This study showed a lack of facilities at the AWCs and poor knowledge of Anganwadi workers. Thus a regular training and supportive supervision of the Anganwadi workers is recommended along with the availability of adequate facilities and infrastructures.

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Prophylactic zinc supplementation for two weeks may reduce the morbidity due to acute lower respiratory infections but not overall rate of acute respiratory infections in infants aged 6-11 months in similar populations.

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Randomized controlled trials have shown that zinc supplementation during diarrhea substantially reduces the incidence and severity. However, the effect of short-course prophylactic zinc supplementation has been observed only in children .12 months of age. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS:The current study was able to show that short-course prophylactic zinc supplementation significantly reduced diarrhea morbidity in apparently healthy infants of 6 to 11 months even after 5 months of follow-up. abstract BACKGROUND: Zinc supplementation during diarrhea substantially reduces the incidence and severity of diarrhea. However, the effect of short-course zinc prophylaxis has been observed only in children .12 months of age. Because the incidence of diarrhea is comparatively high in children aged 6 to 11 months, we assessed the prophylactic effect of zinc on incidence and duration of diarrhea in this age group. METHODS:In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled infants aged 6 to 11 months from an urban resettlement colony in Delhi, India, between January 1, 2011, and January 15, 2012. We randomly assigned 272 infants to receive either 20 mg of zinc or a placebo suspension orally every day for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the incidence of diarrhea per child-year. All analyses were done by intention-to-treat. RESULTS:A total of 134 infants in the zinc and 124 in the placebo groups were assessed for the incidence of diarrhea. There was a 39% reduction (crude incident rate ratio [IRR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.71) in episodes of diarrhea, 39% (adjusted IRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.54-0.69) in the total number of days that a child suffered from diarrhea, and reduction of 36% in duration per episode of diarrhea (IRR 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.74) during the 5 months of follow-up.CONCLUSIONS: Short-course prophylactic zinc supplementation for 2 weeks may reduce diarrhea morbidity in infants of 6 to 11 months for up to 5 months, in populations with high prevalence of wasting and stunting. Pediatrics 2013;132:e46-e52 AUTHORS:

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Rotavirus is currently by far the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide and of diarrheal deaths in developing countries. Worldwide Rotavirus is responsible for 611,000 childhood deaths out of which more than 80% occur in low-income countries. The resistance of rotavirus to commonly used disinfectants and ineffectiveness of oral rehydration therapy due to severe vomiting indicates that if an effective vaccine is the preferred option. WHO has recommended inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the National Schedules where under 5 mortality due to diarrheal diseases is ≥ 10%. Currently two vaccines are available against rotavirus. Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline) is a monovalent vaccine recommended to be orally administered in two doses at 6-12 weeks. Rota Teq (Merck) is a pentavalent vaccine recommended to be orally administered in three doses starting at 6-12 weeks of age. Serodiversity of rotavirus in India and its regional variation favor either a monovalent vaccine that can induce heterotypic immunity or a polyvalent vaccine incorporating majority of serotypes prevalent in the country. However, the efficacy of available rotavirus vaccines is less in low-income countries. Both the candidate vaccines when coadministered with OPV, immune response to first dose of these vaccines is reduced. However, immune responses to subsequent rotavirus vaccine doses are not affected. In view of this, WHO recommends three doses of either vaccine to be given to children in developing countries to produce the optimum response. Indigenous vaccine, 116E (Bharat Biotech) based on human rotavirus of serotype G9P [11] is still under Phase 2 trials. Another multivalent vaccine is being developed by Shantha Biotechnics in India. The cost effectiveness of the three dose schedule of the available and the rsults of the field trials of the indigenous vaccines should be assessed before inclusion of rotavirus vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule.

In April 2008, the National Technical Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Sub-committee on H. influenza type b (Hib) vaccine recommended that Hib containing pentavalent vaccine should be introduced in the country. Subsequently liquid pentavalent vaccine (LPV) was launched in the Kerala and Tamil Nadu on a pilot basis in December 2011. The introduction of LPV in these two states was followed by reported deaths in infants who had received LPV. An exhaustive summary of media reports and previous literature has since been made available at various fora which have been supplemented with estimations of the damage the LPV may cause. It has thus been concluded that the LPV is bound to cause more number of infant deaths than it will save from Hib meningitis and pneumonia. The current paper aims to clear some of the misinterpretations and miscalculations so that lives of 72,000 infants can be saved.

Bus Rapid Transit refers to a set of coordinated changes to a transportation system's facilities, working conditions, efficiencies, and technologies that prioritise bus transportation on city streets. This article provides an overview of the Delhi and Pune BRT systems, also identifies some similar challenges in operating both systems, and offers some solutions to assist improvements in Indore BRTS significantly and effectively, avoiding the bottlenecks that plague Delhi & Pune BRTS. The main objective is to increase the speed of transportation by lowering the cost of public transit and making it accessible to individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds. It alleviates traffic congestion and promotes public transportation and lessens reliance on private cars to enhance the city's traffic management and reduce pollutants thus enhancing environmental conditions.This paper attempts to review implementation of BRTS in Indore. The suggestions are given based on the research's analysis and findings.