6 June 2024

GS 2 – Social Justice : Health

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
• It mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including the tummy (abdomen), glands, bones and nervous system.
• TB is a potentially serious condition, but it can be cured if it's treated with the right antibiotics.

Types of TB

• Pulmonary TB –

• TB that affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) is the most contagious type, but it usually only spreads after prolonged exposure to someone with the illness.
• In most healthy people, the body's natural defence against infection and illness (the immune system) kills the bacteria and there are no symptoms.

• Latent TB –

• Sometimes the immune system cannot kill the bacteria, but manages to prevent it spreading in the body.
• You will not have any symptoms, but the bacteria will remain in your body. This is known as latent TB.
• People with latent TB are not infectious to others.

• Active TB –

• If the immune system fails to kill or contain the infection, it can spread within the lungs or other parts of the body and symptoms will develop within a few weeks or months. This is known as active TB.
• About one-quarter of the world’s population is estimated to be infected by TB bacteria but out of these only 5-15% of people will fall ill with active TB disease.
• Latent TB could develop into an active TB disease at a later date, particularly if your immune system becomes weakened.

 Treatment for TB

• With treatment, TB can almost always be cured.
• A course of antibiotics will usually need to be taken for 6 -18 months.
• Several different antibiotics are used because some forms of TB are resistant to certain antibiotics.

 TB in India

• The total number of incident TB patients (new and relapse) notified during 2021 in India were 19.33 lakh as opposed to that of 16.28 lakh in 2020.
• In 2022, 24.22 lakh case s of TB were registered in the country.
• India continues to have the largest share of the global TB burden.
• India’s National TB Elimination Programme is strengthened to meet the goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2025 from the country, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030.
• The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025) was developed to achieve the goal.
• Though the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025) outlined a paradigm shift in approach and strategy to achieve the ambitious goal, by 2020, it became clear that the NSP will not be able to meet these objectives.
• A new National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination (2020-2025) to end TB was launched.

Reasons for high prevalence of TB in India:

Tuberculosis (TB):

• Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• It primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, weight loss, and fatigue.
• TB is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, making it highly contagious.
• Treatment usually involves a combination of antibiotics taken over several months.

Reasons for High Tuberculosis Prevalence in India:

• Population Density: India’s large population and high population density contribute to the spread of TB.
• Poor Healthcare Infrastructure: Limited access to healthcare facilities and diagnostic services hinder early detection and treatment.
• Poverty and Malnutrition: Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and malnutrition weaken immune systems, increasing susceptibility to TB.
• Limited Awareness: Lack of awareness about TB symptoms, transmission, and treatment options delays diagnosis and treatment initiation.
• Overcrowded Living Conditions: Overcrowded housing and poor ventilation increase the risk of TB transmission.
• Drug Resistance: Inadequate treatment adherence and misuse of antibiotics contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant TB strains.
• HIV/AIDS Epidemic: The HIV/AIDS epidemic exacerbates TB prevalence, as HIV weakens the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to TB infection.
• Migration and Urbanization: Rural-to-urban migration and urban slum populations facilitate TB transmission due to overcrowding and poor living conditions.

What are the Steps to be Taken to Mitigate the TB Crisis?

• Prioritising the Needs and Interests of Patients and Communities:

• The needs and the interests of patients and communities must be prioritised within the care paradigm and the health-care system.
• This principle, echoed by survivors, communities, health experts and policymakers, underscores the need for a person-centred approach to TB care and management.

• Following an Individual-Centric Approach:

• The rise of influential advocates among TB survivors who have vigorously pushed for the inclusion of affected communities’ needs in discussions.
• They have advocated for changes in various areas, leading governments to adjust their approaches to meet these community needs.
• For example, there has been some progress in providing nutritional support, albeit limited, which marks a significant advancement.

• Bridge the Gap Between Policy Intent and Ground Realities:

• There is a need to bridge the gap between policy intent and on-the-ground realities. For instance, India needs to prioritise targeted interventions aimed at improving and expanding access to TB diagnosis and treatment.
• TB testing facilities must be expanded, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and ensure the availability of free, affordable and quality-assured TB drugs.
• Molecular testing is the gold standard and less than a quarter of symptomatic patients are getting that as their first test.

• Making TB Care More Humane:

• Efforts are needed to strengthen community-based TB care models, empowering frontline health-care workers to deliver comprehensive care which addresses not just treatment but also social, economic and mental health needs and is closer to where patients live.
• This is important as survivor narratives tell us the stigma, discrimination and mental stress they go through, not to mention the side-effects of treatment.

• Adopting a Multi-Sectoral Approach:

• Addressing the socio-economic determinants of TB requires a multi-sectoral approach. Poverty alleviation, improvement in nutritional status, well-ventilated housing and better air quality will all contribute towards reducing TB.
• By tackling the underlying root causes of TB, India can make significant strides towards eliminating the disease and improving the overall health and well-being of its population.

• Tapping Technology:

• Leveraging technology and innovation holds promise in enhancing TB care efforts in India. The adoption of AI and digital health solutions for TB diagnosis, adherence and surveillance can revolutionise the way TB care is delivered and accessed in the country. By investing in developing better vaccines, we can hope to ultimately eliminate this airborne disease.
• X-ray technology has advanced dramatically. Now, we not only have portable hand-held devices, but also software driven by AI that can read digital X-ray images and detect possible TB with a high degree of certainty.

GS 3 : Science and Technology

Astrophysicists are grappling with the mystery of why galaxies rotate faster than predicted by Newton’s laws.This has led to debates between the existence of dark matter and alternative theories like Milgromian dynamics (MOND).Recent research challenges Milgromian dynamics (MOND), reinforcing the dark matter hypothesis.

