Read on a tweet message a nice note about Barkha..
"
If Barkha Dutt were to move from India to Pakistan, it would increase the average IQ
of both countries"
Only people who are tuned into English news channels in India can empathize with this note..
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
இப்பவே கண்ணை கட்டுதே..
On what led Roy to her political writings, she said, “I don't know, often a kind of anger. I know I am being lied to by the corporate press.” She wrote, she added, “When it gets easier to write than not to write.”
இப்பவே கண்ணை கட்டுதே..
இப்பவே கண்ணை கட்டுதே..
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
அப்படி போடு அருவாளை
Every country has its holiday schedule and we are no different. The argument that holidays result in loss of productivity is unsubstantiated. If employees work all 365 days a year, we will still experience a decline in productivity due to lack of rest. It is necessary to have holidays, more so, in the memory of the Father of the Nation. It is the only way many would remember Mahatma Gandhi.
S. Balaji,
சென்னை
http://www.hindu.com/2009/10/07/stories/2009100755820804.htmLink
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ஆண்டாள் பூ(பா)மாலை
வங்க கடல் கடைந்த மாதவனைகேசவனைதிங்கள் திருமுகத்து செய் இழையார் சென்று இரைஞ்சியாங்க(ப) பறை கொண்ட ஆற்றை அணி புதுவை(ப)பைங்கமல(த) தன் தெரியல பட்டார் பிரான் கோதை-சங்க(த) தமிழ் மாலை முப்பதும் தப்பாமே [-சொன்னைங்கு இப்பரிசுரைப்பார் ஈரிரண்டு மால் வரை தோள்சென்கன் திருமுகத்து(ச) செல்வ(த) திருமாலாலேங்கும் திருவருள் பெற்று இன்புறுவர் எம்பாவாய்.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Localism: The future of mass communication
Sounds quite interesting an idea and one that is worth to think about seriously
Link
Am attaching the complete text here for my personal use.
The way forward for local television would be to engage citizens in debates on prominent problems of their city and make them part of the solution, Rajiv N. Lulla, CEO, NDTV MetroNation said on Wednesday.
In his keynote address on “Localism: The future of mass communication and what it means to you” hosted by the Chennai chapter of the Public Relations Society of India, Mr. Lulla said the key was in increasing citizen’s involvement in evolving solutions to common problems in everyday life.
Local television had the unique advantage of providing local content that was relevant to residents of a particular city that a national television channel with its limited “shelf-space” could accommodate, Mr. Lulla said.
For instance, a programme that invited viewer contributed videos would be impossible to undertake on a national scale but could be a great way to encourage citizen’s participation on local television, he said.
Accountable metrics
At the same time, local television needed to evolve an accountable metrics for advertisers who sought an alternative way to reach out to regional consumer segments, he added.
Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said public relations was in essence all about the skill of communication and played a vital role in every organisation. However, the term was not always used in a complimentary manner, she said.
The Chennai chapter of PRSI also kickstarted its activities for the 2009-2010.
Link
Am attaching the complete text here for my personal use.
The way forward for local television would be to engage citizens in debates on prominent problems of their city and make them part of the solution, Rajiv N. Lulla, CEO, NDTV MetroNation said on Wednesday.
In his keynote address on “Localism: The future of mass communication and what it means to you” hosted by the Chennai chapter of the Public Relations Society of India, Mr. Lulla said the key was in increasing citizen’s involvement in evolving solutions to common problems in everyday life.
Local television had the unique advantage of providing local content that was relevant to residents of a particular city that a national television channel with its limited “shelf-space” could accommodate, Mr. Lulla said.
For instance, a programme that invited viewer contributed videos would be impossible to undertake on a national scale but could be a great way to encourage citizen’s participation on local television, he said.
Accountable metrics
At the same time, local television needed to evolve an accountable metrics for advertisers who sought an alternative way to reach out to regional consumer segments, he added.
Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, said public relations was in essence all about the skill of communication and played a vital role in every organisation. However, the term was not always used in a complimentary manner, she said.
The Chennai chapter of PRSI also kickstarted its activities for the 2009-2010.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Naresh Trehan, brain behind ‘Medicity’: Interview and few thoughts on it
Naresh Trehan, an eminent cardiologist and the brain behind the Medanta Medicity project has answered questioned from a variety of people in the Indian Express this sunday. Following is the short summary on a few items that he has talked about along with my personal views on them.
