In many parts of the world, medicines, including the so-called Schedule H Drugs (to be sold by retail on the prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner only), can be just bought over the counter. Indian scenario is not better. Many of the drugs are banned in western countries, but the pharmaceutical companies are selling the drugs in India with immunity! Even the parents, for conditions such as cold and cough just go to any medical store and buy any cough syrup and start giving to the children. Sometimes, the self medication works, but most of the time there is a danger of lethal side effects in children. The medicines may be fake and dispensed in unhygienic conditions.
Awareness of the public is built up only through the eye-catching TV advertisements. Doctors are not consulted. The reasons for not consulting are many, such as there is no time to waste in consultation, afraid that the doctors will swindle money by prescribing too many tests and examinations, lack of adequate number of good doctors, etc.
Recently, US Food and Drug Administration issued a public health advisory warning parents against giving over the counter cold and cough medicines to small children because of “serious and potentially life-threatening side-effects”. Medicines like phenyl propanolamine (PPA) are globally banned because of its dangerous side effects. Self medication based purely on the symptoms is not advised.
Governments should wake up to this reality and bring in legislation, if necessary, to tighten the situations such as Pharmacies selling drugs OTC without proper prescription, prevention of manufacture of fake medicines, adulteration in medicines, selling medicines after the expiry date, use of banned drugs, etc.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The deadly cigarettes
Nicotine is a deadly poison in high doses. On an average, about 70 mg can kill an average adult. Worldwide, tobacco kills one human being every six seconds. It is reported that one out of ten Indian adults is dying of tobacco related diseases. In addition to nicotine, tobacco used in the cigarettes contains 230 toxic chemicals, both organic and inorganic, some of them are carcinogenic. There are traces of inorganic elements present in cigarettes, which are radioactive (Polonium-210/Lead-210). It is estimated that over a billion cigarettes are smoked every day in India. Continued consumption of the infamous “Gutka” in India leads to Oral sub-mucous fibrosis, a pre-cancerous disease that is a first step for the formation of cancer. It is specially affecting the young.
It is reported that nicotine in cigarettes smokers typically inhale rose by 11% since 1998 as per the analysis carried out by a Harvard study. Truth can be that the companies must be deliberately increasing the nicotine content to make it more addictive (physical and psychological dependence), which is a dangerous from the public health point of view. Governments should provide medical assistance for the addicts who want to quit tobacco consumption, in any form.
It is high time that the nicotine content in cigarettes should be regulated by fixing a limit on the total content by world health organization. The nicotine content should be brought down to levels which may be considered safer. Sooner it take place is better for the potential smokers.
It is reported that nicotine in cigarettes smokers typically inhale rose by 11% since 1998 as per the analysis carried out by a Harvard study. Truth can be that the companies must be deliberately increasing the nicotine content to make it more addictive (physical and psychological dependence), which is a dangerous from the public health point of view. Governments should provide medical assistance for the addicts who want to quit tobacco consumption, in any form.
It is high time that the nicotine content in cigarettes should be regulated by fixing a limit on the total content by world health organization. The nicotine content should be brought down to levels which may be considered safer. Sooner it take place is better for the potential smokers.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ratan Tata’s dream car
The Indian industrialist, Ratan Tata has achieved which others only promised for years. He kept his promise. He brought out a “dream come true” four wheeler at the rate of a two-wheeler. The dream car is called Nano, rightly so in the current world of nano-technology. The car will be priced at Rupees one lakh (US$2500), the cheapest ever for a new four wheeler in India which can be afforded by a lower middle class family. He said that the image of the man on a scooter – the elder kid standing in front of the driver-father and the wife riding pillion with a baby on her lap, prompted him to design a small car for the family.
The engine, placed horizontally at the rear is a 623cc twin-cylinder SOHC unit featuring multi-point fuel injection with about 34bhp on tap and anti-vibe balancer shaft. A lot of weight saving measures, in terms of design and material selection were taken to get good fuel efficiency (20 kmpl) and speed (105kmph). The engine drives the rear wheels via a four speed transaxle. The world will now look seriously at the Indian capability in manufacturing technology.