Galactic Mysteries

• Galactic Rotation Anomaly: One of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics is the discrepancy in the rotational speeds of galaxies. Galaxies rotate much faster than predicted by Newton’s law of gravity when applied to their visible matter, even though these laws work well in the Solar System.
• Need for Additional Gravity: To prevent galaxies from flying apart, an additional source of gravity is required. This led to the proposal of dark matter, an invisible substance. However, dark matter has never been observed directly, and it does not fit within the Standard Model of particle physics.

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

• It says that every object in the universe attracts every other object with a force. This force depends on two things:

• the masses of the objects
• the distance between them

• Every object pulls on every other object with a force. This force is called gravity.
• It applies to everything from falling apples to the orbits of celestial bodies like the Moon around the Earth.

Dark Matter

Dark Matter vs. MOND

• Dark Matter Theory

• It says invisible stuff called dark matter holds galaxies together. Even though it's successful, we haven't seen dark matter directly.
• Dark matter serves as a theoretical solution to the discrepancy in galactic rotation rates. It proposes the existence of invisible mass that provides the necessary gravitational pull to prevent galaxies from flying apart.
• Despite its success in explaining various astrophysical phenomena, dark matter remains elusive, with no direct observational evidence.

• MOND Theory

• Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), proposed by Mordehai Milgrom, is an alternative theory to explain galactic dynamics. It suggests a modification of gravity's behavior at low accelerations, particularly at the edges of galaxies.
• It suggests gravity works differently in weak places like galaxy edges.
• Testing MOND: The Cassini mission, orbiting Saturn, provided an opportunity to test MOND's predictions through precise measurements of Saturn's orbit. However, analysis of Cassini's data did not reveal the expected deviations, reinforcing the efficacy of Newtonian physics in explaining Saturn's orbit.

• Recent Studies and Challenges to MOND

• Galactic Mass Calculations: A study explored the possibility of adjusting galactic mass calculations to accommodate MOND's predictions. Despite these adjustments, MOND still failed to align with Cassini's data.
• Binary Star Orbits: Another study scrutinized the orbits of wide binary stars, finding no support for MOND's prediction of faster orbital speeds. The results strongly contradict MOND's expectations.
• Outer Solar System and Galaxy Clusters: MOND also faces challenges in explaining the behavior of small bodies in the outer Solar System and the motions within galaxy clusters. Newtonian gravity, coupled with the presence of dark matter, offers a more consistent explanation for these phenomena.

Conclusion: The Role of Dark Matter

• Dark Matter’s Persistence: Despite MOND’s initial appeal, it fails to provide a viable alternative to dark matter. Newtonian gravity, supplemented with dark matter, remains the best explanation for many astronomical observations.
• Imperfections in Dark Matter Model: The standard dark matter model is not without its challenges, such as explaining the universe’s expansion rate and large cosmic structures. However, dark matter is still considered essential, though its nature may be different from current models.
• Future Directions: Future research may reveal new aspects of dark matter or modifications to gravity on very large scales. Nonetheless, as presently formulated, MOND cannot replace dark matter in explaining galactic phenomena. The dark side of the cosmos, therefore, continues to dominate our understanding of the universe.

GS 3 :  Enviroment : Air Pollution

Researchers and artists have joined forces for an international project to make invisible air pollution in India visible, demonstrating the health risks posed to the population.

Visualizing the Invisible

• Invisible yet omnipresent, air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in densely populated regions like India.
• However, grasping the severity of this issue can be challenging due to its intangible nature.
• To bridge this gap between awareness and action, researchers and artists worldwide have embarked on a collaborative endeavor: making invisible air pollution visible.
• Combining digital light painting and low-cost air pollution sensors, the scientific team produced photographic evidence of pollution levels in cities across three countries — India, Ethiopia, and the U.K.
• By painting with light to create impactful images, we provide people with an easy-to-understand way of comparing air pollution in different contexts — making something that was largely invisible visible.
• Air of the Anthropocene creates spaces and places for discussions about air pollution, using art as a proxy to communicate and create dialogues about the issues associated with air pollution.
• Particulate matter, or PM, is the air pollutant most responsible for human morbidity and mortality. It has multiple impacts on physical health and is responsible for diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and cancers.
• The “painting with light” team used low-cost air pollution sensors to measure PM mass concentrations.
• The sensors’ real-time signal was used to control a moving LED array programmed to flash more rapidly as PM concentration increased.
• By providing a visual understanding of air pollution that is accessible to people who don’t necessarily have a scientific background, the light painting approach can demonstrate that managing air pollution levels can have a significant impact on people’s day-to-day lives.

The process

• In this innovative approach, the sensors are strategically placed in locations with high pollution levels, such as busy intersections or industrial areas.
• As the sensors detect pollutants in the air, the data is transmitted in real-time to a central database or computer system.
• Meanwhile, digital light painting equipment, consisting of light sources and cameras, is set up to capture longexposure photographs of the surrounding environment.
• Using custom software or algorithms, the air pollution data is translated into visual patterns and colors that correspond to different pollutant concentrations.
• For example, higher concentrations of particulate matter might be represented by brighter or more intense colors, while lower concentrations appear fainter or less prominent.
• These visualizations are then projected onto buildings, walls, or other surfaces using digital light painting techniques.
• The result is a dynamic and immersive display that communicates the invisible presence of air pollution in a tangible and engaging manner.
• Passersby are drawn to the striking visuals, prompting them to pause and reflect on the environmental issues affecting their community.

Conclusion