- On the motivation behind creation of medicity:
Creation of a healthcare facility that is patient driven, than target driven. A health care set-up which maintains a high level of transparency, in its governing practices, billing systems and patient outcomes. Also, on top a health care facility that is world standards but still accesible to the possible widest strata of the society and not just a select few.
- His mention about publicizing patient outcomes and maintaining atmost transparency on this is a very important thing. Infact, he also mentioned that the outcome studies needed to be presented with a local context. Let me share a personal experience of mine, to better understand this point.
Once an aunt of mine had fractured her leg and there was a blood cot in the knee. We initially took her to a hospital to get the diagnosis, but for a variety of reasons we did not want her to be treated there and decided to move her to a bigger hospital in another city. Trying to hold us in the same hospital, the doctor told us about the risk involved with clots, that they have a tendency to move and can lead to brain stroke or cardiac arrest. We were scared of moving her from that places due to the risk. I then called up our family doctor and enquired about the risk involved in moving her. He said, there is definitely a small% risk involved, but I have not experinced in my medical carrer a patient where the clot due to hurting the leg has moved and led to a cardiac arrest, but you cannot come and blame me tomorrow if such a thing happens in your case because there definitely is a chance, but a chance event that I have not come across in my 15years of medical practice. So putting a statistical data into a context was re-assuring for us to evaluate the risk vs benefit that we gain by taking that risk.
Also on the target driven health care, unfortunately due to the heavy corporatization of the health care facilities in our country, doctors are functioning based on set target of having to accomplish a certain number of surgeries and whole lot per month to show corporate results. I hope this motivation as outlined in this inititaive will set a role model for other hospitals.
- On the issue of affordable health care:
On a related note, he states that many of the medicinal practices that are followed in the country(on diagnosis, treatment approaches) are blindfoldedly followed based on the data available in the west. This is also an area where he states that MediCity would standout of the rest. I do not know whether use of indigineorus technology, and integrating other indian medicine practices also fir into his goal on affordable health care.
He says lot of health care cost burden can be brought down through dealing with it in the prevention phase. And the use of mobile health disbursal system to adress the rural health care needs.
I think his suggestion that satellite mobile medical mission with the help of qualified doctors instead of rural posting makes a lot of sense.
As regards the accountablity of the doctors his opinion was that doctors should be included in the professional regulatory body.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
"Crazy" Venkatesh: one more post
‘If Venkatesh knows you are here, he might sit up even now,’ we told Kamal. However crazy and wishful the thought, only if it had come true!” Balaji sighs.
Link to a tribute column in The Hindu
Link to a tribute column in The Hindu
Monday, August 17, 2009
RESTORING MENTAL HEALTH IN INDIA
‘Possession’ is still very common, especially in rural areas. Even in Tamil Nadu, there are some temples such as Hanumanthapuram where I have observed a group of young women who used to remain in a so-called trance state for about 30 minutes around noon almost everyday. Even if considered a cry for help or attention, this practice gets social sanction and not perceived as a deviant behaviour.
Book Review in The Hindu
Book Review in The Hindu
Crazy Venkatesh
க்ரேஸி குழுவின் முக்கிய நடிகராக இருந்த வெங்கடேஷ் நேற்று காலமானார். தி.நகர் நானா தெருவில் அவர் வீட்டுக்குக் காலையில் போனபோது க்ரேஸி, பாலாஜி, அப்பா ரமேஷ் இன்னும் நிறைய நண்பர்கள். மௌலியோடு அவசர அறிமுகம் செய்து கொண்டபடி வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைந்தேன் மோகனோடு.
வெங்கட் ஆறு அடி உயர நெடியமால். அவரை இனி எப்போதும் எழுந்திருக்க முடியாத படுத்த கோலத்தில் பார்க்க மனதுக்கு கஷ்டமாக இருந்தது. க்ரேஸி குழுவினர் எல்லோரிடமும் அலாதியான டைமிங் சென்ஸ் உண்டு. வெங்கட்டிடம் இது கொஞ்சம் அதிகம். வங்கியில் விருப்ப ஓய்வு வாங்கி ஒரு ரவுண்ட் சினிமாவில் கலக்க திட்டமிட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தவரோடு விதி விளையாடிய பலன் - இரண்டு ஆண்டாகப் படுத்த படுக்கை. மைக்கேல் மதன காமராஜனைத் தொடர்ந்து அவரைத் தொடர்ந்திருக்க வேண்டிய வெற்றி ஏனோ விலகிப் போய்விட்டது.
