Latest news with #BruceAylward
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Gloves do not replace hand hygiene: WHO
Gloves look like the ultimate hygiene hack Most of us never thought twice about hand gloves until the pandemic turned them into a must-have accessory right next to masks and hand sanitizers. But even now, gloves continue to play a quiet but powerful role in reducing infections, especially in medical, caregiving, and food-handling settings. Think of gloves as your first line of defense—blocking direct contact with germs, viruses, and nasty bacteria lurking on surfaces, body fluids, or even raw food. For healthcare workers, gloves aren't optional—they're lifesavers, have gone mainstream. From salons to street vendors, people are using them more consciously to avoid cross-contamination. The awareness that dirty hands spread everything from colds to E. coli has stuck with us post-COVID, and that's a good thing. The popularity of gloves, especially disposable nitrile and latex ones, has skyrocketed—not just as protective gear but as a signal that someone's taking hygiene WHO has said that gloves do not replace hand hygiene. "While medical gloves serve a vital role in preventing transmission of infection, for example when there is risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time," the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said on World Hand Hygiene Day.'Medical gloves can reduce the risk of infection, but they are never a replacement for hand hygiene,' said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course. 'On this World Hand Hygiene Day, let us double down on our commitment and action to improve hand hygiene in health care settings to ensure the safety of patients and health-care workers.'"Additionally, overuse of gloves contributes to environmental degradation," the WHO report said. "An average university hospital in a developed country generates 1634 tons of health-care waste each year, which is equivalent to over 360 African elephants. Much of the waste could have been avoided if gloves were used properly and good hand hygiene was practiced. Most used gloves are considered infectious and require high-temperature incineration or specialized treatment, adding strain to already burdened waste management systems," it slip them on, and boom—you feel safe from germs. And yes, gloves absolutely have their place. In hospitals, labs, and even your kitchen, they offer a solid layer of protection against infections. But here's the not-so-glamorous truth: gloves aren't foolproof, and they're definitely not problem-free. First off, just wearing gloves doesn't make you immune to spreading germs. In fact, gloves can give a false sense of security. People often touch everything—phones, doorknobs, their face—with gloves on, thinking they're protected. But if the gloves pick up germs and you rub your eye or scratch your nose? You're still exposed. It's like wearing muddy shoes and walking all over your clean there's the issue of cross-contamination. Gloves can transfer bacteria just as easily as bare hands if you're not careful. Ever seen someone wear the same pair of gloves for hours? Yup, not helping. And let's not forget about allergies and skin irritation—especially from latex gloves. Plus, overusing gloves can actually damage the skin underneath, making it dry and more prone to tiny cuts, which opens the door to—you guessed it— are a helpful tool, but they're not a substitute for good hygiene. Wash your hands. Change gloves often. Don't touch your face. And remember—clean hands, not just covered hands, are your best defense.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Gloves cannot replace hand hygiene: WHO
New Delhi: Medical gloves cannot replace hand hygiene, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday, as it pushed govts to promote infection-control in hospital settings. According to the UN health body, while medical gloves serve a vital role in preventing transmission of infection, for example when there is risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, they are not a substitute for cleaning hands at the right time. Gloves can become contaminated just like hands and are often misused, such as being worn indefinitely while health workers switch between patients or when they are performing multiple procedures for the same patient, the WHO said. Many Indian experts have also raised concerns over the prolonged use of the same gloves by healthcare workers leading to an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections . "Continued use of gloves is not an uncommon sight in hospitals. In fact, post Covid such instances have gone up. We need to create awareness among healthcare workers for correct usage," Dr Sumit Ray, medical director of Holy Family hospital, said. He added that gloves should only be used by a doctor or nurse before a sterile procedure or when anticipating contact with blood or another body fluid. According to the WHO advisory, gloves aren't recommended when contact with blood, another body fluid, non-intact skin and mucous membrane have occurred and have ended. Also, it suggests that damaged or used gloves shouldn't continue to be worn as they are considered infectious and require high-temperature incineration or specialised treatment, adding strain to already burdened waste management systems. "Medical gloves can reduce the risk of infection, but they are never a replacement for hand hygiene," said Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO assistant director-general, Universal Health Coverage, Life Course. Last year, the Union health ministry issued a directive asking healthcare workers to remove all types of jewellery below their elbow while on duty. Director general of health services Atul Goel also stressed on the need to develop and enforce a policy to restrict the use of mobile phones in patient areas and critical zones such as ICUs, HDUs, post-operative wards and operation rooms to reduce infection spread in hospital settings. A study published in 2021 in the Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, which looked at the sources of fungus in the medicine ward and ICU of a leading hospital, found that out of 60 healthcare workers, 20 (33 per cent) showed fungal carriage. Aprons/hospital scrubs were contaminated in 17 (28 per cent) and hands in 3 workers (5 per cent). The aprons and scrubs mainly carried moulds belonging to the Aspergillus species, while hands were contaminated with Candida species. Electronic devices and stethoscopes had no fungal contamination, the study noted.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A woman dies every two minutes globally due to failures in maternal care, shocking new figures reveal
