygen to various tissues in the body.

How does it affect blood flow?

• Normally, RBCs are disc-shaped and flexible, allowing them to move smoothly through blood vessels.
• In SCD, the RBCs become sickle-shaped due to a genetic mutation.
• Sickled RBCs lack the flexibility to navigate through blood vessels, leading to blockages that impede blood flow to different parts of the body.

What causes it?

• SCD is caused by a defective gene known as the sickle cell gene.
• A child will inherit SCD only if they receive two copies of the gene—one from each parent.

Symptoms:

• Early stage symptoms include extreme fatigue or fussiness due to anemia, painful swelling in hands and feet, and jaundice.
• In later stages, symptoms may escalate to severe pain, organ damage, and increased susceptibility to infections.

Treatments:

• A bone marrow transplant (also known as a stem cell transplant) can potentially cure SCD.
• Additional treatments focus on alleviating symptoms, reducing complications, and extending the patient's lifespan.
• Gene therapy is also being explored as a promising treatment option.
• The UK recently became the first country to approve gene therapy for SCD.

What is bone marrow?

Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue located in the cavities of certain bones within the human body. It plays a critical role in the circulatory system by participating in blood formation, supporting immune functions, and storing fat.

Health Effects of Covid-19 Related Immunisation Disruptions 

Why in News?

Recently, a new paper has been published in the journal The Lancet Global Health titled- Estimating the Health Effects of Covid-19-Related Immunization Disruptions in 112 Countries During 2020–30: A Modelling Study, which highlights that Global immunization declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing disease burden and outbreak risk.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• The Covid-19 pandemic caused a drop in global vaccination rates, leading to a greater risk of disease and outbreaks in many countries.
• It is projected that interruptions in vaccinations for diseases such as Measles, Rubella, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Hepatitis B, meningitis A, and yellow fever could result in around 49,119 additional deaths between 2020 and 2030. The main cause of this increase in deaths is measles.
• From 2020 to 2030, the lack of vaccination coverage for all 14 pathogens might lead to a 2.66% reduction in long-term health impacts. This means that the number of lives saved could drop from 37,378,194 to 36,410,559.

Importance of Catch-Up Vaccines:

•  The significance of catch-up vaccines is highlighted, especially for diseases such as measles and yellow fever, which saw a rapid rise in cases after the pandemic. 
• Catch-up activities have proven to be effective in preventing additional deaths, with the ability to stop around 79% of extra deaths linked to measles, rubella, HPV, hepatitis B, and yellow fever. 

Impact on DTP Vaccine Coverage:

• The pandemic impacted coverage for the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) vaccines, resulting in an additional 6 million children missing out on vaccination in 2021 globally.

Resurgence of Measles Cases:

•  There has been a rise in measles cases in many countries, including places where the disease was once thought to be eliminated, like the United Kingdom and the United States. 
•  In 2021, almost 61 million doses of the measles vaccine were either delayed or missed because of Covid-19 related interruptions in vaccination programs across 18 countries. 
•  Additionally, in 2022, there was an increase in both measles cases and deaths worldwide compared to the previous year, with millions of children missing their vaccinations. 
•  This issue was particularly severe in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and India. 

Recommendations:

• Effectiveness of Catch-Up Activities: The study indicated that starting catch-up vaccination efforts could prevent about 78.9% of extra deaths from 2023 to 2030. 
•  This suggests that taking action to catch up on vaccinations can greatly reduce the negative effects caused by interruptions in vaccine coverage. 
• Importance of Timing and Targeting: It is crucial to implement catch-up vaccination activities quickly and focus on specific groups and areas that are most impacted by these disruptions. 
•  This targeted strategy can enhance vaccine coverage and lessen the harmful effects of not being fully vaccinated. 
• Significance of Continued Immunization Efforts: Ongoing efforts for immunization, especially for vaccines like HPV, are vital as they help prevent cervical cancer. 
•  This highlights the need for continuous vaccination campaigns, even when there are disruptions, to ensure long-term health benefits for the public. 

What are the Major Initiatives Related to Immunisation?

Global:

• Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030): This plan outlines a global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunisation from 2021 to 2030.
• By the end of this decade, IA2030 aims to: 
  • Reduce the number of children who don't receive any vaccines by 50%.
  • Introduce 500 new or under-used vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.
  • Achieve 90% coverage for essential childhood vaccines.
• World Immunisation Week: This event is celebrated every year during the last week of April.
• Big Catch-Up Initiative: Launched by the WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and many other health partners, this initiative focuses on increasing vaccination rates among children after a decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indian:

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): The program provides free immunization against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Nationally targeting 9 Diseases: 

• Diphtheria
• Pertussis
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Measles
• Rubella
• Severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis
• Hepatitis B
• Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenza type B
• Sub-nationally targeting 3 Diseases: 
  • Rotavirus diarrhoea
  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia
  • Japanese Encephalitis
•  Two important achievements of the Universal Immunization Program (UIP): 
  • Eradication of polio in 2014
  • Elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015

Mission Indradhanush:

• Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in 2014 to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under UIP.
• It is being implemented in several phases.

Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour

Why in News?

Recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report titled ‘Profits and poverty: The economics of forced labour’, which has found that forced labour generates illegal profits worth USD 36 billion per year.

What is Forced Labour?

• According to the ILO, forced or compulsory labour is defined as all work or service that is extracted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the individual has not voluntarily offered themselves.
• For measurement purposes, forced labour is characterized as work that is both involuntary and performed under coercion.
• This means the work is done without the free and informed consent of the worker, and coercion refers to the methods used to compel someone to work against their will.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Forced labour is responsible for generating illegal profits amounting to USD 36 billion annually, marking a 37% increase since 2014.
• This rise is linked to an increase in the number of individuals forced into labour and the amplified profits from the exploitation of these victims.

Regional Distribution of Illegal Profits:

• Illegal profits from forced labour are highest in Europe and Central Asia, totaling USD 84 billion.
• Following this, Asia and the Pacific account for USD 62 billion, the Americas for USD 52 billion, Africa for USD 20 billion, and the Arab States for USD 18 billion.

Profit Generation Per Victim:

• On average, traffickers and criminals earn nearly USD 10,000 per victim, an increase from USD 8,269 a decade prior.
• Commercial sexual exploitation constitutes over two-thirds (73%) of the total illegal profits, even though it accounts for only 27% of all victims in forced labour scenarios.

Sectors with Highest Illegal Profits: The sector generating the most profits from forced labour is commercial sexual exploitation, followed by:

• Industry: USD 35 billion
• Services: USD 20.8 billion
• Agriculture: USD 5.0 billion
• Domestic Work: USD 2.6 billion
• The Industry Sector includes mining, manufacturing, construction, and utilities.
• The Services Sector encompasses wholesale and trade, accommodation, food services, arts and entertainment, personal services, education, health care, and transportation.
• The Agriculture Sector covers forestry, hunting, crop cultivation, livestock production, and fishing.
• Domestic work is performed in private households and often lacks regulation.

Increase in Number of People in Forced Labour:

• As of 2021, there were approximately 27.6 million individuals engaged in forced labour on any given day, which represents an increase of 2.7 million since 2016.

Recommendations

Need for Comprehensive Approach:

• The report stresses the immediate need for investments in enforcement measures to disrupt illegal profit flows and ensure that perpetrators are held responsible.
• It highlights the necessity of strengthening legal frameworks, offering training for enforcement officials, extending labour inspections into high-risk sectors, and improving collaboration between labour and criminal law enforcement.

Addressing Root Causes:

• While law enforcement is critical, the report emphasizes that simply enforcing laws is not sufficient to eradicate forced labour.
• A comprehensive strategy must be implemented that focuses on addressing the root causes of forced labour and protecting victims.
• Promoting fair recruitment practices is crucial, as many cases of forced labour originate from recruitment abuses.
• It is also essential to ensure that workers have the freedom to organize and bargain collectively to combat forced labour effectively.

Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate

Why in News ?

Report highlights the impacts of climate change on Occupational safety and health (OSH)

Impact of Climate change on OSH

Climate-related threats: 

•  Every year, 2.09 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are lost due to the effects of excessive heat alone. 
•  Certain workers, especially agricultural workers and others who work outdoors while doing heavy tasks in hot climates, face a higher risk. 
•  Many health problems in workers have been connected to climate change, including: 
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Kidney dysfunction
  • Mental health issues

Vulnerable sections:  

• Women workers may face higher risks because of their job roles, especially in subsistence agriculture. 
•  Workers with a disability are especially at risk due to issues like poverty and lower education levels. 
•  In India, it is estimated that around 100,000 farmers took their own lives between 1993 and 2003 due to problems such as water shortages and declining crop yields. 

Existing international labor standards related to climate change and OSH 

• Climate-related OSH Hazards: This refers to the various dangers linked to climate change that affect Occupational Safety and Health. Key documents include the Occupational Safety and Health Convention from 198, and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention from 2006.
• Excessive Heat: This issue is addressed in the Plantations Convention from 1958, which outlines the risks associated with high temperatures in workplaces, particularly in agricultural settings. It highlights the importance of managing heat exposure for the safety of workers.
• Air Pollution: The Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise, and Vibration) Convention from 1977 focuses on the health risks posed by polluted air in the workplace. It emphasizes the need for measures to reduce air contamination to protect workers' health.

Recommendations 

• OSH policies and programs need to be coordinated across government departments to maintain consistency in policies. 
•  There should be focused policies at the national level along with effective preventive measures in the workplace. 
•  A global response involving multiple sectors is necessary to address the effects of climate change through both mitigation and adaptation strategies. 