கமல் சார் காலையில் தொலைபேசியபோது வெங்கட் பற்றிச் சொன்னேன். அவர் நேற்றைக்கு சேதி தெரிந்ததுமே போய் வந்ததாகச் சொன்னார். சக கலைஞரை மதிப்பதில் அவருக்கு இருக்கும் அக்கறை தனியானது.
Link from Era.Murukan's web page
வெங்கட் ஆறு அடி உயர நெடியமால். அவரை இனி எப்போதும் எழுந்திருக்க முடியாத படுத்த கோலத்தில் பார்க்க மனதுக்கு கஷ்டமாக இருந்தது. க்ரேஸி குழுவினர் எல்லோரிடமும் அலாதியான டைமிங் சென்ஸ் உண்டு. வெங்கட்டிடம் இது கொஞ்சம் அதிகம். வங்கியில் விருப்ப ஓய்வு வாங்கி ஒரு ரவுண்ட் சினிமாவில் கலக்க திட்டமிட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தவரோடு விதி விளையாடிய பலன் - இரண்டு ஆண்டாகப் படுத்த படுக்கை. மைக்கேல் மதன காமராஜனைத் தொடர்ந்து அவரைத் தொடர்ந்திருக்க வேண்டிய வெற்றி ஏனோ விலகிப் போய்விட்டது.
கமல் சார் காலையில் தொலைபேசியபோது வெங்கட் பற்றிச் சொன்னேன். அவர் நேற்றைக்கு சேதி தெரிந்ததுமே போய் வந்ததாகச் சொன்னார். சக கலைஞரை மதிப்பதில் அவருக்கு இருக்கும் அக்கறை தனியானது.
Link from Era.Murukan's web page
Influenza A (H1N1) Revised Guidelines as on 14.8.2009
In order to prevent and contain outbreak of Influenza-A H1N1 virus for screening, testing and isolation following guidelines are to be followed:
At first all individuals seeking consultations for flu like symptoms should be screened at healthcare facilities both Government and private or examined by a doctor and these will be categorized as under:
Category- A
• Patients with mild fever plus cough / sore throat with or without body ache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting will be categorised as Category-A. They do not require Oseltamivir and should be treated for the symptoms mentioned above. The patients should be monitored for their progress and reassessed at 24 to 48 hours by the doctor.
• No testing of the patient for H1N1 is required.
• Patients should confine themselves at home and avoid mixing up with public and high risk members in the family.
Category-B
(i) In addition to all the signs and symptoms mentioned under Category-A, if the patient has high grade fever and severe sore throat, may require home isolation and Oseltamivir;
(ii) In addition to all the signs and symptoms mentioned under Category-A, individuals having one or more of the following high risk conditions shall be treated with Oseltamivir:
• Children less than 5 years old;
• Pregnant women;
• Persons aged 65 years or older;
• Patients with lung diseases, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, blood disorders, diabetes, neurological disorders, cancer and HIV/AIDS;
• Patients on long term cortisone therapy.
• No tests for H1N1 is required for Category-B (i) and (ii).
• All patients of Category-B (i) and (ii) should confine themselves at home and avoid mixing with public and high risk members in the family.
Category-C
In addition to the above signs and symptoms of Category-A and B, if the patient has one or more of the following:
• Breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discolouration of nails;
• Irritability among small children, refusal to accept feed;
• Worsening of underlying chronic conditions.
All these patients mentioned above in Category-C require testing, immediate hospitalization and treatment.
At first all individuals seeking consultations for flu like symptoms should be screened at healthcare facilities both Government and private or examined by a doctor and these will be categorized as under:
Category- A
• Patients with mild fever plus cough / sore throat with or without body ache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting will be categorised as Category-A. They do not require Oseltamivir and should be treated for the symptoms mentioned above. The patients should be monitored for their progress and reassessed at 24 to 48 hours by the doctor.
