Feature Article

Diarrhoeal disease is the fifth leading cause of all mortality globally. To this burden, rotavirus contributes over half a million deaths annually. This pilot study was conducted to determine the economic burden of diarrhoeal episodes on families from different geographical regions accessing medical facilities in India.

Transmission of dengue virus depends on the presence of Aedes mosquito. Mosquito generation and development is known to be influenced by the climate. This study was carried out to examine whether the climatic factors data can be used to predict yearly dengue cases of Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

The Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) Elimination Initiative in the Indian subcontinent was launched in 2005 as a joint effort between the governments in the Region (India, Nepal and Bangladesh) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The objective is to reduce the annual VL incidence below 1/10,000 inhabitants by 2015 based on detection and treatment of VL cases and vector control. We present here a review of studies published in the period 2005-2010 on the efficacy of different tools to control

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) undertook screening of asymptomatic persons from high risk group with the ELISA test for HIV infection in 1986 and found that HIV infection has reached India. ICMR in collaboration with the central and State health services initiated the national sero-surveillance programme for HIV infection in 43 surveillance and five reference centres to determine the major modes of transmission and magnitude of infection.

Dengue is a vector borne disease transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. The incidence of the disease is increasing worldwide and currently 40 per cent of the global population is at risk of the infection. The number of cases in the WHO Southeast
Asia region surged nearly 70 per cent from 152,448 in 2004 to 257,882 in 2009. There is no specific treatment of the disease and the only way to control the disease is through vector control, which includes removal or covering water harbouring containers, the

Viral hepatitis constitutes an enormous health burden, and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The magnitude of the problem can be highlighted by the fact that 1 in 12 people globally are living with chronic infections of either hepatitis B

Meghadrigedda, a non-perennial drainage system is one of the major water resource systems of Visakhapatnam city located in the north coastal part of Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was intended to present a twodimensional approach to describe the properties of Meghadrigadda drainage morphometry at sub-basin level using GIS as a tool for the analysis.

The recent Rio+20 summit raised many issues of global environmental concern. Here we look at commitments and challenges faced by the world in the throes of rapid urbanization

The Adaptation Fund was established to fund specific projects that developing countries undertake in order to adapt to climate change. The Fund is now fully operational, and a number of projects are underway. In many ways, the Adaptation Fund is a model for other climate funds. Its own future is cast in doubt nonetheless. By Sven Harmeling and Alpha Oumar Kaloga.

At international climate conferences, diplomats agree that the private sector must come up with a large share of the funding needed for climate protection. Indeed, the growth of renewable energy technologies offers institutional investors quite interesting opportunities. Nonetheless, the business environment must improve.