Rapid Fire Current Affairs | 02 Sep 2023

World Organ Donation Day

  • World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on 13th August to spread awareness around the importance of organ donation and bust myths around it.
    • India's National Organ Donation Day was celebrated annually on November 27, however, from 2023 the day has been shifted to 3rd August to commemorate the first successful deceased heart transplant in India on 3rd August 1994.
  • Organ donation involves the surgical extraction of an organ from a living donor or, in the case of a deceased donor, their next of kin's consent, for the purpose of transplantation into another individual.
    • Organs which can be donated include liver, kidney, pancreas, lung,heart intestine, cornea, bone, tissues and many more.
  • Organ donation in India is regulated by Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994.

Read More: Organ Donation in India, Ethical Concerns of Organ Donation and Transplantation, National Organ Transplantation Guidelines

Golden Globe Race

  • Abhilash Tomy, former Commander in the Indian Navy who became the first Indian to go around the world on a sailboat solo has now attained another record of completing a solo circumnavigation when he made podium finish at the Golden Globe Race (GGR), 2022.
    • He is currently working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on its manned space mission, Gaganyaan, advising on recovery of astronauts at sea.
    • He is working to assist in the recovery of astronauts once the capsule splashes into the sea on return.
  • The Golden Globe Race is a non-stop, solo, unassisted yacht race around the world which was held for the first time in 1968-69.
    • The second edition of the race was held 50 years later, in 2018.
    • The sailing is along a stipulated route, rounding the three great capes, the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, Cape Leeuwin in Australia and Cape Horn in Chile.

A Comic Book by NCERT & UNESCO

The Ministry of Education, unveiled a new comic book, "Let's Move Forward", developed jointly by NCERT and UNESCO in New Delhi.

  • This partnership marks a step towards advancing the objectives of the School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP).
    • It was launched in 2018 as part of the Ayushman Bharat campaign and jointly administered by the MoE and the MoHFW.
    • The aim is to provide health education, prevent diseases, and improve access to health services.
  • The comic covers information related to the 11 thematic components (emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, gender equality, nutrition and health, prevention of substance abuse, promoting healthy lifestyles, reproductive health, internet safety, and more) of the SHWP.
  • It is accessible in multiple languages; Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, and Telugu.

Read More: Prioritizing Mental Well-being

Superfoods

Superfoods are nutrient-rich foods, primarily plant-based but including some fish and dairy, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants beneficial for health.

  • According to the American Heart Association, superfood lacks scientific recognition, with no established criteria to define it.
  • Nevertheless, certain foods like blueberries (rich in vitamins), salmon (prevent heart disease), kale (promote digestive health), acai and millets (the energy, proteins, good fats, minerals and vitamins that millets provide makes them a superfood) are exceptionally nutritious compared to less nutrient-dense options.
  • Scientists claim that the use of the term superfood is largely a marketing tool, with no root in academic research.

Read More: India's Millet Revolution