• No testing of the patient for H1N1 is required.
• Patients should confine themselves at home and avoid mixing up with public and high risk members in the family.
Category-B
(i) In addition to all the signs and symptoms mentioned under Category-A, if the patient has high grade fever and severe sore throat, may require home isolation and Oseltamivir;
(ii) In addition to all the signs and symptoms mentioned under Category-A, individuals having one or more of the following high risk conditions shall be treated with Oseltamivir:
• Children less than 5 years old;
• Pregnant women;
• Persons aged 65 years or older;
• Patients with lung diseases, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease, blood disorders, diabetes, neurological disorders, cancer and HIV/AIDS;
• Patients on long term cortisone therapy.
• No tests for H1N1 is required for Category-B (i) and (ii).
• All patients of Category-B (i) and (ii) should confine themselves at home and avoid mixing with public and high risk members in the family.
Category-C
In addition to the above signs and symptoms of Category-A and B, if the patient has one or more of the following:
• Breathlessness, chest pain, drowsiness, fall in blood pressure, sputum mixed with blood, bluish discolouration of nails;
• Irritability among small children, refusal to accept feed;
• Worsening of underlying chronic conditions.
All these patients mentioned above in Category-C require testing, immediate hospitalization and treatment.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Beta: The Hindu
இது என்ன Beta(as in Englisha) இல்லை Beta(as in Hindia)..
http://beta.thehindu.com/
புளிய பாத்து பூனை சூடு போட்டுண்ட கதை கேள்விப்பட்டிருக்கோம்
இங்க பூனை நெருப்பிலையே குதிச்ச effect வரது..
இதெலாம் வேற நெறைய பேர் 50 வருஷமா படிக்கறவங்க letters to editorku எழுதுவாங்க..
http://beta.thehindu.com/
புளிய பாத்து பூனை சூடு போட்டுண்ட கதை கேள்விப்பட்டிருக்கோம்
இங்க பூனை நெருப்பிலையே குதிச்ச effect வரது..
இதெலாம் வேற நெறைய பேர் 50 வருஷமா படிக்கறவங்க letters to editorku எழுதுவாங்க..
Thursday, August 13, 2009
திரும்பி பார்க்கிறேன்: இந்த வாரம் சித்ராலயா கோபு
Thirumbi Paarkiraen
(Jaya TV, Monday-Friday, 10 p.m.)
The channel’s much watched show will feature writer-director Chitralaya Gopu, from August 17-21. Beginning as an assistant dialogue writer to veteran director Sridhar, Gopu, whose comedies are ever popular, went on to direct more than 20 films. Catch him recount his experiences in cinema!
(Jaya TV, Monday-Friday, 10 p.m.)
The channel’s much watched show will feature writer-director Chitralaya Gopu, from August 17-21. Beginning as an assistant dialogue writer to veteran director Sridhar, Gopu, whose comedies are ever popular, went on to direct more than 20 films. Catch him recount his experiences in cinema!
Good initiative, but unfortunately by wrong people
குரங்கு கையில் பூமாலை..வேற என்ன சொல்வது..சினிமா current commercial ambience மோசமாக இருப்பதால் தான் பாலசந்தர் சினிமா எடுப்பது இல்லையாம் இப்பல்லாம்..சிரிப்பதா இல்லை அழுகறதா தெரிலே..
Link to the sad story
Link to the sad story
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Guidelines for diagnostic laboratories: Swine Flu Testing
Guidelines for diagnostic laboratories pertaining to requirements of infrastructure for testing of specimens for Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) virus infection (based on CDC/WHO guidelines1)
General Bio-safety measures: Gloves (latex), shoe cover, head cover, goggles, triple layered mask, mask with N-95 specification, front closed full length apron, puncture resistant autoclavable yellow coloured bio-safety bag with bio-safety symbols, hypochlorite solution. (As per bio-safety manual attached as Document 2).
Civil Infrastructure: Separate dedicated areas for sample handling and PCR testing as per recommended guidelines (Document 3).
Sample collection kit: Throat/Nasal swab with synthetic up (polyester or Dacron) and aluminium or plastic shaft sample collection vials or tubes (leak proof and autoclavable) containing 1-3 ml. virus transport media (with protein stabilizer and antibiotics) as primary container.
