Living in an activity-friendly neighbourhood could mean people take up to 90 minutes more exercise per week, according to a study published in The Lancet. With physical inactivity responsible for over five million deaths every year, the authors say that creating healthier cities is an important part of the public health response to the global disease burden of physical inactivity. The study included 6,822 adults aged 18-66 from 14 cities in 10 countries from the International Physical activity and Environment Network. The research team mapped out neighbourhood features from the areas around the participants’ homes, such as residential density, number of street intersections, public transport stops, number of parks, mixed land use, and nearest public transport points.
Food safety
The Food Safety and Standards Association of India has clarified on the use of flavour enhancer Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in noodles and pastas. Recognising that MSG can occur naturally, it has advised consumers to be aware and “exercise informed choices” when it comes to labels that read “No MSG” or “No added MSG” - one of the concerns that triggered Nestle’s Maggi noodle controversy in the country. Producers will be hauled up, the food regulator said, only if MSG has been added in the manufacturing process, without adequate labelling.
Serving society
Ziqitza in Odisha
Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd, an emergency medical services provider in India, has served more than 10 lakh people in Odisha in three years. Operating a public-private partnership model, Ziqitza operates the 108 service under the supervision of National Health Mission (NHM). The service has helped people from the far flung areas in the state to be transported to empanelled government hospitals. The service has been popular, Ziqitza said, with the average number of people served having jumped more than 90-100 per cent annually. In addition to the current fleet of ambulances, NHM is planning to add 92 additional Basic Life Support ambulances. This comes as a relief where often providing quality pre-healthcare services in the country is a concern, it added.