Yaws, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination

WHO felicitates India for yaws, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination

Question: The World Health Organization presented certificates declaring elimination of yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus to the Health and Family Welfare Minister, India on-
(a) 14 July 2016
(b) 15 July 2016
(c) 15 June 2016
(d) 16 July 2016
Ans: (a)
Related facts:

  • On 14 July 2016 the World Health Organization presented certificates declaring elimination of yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus to the Health and Family Welfare Minister of India ,J P Nadda.
  • It should be noted that India was validated for Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) in April 2015, much ahead of the global target date of December 2015.
  • With this, India has joined the 174 countries of the world, who have succeeded in overcoming tetanus.
  • Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is an infection characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body.
  • India is the first country to be officially acknowledged as being Yaws-free.
  • Tetanus is caused by an infection with the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is commonly found in soil, dust and manure
  • The bacteria generally enter through a break in the skin such as a cut or puncture wound by a contaminated object.
  • The disease mostly affects children under the age of 15 years.
  • This disease is most common among the age 6-10 year age group.
  • According to an estimate around 8 crore 90 lakhs people in 13 countries are having tetanus infection.

Reference:
http://www.searo.who.int/mediacentre/releases/2016/1629/en/
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=147093