UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 03-10-2024

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) Scheme

The National Disability Network (NDN) has approached the Central government seeking inclusion of persons with disabilities without any income as well as age criteria in AB PM-JAY scheme

• It is the world’s largest health assurance scheme.
• Aim – To provide a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to all the poor and vulnerable families.
• It is to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which encompasses promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative care.
• Launched in – 2018.
• Recommended by - The National Health Policy, 2017.
• Ministry - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Funding – Centrally Sponsored Scheme (expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State governments).
• Coverage - Targets over 10 crore families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) based on SECC (Socio-Economic Caste Census)
• Implementing Agency – National Health Authority (NHA).
• Components - It has 2 components covering all 3 types of care to the people.
• Health and wellness Centres (HWC) – It covers primary care hospitalisation by providing comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services.
• It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.
• There is no restriction on the family size, age or gender.
• Benefits – It is portable across the country i.e. a beneficiary can visit any empaneled public or private hospital in India to avail cashless treatment.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) – It was launched in 2021 to provide Unique Digital Health IDs (UHID) for all Indian citizens to help hospitals, insurance firms, and citizens access health records electronically when required.
• Recent expansion of the scheme-The Union Cabinet recently expanded the scheme further to all senior citizens, regardless of income, who are 70 years of age or older.
• Senior citizens who are already benefiting from other public health insurance schemes like the
  • Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS),
  • Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or
  • Ayushman Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) have the option to either continue with their current scheme or opt for AB PM-JAY
• Eligibility with Private Insurance - Senior citizens who are covered by private health insurance policies or the Employees’ State Insurance scheme are also eligible to benefit under the scheme.

Reference

The Hindu | Disable persons seek inclusion in AB-PMJAY scheme  

Sus salvanius (Pygmy hogs)

Captive breeding and conservation efforts since 1996 in Assam have provided pygmy hogs back to the wildlife.

• Scientific Name - Porcula salvania.
• It is the smallest wild pig species and the only species in the genus Porcula.
• They are tiny, shy and considered extinct in the wild till its rediscovery in the Barnadi Wildlife sanctuary in Assam way back in 1971.
• The pygmy hog is one of the very few mammals that build its own home, or nest, complete with a ‘roof’.
• It is an indicator species (Organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition).
• Appearance - Males are slightly bigger than females. Their coats have blackish-brown bristles over gray-brown skin and they have no facial warts.
• Both sexes have a tail and females have 3 pairs of mammae.
• Habitat-Pygmy hogs live in tall, dense grasslands that have a mixture of shrubs and trees.
• Distribution – It is found only in the reserve forest belts of the Manas Wildlife Sanctuary and the Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary in northwestern Assam, India.
• It remain hidden in tall dense grass and rarely emerge in the open.
• Diet - Pygmy hogs have well developed teeth, with upturned canines and molars with rounded cusps. This allows them to enjoy an omnivorous diet.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN – Endangered
  • CITES - Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule I
• Threats - Habitat loss and degradation, and illegal hunting.

References

1. Deccan Herald | Pygmy hogs
2. Animal Diversity | Pygmy hog

Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) Scheme

PM launches Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand recently on 2^nd October 2024, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Jharkhand, the birthplace of Adivasi icon Birsa Munda has chosen to launch the scheme as Birsa Munda is revered as Dharti Aaba, Father of the Land.

• Aim - Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan envisions saturation of critical gaps in social infrastructure, health, education, and livelihood.
• The scheme focuses on the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) population.
• Ministry - The Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Fund - The scheme has a total outlay of Rs.79, 156 crores (Central Share -Rs.56, 333 crore and State Share - Rs. 22,823 crore). 
• Coverage - The Abhiyan will cover around 63,843 villages benefitting more than 5 crore tribal people in 549 districts and 2,911 blocks.
• It spread across all tribal majority villages and aspirational blocks in 30 States/UTs.
• It will be implemented through 25 interventions implemented by 17-line ministries of Govt of India.
• It will be implemented by convergence and outreach and ensures holistic and sustainable development of tribal areas and communities.

References

1. PIB | Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
2. The Indian Tribal | Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)

The World Health Organization recently recommended vaccinating pregnant women and administering infants with an antibody to prevent severe respiratory synctial virus (RSV) infection in newborns.

• Respiratory Synctial Virus, which typically causes cold-like symptoms, is a leading cause of severe infection and death in babies and older adults.
• The virus enters the body through the eyes, nose or mouth.
• It spreads easily through the air on infected respiratory droplets.
• It causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.
• Symptoms – Cough, Runny nose, Congestion, Sneezing, Sore throat, Mild headache, Lack of energy, Fever, Decreased appetite, Lack of interest in playing (in babies and young children).
• A severe infection leads to pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
• Spreading - It can spread in close contact with someone with the infection or by touching a contaminated object and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• People with RSV are usually contagious for 3 to 8 days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness.
• However, some infants and people with weakened immune systems can continue to spread the virus for 4 weeks or longer, even after they stop showing symptoms.
• RSV symptoms make it difficult to distinguish it from the common cold or other respiratory viruses (like the flu or COVID-19).
• In most regions of the United States and other areas with similar climates, RSV season generally starts during fall and peaks in the winter.
• Vulnerables - Premature babies and young infants, as well as older adults, with heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system are at higher risk of severe infection.

According to the WHO, majority of RSV-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with about 101,400 annual deaths in children under the age of five.

• Vaccines
  • For infants – Nirsevimab (Beyfortus).
  • For Adults - Two vaccines are available - Abrysvo and Arexvy.

References

1. The Hindu | WHO recommends maternal vaccine and antibody shot
2. CDC | Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)

Little Prespa Lake

Plants and reeds have sprouted up as the waters of Little Prespa Lake is slowly dying.

• Little Prespa is a long and narrow lake shared between Greece and Albania.
• It was created by a former single lake Prespa by the deposition of materials from the stream-torrent of Agios Germanos.
• It is a smaller cousin of the larger Great Prespa Lake to the north.
• It is a system of two lakes separated by an isthmus - the Great Prespa Lake, divided between the 3 countries, and the Little Prespa Lake, mostly within Greece.
• The area is a protected habitat as part of the Prespa National Park.
• The Society for the Protection of Prespa has been awarded for its significant work and efforts with the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Award.
• Limni Mikri Prespa is a very important wetland of Greece, which hosts mainly rare bird species, such as the Dalmatian Pelican, of which Prespa hosts the largest breeding colony on a global scale.
• In Little Prespa two islets are formed, Agios Achilleios and Vidronisi.
• The diversion of the Devoll River in the 1970s for irrigation has contributed to the lake’s drying up.

Reference

The Hindu | Little Prespa Lake is dying