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.
GUWAHATI: WWF-India AAPSO HS launched #GIVE UP TO GIVE BACK initiative in keeping with Earth Hour 2018 activities. The campaign aimed at inspiring organizations, institutions and individuals to make a choice to curb certain habits, practices and lifestyles, burdening the lives of people and the environment and chooses alternatives to Connect to Earth. While Earth Hour consistently focused on climate change as a key call to action over the last decade, the 2018-2020 campaign broad based the conversation beyond climate change and calls on people across the world to take action and understand the inter-connectivity of people and our environment through relevant issues such as air, water, and...
GUWAHATI: Cutting across the barriers of their political ideologies, the legislators have strongly felt the need of a new set of laws to firmly deal with the incidents of sexual misconduct. Talking to reporters, Batadrawa MLA Angurlata Deka said,”we want a strong law to ensure exemplary punishment of the culprits. I have urged the chief minister to bring a legislation. In the case of Dhing, a first tract court should be set up for speedier Justice delivery.” Opposition leader Debobrata Saikia said,” the existing set of laws are not enough to firmly deal with the perpetrators and hence a new legislation be brought at an earlier date.” Same sentiment echoes in AIUDF where the legislators...
GUWAHATI: The gangrape and murder incident in Batadrawa has triggered no less uproar on the floor of the Assam Assembly on Monday where the main Opposition Congress staged walk out. As the House assembled in the morning the Opposition Congress led by Debobrata Saikia brought an adjournment motion to discuss the entire incident. But Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami disallowed the motion and the Congress legislatures walked out of the floor. Then the party legislators staged protest at the Assam assembly premises. With play cards they demanded Justice to the victims and slammed the government for failing ensure safety and security of girls and women. The BJP and AGP legislators demanded...
BOKAKHAT: A huge team of 120 government and NGO officials have started rhino census in Kaziranga National Park from Monday a couple of days after the exercise in Pobitora triggered controversy. According to KNP authorities, the entire world heritage site has been divided into 36 parts for a smooth rhino census with the help of gypsy and elephant which will end only on Wednesday.
GUWAHATI: Properties worth two crore were reduced to ashes when a devastating fire ravaged four buildings in the heart of the Guwahati city on Monday. The incident took place at D Neog Path in ABC area in the wee hours where one of the buildings caught fire because of electric short circuit which later spread to the three adjacent buildings after a few LPG cylinders exploded under the impact of the fire. Six firefighter took nearly three to four hours to bring the situation under fire. The total extent of damage has yet to be ascertained.
BIJOY K BURAGOHAINJORHAT: Hundreds of people hit the streets in Golaghat demanding Justice for the minor girl in Dhing whom three miscreants gangraped and burnt alive on Friday afternoon. Organized by the Golaghat unit of Asom Premi Yuva Chatra Samaj, over 500 local residents spilled to the roads asking the authority to immediately arrest the main culprit Zakir Hussain, who is still on the run. The participating protestors demanded capital punishment for the perpetrators saying that this measure is the only way to firmly deal with these raising cases of rape and murder. The incident took place in Lalung Gaon where Zakir along with two juvenile gangraped a minor girl inside her...
Kokrajhar, Mar 25: An unidentified body strikes no less sensation in Kokrajhar after it was recovered at Chakrashila forest area in Choraikola in on Sunday.According to police, local residents spotted the decomposed hanging on a tree and informed it to the police in the morning. The body yet to identified and recovered on hanged.According to police, the body was noticed yesterday along the Chakrashila forest area by local public and intimated to the police. Local residents said that it took place a few days ago along the Chakrashila forest.
JAGIROAD: Yet another suspected incident of rape and murder triggers no less shock and sensation across thr state on Saturday. A woman who worked with a brick kiln in Jagiroad was found dead inside the house of her co worker who was believed to have raped her before being killed. Acting on a complaint the Jagiroad police have raided the house of Sadek Ali where the body was recovered. Police men probing the case have been interrogating Ali who is suspected to have committed the double crime on the day of the Batadrawa incident where three miscreants gangraped a minor girl insider her house before burning her alive who later succumbed to her injuries on the way to Guwahati.
Guwahati: BJP is set to script yet another history of landslide victory in the north eastern region in the next Lok Sabha polls if Amit Shah is to be believed. Sounding panchayat poll bugle at a huge rally in Guwahati on Saturday the party president claimed to have got wind of a surging wave of the people in the eight states. According to him, out of 25 seats in the region BJP alone would get 21 seats drawing huge applause from the party workers who thronged in thousands to her him at the Veterinary Playground in Khanapara. In his address, the BJP chief asked the booth level members to leave no stone unturned to achieve the vision. "This is my target for 2019 polls...
GUWAHATI: People are throbbing in thousands in Guwahati on Saturday to hear Amit Shah when the BJP president is sounding bugle for the upcoming panchayat polls. Party in rank and file have been gearing up to make the rally a success where Shah along with other heavyweights in the party will explain what the grass root leaders and activists should do to ensure a landslide victory in the rural body polls which would be the base for the next year’s Lok Sabha polls. Hundreds of party workers have arrived in the city while some others from the far flung areas came on Friday. The party has provided buses for the workers to come to the rally in the city from the far flung areas of the state....
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