50 Years of Chipko Movement

Why in News?

Recently, 50 years have been completed for the landmark environmental movement that was started in Uttarakhand in 1973.

What was the Chipko Movement All About?

Origin:

• The Chipko Movement began in the 1970s in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, primarily as a response to severe deforestation caused by commercial logging activities by outside contractors.
• This initiative was notably marked when women from the Himalayan villages of Reni and Mandal embraced trees to protect them from loggers.

About:

• The term 'chipko' translates to 'embrace,' symbolizing how villagers physically hugged trees to prevent them from being cut down.
• This action conveyed a profound message: “We, our nature and us, are One.”
• The movement was characterized by non-violent protests aimed at preserving nature.
• One of its most significant achievements was raising awareness about forest rights and demonstrating how grassroots efforts can influence environmental policies.
• It led to a ban on commercial logging on slopes exceeding 30 degrees and at altitudes above 1,000 meters above sea level in 1981.

Key Figures and Leaders

Chandi Prasad Bhatt:

• A prominent Gandhian social activist and environmentalist during the early days of the movement.
• He established the Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (DGSM), which played a crucial role in uniting locals against unsustainable logging practices.

Sundarlal Bahuguna:

• Inspired by Gandhian principles of non-violence, he was vital in organizing communities and promoting the significance of forests.
• His efforts were key in mobilizing support for the movement.

Gaura Devi:

• A village woman who became a symbol of resistance by leading a group of women to confront loggers and physically protect the trees.
• Her actions made Chipko a predominantly women-led movement, inspiring women across the country.

Philosophy Behind the Movement:

• The movement was rooted in Gandhian principles, advocating for harmony with nature.
• It aimed to empower local communities by giving them a voice in decisions regarding their natural resources.
• Chipko challenged exploitative practices by outside contractors and promoted a more inclusive approach to forest management.

Impact:

• Chipko inspired similar environmental movements across India, including the Narmada Bachao Andolan, Appiko Movement in Karnataka, and the Silent Valley Movement.
• Internationally, it became a symbol of resistance against environmental degradation.
• The movement led to significant policy changes in India, resulting in stricter regulations against illegal logging and recognition of the rights of indigenous communities.
• Notably, it highlighted the collective mobilization of women for environmental causes, which also shifted societal perceptions regarding women's roles.

Relevance of Chipko Movement in 2024:

• The Chipko Movement remains a source of inspiration, illustrating the power of collective action in addressing environmental issues.
• Its principles of sustainability, community involvement, and nonviolent resistance continue to be vital in combating climate change and protecting ecosystems.
• The movement encourages grassroots initiatives, emphasizing women's participation and inclusion in environmental planning.

Gender Gap in Indian STEM Faculties

Why in news?

A significant gender gap exists in Indian STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) faculties, with a BiasWatchIndia study revealing that only 13.5% of faculty members across 98 universities and institutes are women. This underrepresentation is more prominent in India compared to countries like the US and UK.

Why is there a Gender Gap in Indian STEM Faculties?

• Fields like Biology, categorized as "soft sciences," tend to have higher female representation compared to hard sciences such as Engineering and Physics.
• Societal biases discourage women from pursuing fields perceived as less feminine, impacting their choices in higher education and research.

Lack of Support During PostDoc to Faculty Transition:

• The critical transition from postdoc to faculty often coincides with family planning, resulting in difficult choices for women.
• Societal pressures prioritizing family over career ambitions, along with a lack of support structures, exacerbate this challenge.

Toxic Workplace Environment:

• Many women leave STEM academia due to a toxic work environment.
• Factors include disrespect, inadequate access to resources, and limited advancement opportunities compared to male colleagues.

Difficulty Accessing Gender Representation Data:

• The absence of a central database tracking women faculty in STEM across India limits understanding of the gender gap and monitoring progress towards gender equality.

What Steps can be Taken to Bridge the Gender Gap in Indian STEM Faculties?

• Implement flexible work schedules, part-time options, and on-site childcare facilities for female faculty, especially those with young children.
• Programs like DST's WISE-KIRAN could be expanded to provide targeted support, such as childcare options and flexible work arrangements, to ease this crucial transition.

"Back to Academia" Fellowships:

• Create fellowship programs that support women who have temporarily left academia to raise families, offering resources and mentorship to help them re-enter the research and teaching fields.

International Collaboration and Exchange Programs:

• Encourage female faculty to engage in international research collaborations and exchange programs to broaden their perspectives and research networks.

Visibility and Recognition:

• Highlight and celebrate the achievements of female faculty through awards, public recognition, and media coverage to boost morale, inspire others, and promote role models.

Women Safety and Data-Led Development:

• Establish robust policies to address workplace harassment and ensure equal opportunities, which are critical for retaining female talent.
• Incorporate data collection on female faculty to create a central database, enabling better-targeted interventions.

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