Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response Site

Context: WHO inaugurated a Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response site at AIIMS, New Delhi, to strengthen rapid global health emergency capabilities.

Pandemic Preparedness and Emergency Response Site

• Introduction: The site is part of WHO’s expanding global network designed to improve readiness for pandemics and epidemics.
• Origin: Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Agreement was launched by the World Health Assembly in December 2021.
• Objective: It aims to enable swift investigation, data collection, and research during outbreaks to support timely public health decision-making.
• Role: The site will operate continuously even in non-pandemic periods to maintain a robust, trained, and responsive health system for future emergencies.

What is a Pandemic?

• A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the worldwide spread of a new disease. An example is an influenza pandemic, which happens when a new influenza virus emerges, spreads globally, and most people lack immunity to it.
  • The last pandemic was declared by WHO for COVID 19 in 2020.

World Diabetes Day

Context: World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November, and the 2025 theme highlights how diabetes affects individuals across all life stages, requiring integrated and lifelong care.

World Diabetes Day

• Introduction: World Diabetes Day is a global WHO-supported initiative aimed at raising awareness about diabetes, its prevention, and the need for accessible, quality care.
• 2025 Theme: Diabetes Across Life Stages
  • The 2025 theme emphasizes that diabetes impacts people from childhood to old age, requiring age-specific diagnosis, prevention, and management strategies.

What Is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body fails to regulate blood sugar due to inadequate insulin production or insulin resistance, leading to long-term organ damage.
• Types of Diabetes
• • Type 1: Autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells, usually diagnosed young, requiring lifelong insulin therapy.
  • Type 2: Caused by lifestyle factors and insulin resistance, most common, managed with diet, exercise, or medication.
  • Type 3: Associated with brain insulin resistance and linked to Alzheimer’s disease, currently under scientific study.
  • Type 4: Age-related insulin resistance, typically affecting elderly individuals.
  • Type 5: Stemming from early-life undernutrition with low BMI, presenting as “lean diabetes” and poorly responsive to standard treatments.

India’s Diabetes Burden

• India has seen diabetes cases rise from 32 million in 2000 to nearly 90 million adults by 2024, with prevalence reaching around 10.5%.
• Current estimates suggest 1 in 9 adults lives with diabetes, with undiagnosed cases and preventable complications posing a severe challenge to India’s health system.

Garuda Air Exercise

Context: An Indian Air Force contingent has reached France to participate in Garuda-2025.

About the Garuda Air Exercise

• Introduction: Garuda is a bilateral air exercise conducted between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force, reflecting the long-standing and deep defence partnership between India and France.
• Scope and Objectives: The exercise aims to improve air-combat interoperability, facilitate the exchange of best operational practices, and enhance joint mission planning and execution in a high-intensity, simulated combat environment.
  • It also strengthens defence ties under the broader India–France strategic partnership covering defence, technology, and security cooperation.
• Venue: Garuda-2025 is being held at the Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France, a major operational hub of the French Air and Space Force.
• 2025 Operational Focus
  • Su-30 MKI fighter jets of the IAF will operate alongside French Rafale aircraft.
  • The exercise will emphasise combined air operations, advanced air-combat manoeuvres, and mission simulation drills.
• It showcases the professionalism, tactical skills, and operational capabilities of both air forces while reinforcing mutual trust and cooperation.

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