Assam has emerged as the state with the lowest life expectancy in India, averaging just 66 years, according to recent data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).This figure not only falls below the national average of approximately 69 years but also trails behind other Northeastern states, with neighboring Nagaland boasting a life expectancy exceeding 75 years.
Health experts attribute Assam's lagging life expectancy to a combination of factors, including air pollution, poor dietary habits, high blood pressure, smoking, and environmental hazards.Dr. Rahul Mehra, UNESCO Chair Representative for Global Health and Education, emphasized the urgency of integrating health education into school curricula to address these issues from an early age.He highlighted that 68% of children aged 6 months to 5 years and 66% of women in Assam suffer from anemia, underscoring the need for preventive measures.
In terms of health system performance, Assam has shown some progress.The NITI Aayog's "Healthy States, Progressive India" report recognized Assam as one of the most improved states in health, noting a 4.8-point increase in its health index score.However, the state still faces significant challenges in achieving better health outcomes.
Financial constraints further complicate the situation.The NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) for the financial year 2023 assessed the fiscal health of eighteen major Indian states, excluding Northeastern states like Assam.This exclusion highlights the need for more comprehensive data to address the unique challenges faced by these regions.
Experts advocate for a multifaceted approach to improve health outcomes in Assam.Recommendations include implementing health education in schools, promoting awareness about nutrition and hygiene, and addressing environmental issues such as air pollution.Dr. Mehra also suggested practical measures like the use of air purifiers and continued mask usage to mitigate pollution-related health risks.
Addressing these health challenges is crucial for enhancing the quality of life in Assam and aligning the state's health indicators with national and regional standards.
The city based Institute of Dental Science & Research Center organized a free dental screening camp at Guwahati Press Club (GPC) on 4 March 2017 under the series of ‘Evening with a Doctor’ programs for the benefit of its member-journalists. Representing the State’s first low cost dental care center, Dr Deep Sharma and Dr Nirmala K Roy checked the oral & dental health status of around 50 participants. Neelam Shukla from the institute assisted the participants in the clinic. They were also offered necessary medicines. Many participants were advised for further course of dental treatments. Earlier Assam’s well known Rahman Hospitals conducted 25 February clinic at the press club...
The tremor was felt at around 7.41 in the morning just after the people got up from the bed. Many people in the high rise structure in the city of Guwahati started coming down to the open space fearing massive jolt. There is,however, no report of casualty or damage from any part of the state.
A group of dreaded ULFA-I rebels is believed have been hiding in the city of Guwahati forcing police to remain alert these days. According to confidential inputs, these rebels who have managed to sneak into the premier city might strike in any form at the instance of commander in chief Paresh Barua.Security forces have started a massive checking in the vehicles in the nook and corner of the city.Even the roadside dustbins are not spared apprehending dumping of explosive devices which would unless terror at any moment.Police and para military forces have been concentrating on the entry and exit points of the city along with the river routes. Equally, the hills areas surrounding the city are...
Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi accused the BJP led governments in state and Centre of resorting to delaying tactics in the process to update the NRC.Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Friday, Gogoi feared that NRC has hardly any chance of completion till the next Lok Sabha polls to extract mileage thereof."The BJP led, in fact, don't want the immigration problem to be solved the help of NRC. That's why, this delaying tactic,” said the three time chief minister in whose regime the process started.
Police have arrested the main culprit behind the Demow I incident where two minor boys were beheaded two weeks after the duo were kidnapped.Identified as Bhaikon Boral, he was arrested from Bokakhat on Friday a Day after the entire incident of human sacrifice came to light.Policemen picked up him acting on the confessional statement of a neighbour on Thursday when the decapitated bodies of the kids were found under the grass beside the river Demow. A team of senior policemen has been interrogating Bhaikon who was believed to have sacrificed the kids on Wednesday.On the other hand, local residents in large number clashed with the policemen from Nemuguri area when they demanded immediate...
Utter shock and anger grip Demow in Sivasagar area where two minor boys were cut into pieces two weeks after they went missing forcing the people in large number in the area to hit the streets demanding examplary punishments for the perpetrators. Hundreds of people in the area thronged Nemuguri near Bokota where police arrested a person in this connection after the decapitated bodies were recovered when brought to dump in a river on Thursday evening. Local residents blamed it all on the police who failed to trace out the kids during the last two weeks. “We have doubt over the role of police why they failed to find out the minor boys even after they received the complaints,” said a local...
The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) joins the chorus against the move to impose Sanskrit as compulsory subject till Class VII in all schools alleging a well orchastrated conspiracy being micro managed and monitored from Nagpur.In a statement issued in Guwahati, president Biraj Kumar Talukdar charged the government with preparing to recruit Sanskrit teachers from outside since the state as of now lacks the required strength.”But we won't allow the outside teachers to be recruited in our schools,” said Talukdar.He said AJYCP is never opposed to Sanskrit in the schools since it is the ancient language which needs to be promoted and preserved in the schools and...
In yet another incident of man elephant conflict, wild elephants took the life of woman in the outskirt of Guwahati city on Wednesday.The incident took place in Rani area border Meghalaya where a heard of wild elephants trampled to death a woman in the morning. Identified as Renu Nath, she was at home as the elephants stormed into her home.The heard of wild elephants has been unleashing no less reign of terror in the entire area destroying pady fields and damaging houses for the last couple of months.
Caught in NRC confusion, Opposition leader in the Assam Assembly Debobrata Saikia said that the NRC authority is free to appeal to the court to review the decision.Talking to reporters in Dispur on Wednesday, Saikia said the court might review it as the process gathered momentum.Many political leaders who spoke to Assam Times on the condition of anonymity said that NRC might not be completed with the next two or three years if these documents are rejected. The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday rejected these certificates saying that if a panchayat secretary is allowed to issue such certificates the tribunals might reject its merit. “If the court or a tribunal detects a...
The process to update the National Register of Citizens hits a major roadblock when the Gauhati High Court ordered dismissal of the Gaon Panchayat certificates as link documents.Various political parties, organizations and individuals have expressed grave concern over the new turn where over 50 lakh residential certificates issues by the gaon panchayat secretaries would not work in the process. This would further delay in the completion of the process to update the NRC. The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday rejected these certificates saying that if a panchayat secretary is allowed to issue such certificates the tribunals might reject its merit. “If the court or a tribunal...
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