A woman dies every two minutes due to failures in maternal healthcare, according to shocking global data that has prompted stark warnings about the impact of cuts to aid funding by the US and the UK. A new report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that there were 260,000 maternal deaths in 2023, equating to 712 women a day or 30 per hour – with the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO has warned that the global target for all UN member states to reduce maternal deaths – down to 71 per 100,000 by 2030 – will be missed by more than twice this amount as 'the pace of progress has slowed to a near standstill'. Leading health organisations including the WHO have warned that recent sweeping cuts to international aid by the US government, which amount to more than £595m ($770m) for maternal health and family planning, will risk 'a shift backwards' in the progress made on cutting maternal deaths – defined as any death related to or aggravated by pregnancy, or within six weeks of the end of a pregnancy. Speaking at a press conference, Dr Bruce Aylward, assistant director general of universal health coverage for the WHO, said: 'The funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backwards.' He said that cuts were already 'affecting access to lifesaving supplies and medicines, and especially treatments for some of the leading causes of maternal death'. 'One of the first things that they're seeing already is that countries are already laying off staff, or not hiring, or they're slowing down that healthworker spend... This is a real concern,' he added. Some 60 countries worldwide are dependent on US-funded maternal care programmes and family planning services, largely concentrated in Africa and South Asia. These programmes also provide funding for midwives in areas where essential maternal care is lacking. Reports from sources on the ground indicate that cancelling USAID contracts has led to some midwives losing their source of income, leaving women in the area without safe care during pregnancy. But it's not just the US: aid cuts are happening around the world. In February, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that the government would slash its aid spending from 0.5 per cent of national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027 – a cut of about £6bn – to pay for increased defence spending. The announcement came after the government's International Development Committee (IDC) warned that UK aid cuts have already had a 'devastating' impact on women and girls, with young girls in Sudan more likely to die during pregnancy than finish school. Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of the IDC, told The Independent: 'I remain deeply concerned that the cuts to aid will hit women's health hard and destroy all the hard-won progress around the world.' She added: 'Preventing maternal deaths is not a medical mystery; we can end them with political commitment and financial investments. Realising the right to safe pregnancy and childbirth requires continued efforts to improve the quality of care, which must be backed by adequate financial resources and supportive laws ... Weak health systems and new and protracted humanitarian crises have led to stagnating results in several countries, and even reversals in some.' The new WHO figures reveal that one in 36 15-year-old girls in west Africa is at risk of maternal death. This compares to 1 in 16,000 across southern Europe. Since 2000, global maternal mortality rates have declined by 40 per cent, from 328 per 100,000 live births to 197 in 2023. However, the figures reveal inequalities across high- and low-income countries. Dr Pascale Allotey, director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the WHO, warned: 'Despite advances since 2000, the pace of progress has slowed to a near standstill. In some regions, we are already sliding backwards. In this context of fragility, complacency is not just dangerous, it is deadly ... When women die because of where they live, what they earn, or what rights are denied, it is indefensible, and it is preventable.' According to the report, half of all maternal deaths in 2023 were recorded in Nigeria, India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Pakistan. Nigeria alone accounted for one in three deaths, with around 75,000 deaths in 2023, while 70 per cent of deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. The world's key international organisation focused on women's reproductive health, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has also warned that recent US funding cuts to aid will risk an increase in maternal death rates. Estimates by UNFPA show that £71m ($92m) of US aid is distributed in Nigeria, where death rates are highest. UNPFA itself has lost £291m ($377m) in grants following the cuts to USAID. Julia Bunting, programme director for UNFPA, told The Independent that, while there has been progress in reducing maternal deaths globally, it is 'by no means fast enough'. She said: 'We know there has been a 40 per cent decline in maternal death rates since 2000, but ... the progress is uneven and slowing.' She added: 'These lives can be saved ... It's not just a matter of health. It's a matter of rights; it's a matter of justice. We believe every woman should deserve to survive childbirth ... We know how to prevent these deaths: with skilled midwives, quality care, and political commitment we can save very many of these lives, but there's a real urgent need for investment, so we don't risk reversing the gains that have already been made.' Although UNFPA has faced cuts to its funding from USAID, Monica Ferro, director of the organisation's London representation office, confirmed that it has yet to have its funding cut by the UK, which is its second-biggest donor. However, she warned: 'The combination of funding cuts, the increasing frequency of conflicts and the impacts of climate change mean pregnant women can't access lifesaving care, and gender-based violence is rising. We can't abandon the women and girls who need us most.' The Cabinet Office was approached for comment. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: 'We are committed to defending and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, and we will continue to work with international partners in support of women and girls. 'Aid is only one way in which we support this work, and we will continue to use targeted funding and diplomatic engagement to provide leadership on gender issues and maternal health. 'Protecting our national security is the first duty of any government, and doing so required the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our aid spending.' A US state department spokesperson said that the US government has provided longstanding support to lifesaving maternal and child health services in lower-income countries where the vast majority – over 90 per cent – of all maternal and child deaths occur. This report has been produced as part of The Independent's Rethinking Global Aid project
Express Tribune
