Uttar Pradesh State PCS

• 29 Jun 2024

Sustainable Cities Challenge

Why in News?

The holy city of Varanasi has been selected as one of the three cities globally to participate in the Sustainable Cities Challenge along with Detroit and Venice.

• The launch event of the Sustainable Cities Challenge was hosted by the Toyota Mobility Foundation.

Key Points

• As part of the Sustainable Cities Challenge, the Toyota Mobility Foundation will provide funding of USD 9 million.
• Varanasi, which receives over seven crore tourists and pilgrims annually, will invite innovators and startups to develop data-operated solutions to make the city safer and more accessible for visitors.
• Varanasi is inviting innovators from around the world to develop Crowd Management Solutions.
• Over 150 cities from 46 countries around the world participated in the challenge after the call to cities was first launched in June 2023.

Stop Diarrhoea Drive

Why in News?

The Uttar Pradesh health department is going to launch the 'Stop Diarrhoea’ campaign on July 1, 2024.

Key Points

• The risk of viral, bacterial and parasitic infections increases due to accumulation of contaminated water during the rainy season.
• In such situations, children may suffer from diarrhoea which increases the problem of dehydration. It is transmitted through contaminated food and water.
• ASHA workers will go door-to-door and teach the method of making ORS solutions to the families of children suffering from diarrhoea.
• They will also give information about the benefits of using ORS and zinc as well as cleanliness and hygiene.
• Attention will be given to vulnerable areas, like urban slums, remote areas, nomads, families of labourers engaged in construction work, and families living in brick kilns.

Diarrhoeal Disease

• Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual).
• The most severe threat posed by diarrhoea is dehydration.
  • During a diarrhoeal episode, water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium and bicarbonate) are lost through liquid stools, vomit, sweat, urine and breathing.
  • Dehydration occurs when these losses are not replaced.