Mr. Tata indicated that there was lot of resistance against the small car by the vested interests. Competitors scoffed at the idea. Besides, there are other issues such as crowded roads in cities like Mumbai city where there are about 8 lakh two-wheelers and 4.36 lakhs four-wheelers criss-crossing 1900 km of the roads. The reduced price will encourage rich to buy multiple cars (for each family member and also for servants) putting a lot of constraint on the limited parking space. Already there is no walking space for pedestrians due to haphazard parking on road sides. Road accidents are increasing by the day. Increased pollution levels in the cities will only enhance the global warming concerns. Nano is the car for smaller cities and towns in India and for EXPORTS. Three Cheers to all concerned.
The engine, placed horizontally at the rear is a 623cc twin-cylinder SOHC unit featuring multi-point fuel injection with about 34bhp on tap and anti-vibe balancer shaft. A lot of weight saving measures, in terms of design and material selection were taken to get good fuel efficiency (20 kmpl) and speed (105kmph). The engine drives the rear wheels via a four speed transaxle. The world will now look seriously at the Indian capability in manufacturing technology.
Mr. Tata indicated that there was lot of resistance against the small car by the vested interests. Competitors scoffed at the idea. Besides, there are other issues such as crowded roads in cities like Mumbai city where there are about 8 lakh two-wheelers and 4.36 lakhs four-wheelers criss-crossing 1900 km of the roads. The reduced price will encourage rich to buy multiple cars (for each family member and also for servants) putting a lot of constraint on the limited parking space. Already there is no walking space for pedestrians due to haphazard parking on road sides. Road accidents are increasing by the day. Increased pollution levels in the cities will only enhance the global warming concerns. Nano is the car for smaller cities and towns in India and for EXPORTS. Three Cheers to all concerned.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sir Edmund Hillary is no more
The New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary (born July 29, 1919) was the first to set foot on world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, on May 29, 1953 along with his co-climber Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Darjeeling, India. On reaching the top, he said “To my great delight I realized we were on top of Mount Everest and the whole world spread out below us”.
He started a NGO Himalayan Trust in 1961 to for the welfare of the Sherpa community and was proud of the good work the Trust has been doing in Nepal. The Trust has started schools, provided medical care, drinking water systems and scholarships for studies for the Sherpa children. Hillary also campaigned for a cleaner and environment-friendly Himalayas which he loved till the last day. Nepal conferred honorary citizenship upon Hillary in 2003 during celebration of the 50th year of the Everest conquest. Hillary became the first living New Zealander to appear on a bank note (5 dollar note) in 1990.
Hillary’s first marriage was with Louise Rose in 1953, who along with youngest of the three sons died in a plane crash in Kathmandu in 1975. Sir Ed is no more. His second wife June Hillary from Auckland said that she will single-handedly continue her husband’s great mission - upliftment of the Sherpa community, for which he dedicated 40 years of his life.
He started a NGO Himalayan Trust in 1961 to for the welfare of the Sherpa community and was proud of the good work the Trust has been doing in Nepal. The Trust has started schools, provided medical care, drinking water systems and scholarships for studies for the Sherpa children. Hillary also campaigned for a cleaner and environment-friendly Himalayas which he loved till the last day. Nepal conferred honorary citizenship upon Hillary in 2003 during celebration of the 50th year of the Everest conquest. Hillary became the first living New Zealander to appear on a bank note (5 dollar note) in 1990.