07-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Aid cuts threaten fragile progress in reducing maternal deaths, UN officials warn
The United Nations headquarters building is pictured though a window with the UN logo in the foreground in the Manhattan borough of New York August 15, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS Listen to article Cuts to international aid budgets are threatening to undo decades of progress in reducing maternal deaths and may lead to an increase in preventable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, United Nations agencies warned on Monday. The warning came as the UN released a new report on World Health Day, showing a 40% global decline in maternal mortality between 2000 and 2023, largely driven by improved access to essential health services. But officials say that progress is now in jeopardy. The report, Trends in maternal mortality, revealed that around 260,000 women died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in 2023 — equivalent to one death every two minutes. UN health leaders said unprecedented aid cuts are already impacting maternal care, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions. Many countries have begun rolling back services, closing facilities, and losing frontline health workers due to funding shortfalls. 'One of the headline messages is that the funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backwards,' said Dr Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage at the World Health Organization (WHO). The report did not name specific donors but comes amid a foreign aid freeze by the United States and a wind-down of several USAID-funded health programmes. Other major donors, including the United Kingdom, have also scaled back their international development budgets in recent years. 'These cuts have pandemic-like effects on global health systems,' said Aylward, warning that the structural damage could be long-term. The WHO said that services for maternal, newborn, and child health are already being rolled back in some countries, with ripple effects across treatment for malaria, HIV, and other conditions that affect maternal survival. 'While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today — despite the fact that solutions exist,' said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The report marks the first global assessment of COVID-19's impact on maternal mortality. In 2021, maternal deaths jumped to 322,000 — a 40,000 increase from the previous year. The spike was linked to both direct COVID-19 complications and widespread disruptions to maternity care during the pandemic. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warned that global cuts to health budgets are leaving pregnant women without essential care when they need it most. 'When a mother dies in pregnancy or childbirth, her baby's life is also at risk. Too often, both are lost to causes we know how to prevent,' she said. Maternal mortality remains disproportionately high in countries affected by war, poverty, or natural disasters. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 70% of global maternal deaths, with countries like Chad, Nigeria, Somalia and Afghanistan facing the highest individual risk rates. In some of these settings, the lifetime risk of dying from a maternal cause is 1 in 24. That compares with 1 in 593 in more stable countries. The report also highlighted that the maternal mortality rate has stagnated in five UN regions since 2015, including Europe and North America, where the US is one of only four countries to record a significant increase since 2000. Despite earlier progress, the global pace of improvement has slowed sharply since 2016. Experts say investment is urgently needed to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goal for maternal health. To hit the 2030 target, maternal mortality must decline by about 15% per year — a steep climb from the current 1.5% annual rate of improvement. 'Access to quality maternal health services is a right, not a privilege,' said Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). 'We must ensure every woman and baby can survive and thrive — especially in the most vulnerable settings.'
Arab News
06-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Aid cuts could leave more women dying in pregnancy and birth, UN says
LONDON: Cuts to aid budgets are threatening to undermine years of progress in reducing the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth, and could lead to a rise in deaths, the United Nations has warned. Globally, there was a 40 percent decline in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, a report by UN agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO) showed on Monday, largely due to better access to essential health services. That could now go into reverse, the WHO said in a statement accompanying the report which did not mention specific cuts but came in the wake of a foreign aid freeze by the US government and the ending of funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for many programs. Other donor countries including Britain have also announced plans to cut aid budgets. 'One of the headline messages is that the funding cuts risk not only that progress, but we could have a shift backward,' said Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage at the WHO. The cuts have had 'pandemic-like effects' on health systems globally and could have a 'more structural, deep-seated effect,' Aylward added. The WHO said the cuts were already rolling back vital services for maternal, newborn and child health in many countries, reducing staff numbers, closing facilities and disrupting supply chains for supplies including treatments for hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia. Cuts to other areas, such as malaria and HIV treatment, would also impact maternal survival, the UN said. Even before the aid cuts led by the United States, things were backsliding in some countries, and progress has slowed globally since 2016, the report said. In 2023, despite recent progress, a woman still died roughly every two minutes — around 260,000 in total that year — from complications that were mainly preventable and treatable, it added. The situation was particularly bad in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster, although the US itself is one of only four countries to have seen its maternal mortality rate increase significantly since 2000, alongside Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact, the report said: 40,000 more women died due to pregnancy or childbirth in 2021, bringing the total number of deaths that year to 322,000. 'While this report shows glimmers of hope, the data also highlights how dangerous pregnancy still is in much of the world today – despite the fact that solutions exist,' WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The report itself was part-funded by USAID.