Hillary’s first marriage was with Louise Rose in 1953, who along with youngest of the three sons died in a plane crash in Kathmandu in 1975. Sir Ed is no more. His second wife June Hillary from Auckland said that she will single-handedly continue her husband’s great mission - upliftment of the Sherpa community, for which he dedicated 40 years of his life.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Global warming and natural events
The climate change which we are witnessing today is presumed to be due to the global warming caused by man-made activities and resulting emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide. In fact, the main reason for the climate change may be due to global warming caused by other natural, earthly and solar events such as eruption of volcanoes, cyclic sun storms, etc. However, one can only try to minimize the contribution from man-made activities for global warming such as use of fossil fuels for electricity generation and for fueling transportation vehicles including aircrafts and space vehicles. It is difficult to believe that a fractional rise in the ambient and ocean temperature can cause the great meltdown of large Greenland and west Antarctica glaciers.
It is also possible that the actual gravity of the situation was not told to the world in time by the responsible organizations, or there are yet unknown natural reasons such as effect of variations in the geothermal energy for the climate change.
The responsible developed countries such as USA and the organizations such as United Nations should wake up to this reality of new climate cycle and upgrade the environmental monitoring systems and the computer models to reassess the scenario before major part of the globe gets submerged by the rising sea levels. Serious attempts also should be made to reduce the existing carbon dioxide and methane inventory in the atmosphere by use of appropriate technology.
It is also possible that the actual gravity of the situation was not told to the world in time by the responsible organizations, or there are yet unknown natural reasons such as effect of variations in the geothermal energy for the climate change.
The responsible developed countries such as USA and the organizations such as United Nations should wake up to this reality of new climate cycle and upgrade the environmental monitoring systems and the computer models to reassess the scenario before major part of the globe gets submerged by the rising sea levels. Serious attempts also should be made to reduce the existing carbon dioxide and methane inventory in the atmosphere by use of appropriate technology.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Anti-Child Labour Drive
In many of the developing countries, child labour is rampant. Child Rights Organizations and other NGOs are fighting for stringent anti-child labour laws and the local governments are trying hard to sustain anti-child labour campaigns in cities where the children are lured to work in hazardous industries and in unsafe conditions in zari. leather, tea-stalls, metal works and garages thriving legally or illegally in the slums. Tuberculosis is the common disease prevailing amongst the children.
Small children are employed for house-hold works in many affluent families. Typically, in Mumbai, the thousands of children from poor families from the northern states form a major cheap work force. The children are treated badly and often made to work for hours together in unhygienic conditions without proper food and shelter. Generally, employers do not like the children keeping contact with their parents or strangers.
Legally, one can not be listed in any workforce if one is below 18 years of age. But the poverty and in the absence of any other options, parents do not mind sending their children for earning a living and support their family. Their idea is anything is better than starvation. Education is out of bounds for most of these small children.
Governments are trying to rescue these children during frequent so-called sustained anti-child labour campaigns. Rehabilitation of the “rescued” children is an arduous task indeed. Often, the children do not want to go back to their families and the hard life back home. The children feel that they are better off in the city than at home in villages.
The local government plan is to offer families of the rescued children “scholarships” for the child’s education. Many questions are raised, such as ensuring the proper use of the funds for the purpose of education, medical care for the children, providing skilled job opportunities, etc. What sort of future we are planning for these children?
Small children are employed for house-hold works in many affluent families. Typically, in Mumbai, the thousands of children from poor families from the northern states form a major cheap work force. The children are treated badly and often made to work for hours together in unhygienic conditions without proper food and shelter. Generally, employers do not like the children keeping contact with their parents or strangers.
Legally, one can not be listed in any workforce if one is below 18 years of age. But the poverty and in the absence of any other options, parents do not mind sending their children for earning a living and support their family. Their idea is anything is better than starvation. Education is out of bounds for most of these small children.
Governments are trying to rescue these children during frequent so-called sustained anti-child labour campaigns. Rehabilitation of the “rescued” children is an arduous task indeed. Often, the children do not want to go back to their families and the hard life back home. The children feel that they are better off in the city than at home in villages.
The local government plan is to offer families of the rescued children “scholarships” for the child’s education. Many questions are raised, such as ensuring the proper use of the funds for the purpose of education, medical care for the children, providing skilled job opportunities, etc. What sort of future we are planning for these children?
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