Sample storage: Refrigerator (4-80 C) for storage up to 48 hrs. Deep freeze (-700C) for longer storage.
Back up sample for future testing etc. should be kept at -700 C.
Sample Transport: Absorbent cotton, tissue paper or waste newspaper for wrapping primary container. Secondary container to hold the primary container i.e. bigger tube or sealed plastic bag. Insulated ice box with ice pack, sample proforma fastened on to the secondary container.
Sample handling and testing:
Handling: In BSL-3 Bio-safety or BSL-2+ facility with BSL-3 precautions.
Testing: Real time RT-PCR test, by Real Time PCR machine using validated reagents accessories and protocol as per CDC/WHO guidelines/testing protocols3 and subsequent amendments published from time to time.
Reporting of Results: Standardized uniform reporting proforma. PC with internet facilities, fax machine.
_________________________________________________________________________
1. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/specimen collection.htm
2. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/ WHO¬¬¬_CDS_ CSR_LYO_2004_ 11/en/
3 .http://ww.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/realtimeptpcr/en/index.html dated 28th April 2009 and 30th April,2009
General Bio-safety measures: Gloves (latex), shoe cover, head cover, goggles, triple layered mask, mask with N-95 specification, front closed full length apron, puncture resistant autoclavable yellow coloured bio-safety bag with bio-safety symbols, hypochlorite solution. (As per bio-safety manual attached as Document 2).
Civil Infrastructure: Separate dedicated areas for sample handling and PCR testing as per recommended guidelines (Document 3).
Sample collection kit: Throat/Nasal swab with synthetic up (polyester or Dacron) and aluminium or plastic shaft sample collection vials or tubes (leak proof and autoclavable) containing 1-3 ml. virus transport media (with protein stabilizer and antibiotics) as primary container.
Sample storage: Refrigerator (4-80 C) for storage up to 48 hrs. Deep freeze (-700C) for longer storage.
Back up sample for future testing etc. should be kept at -700 C.
Sample Transport: Absorbent cotton, tissue paper or waste newspaper for wrapping primary container. Secondary container to hold the primary container i.e. bigger tube or sealed plastic bag. Insulated ice box with ice pack, sample proforma fastened on to the secondary container.
Sample handling and testing:
Handling: In BSL-3 Bio-safety or BSL-2+ facility with BSL-3 precautions.
Testing: Real time RT-PCR test, by Real Time PCR machine using validated reagents accessories and protocol as per CDC/WHO guidelines/testing protocols3 and subsequent amendments published from time to time.
Reporting of Results: Standardized uniform reporting proforma. PC with internet facilities, fax machine.
_________________________________________________________________________
1. http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/specimen collection.htm
2. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/ WHO¬¬¬_CDS_ CSR_LYO_2004_ 11/en/
3 .http://ww.who.int/csr/resources/publications/swineflu/realtimeptpcr/en/index.html dated 28th April 2009 and 30th April,2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Press release from Jan Arogya Abhiyan on Swine Flu
Lack of clear-cut swine flu guidelines, to citizens and private doctors, by Municipal Corporation and health officials resulted in unnecessarily long queues in Naidu Hospital. Moreover a lot of confusion continues amongst lay people and doctors about specific steps to be taken.
There are two criteria for throat swab collection and its testing at National Institute of Virology (NIV) and those are: only those patients with cough, cold, fever who had been a) to foreign countries in last eight days or b) in contact with swine flu patients. However this was not made sufficiently clear through newspaper, radio and TV by Municipal Authorities leading to overcrowding at Naidu Hospital.
Even persons not fitting in above two criteria are also getting swine flu infection. Hence there is need to change these criteria and new ones should be properly publicized through media. Even today, there is no clear guideline for private practitioners and doctors. On the contrary on 6th August, government issued a threat of registration cancellation to doctors, through newspaper if they did not take proper care of patients, without making it clear what does it mean to take proper care!
Municipal Corporation printed more than one lakh information pamphlets. But it contains some incomplete and faulty instructions. E.g. ‘wash hands continuously’, ‘avoid congested places’. What does it mean to citizens? Some instructions have been taken from ‘Centre for Disease Control’,USA website. However CDC website says keep 6 feet distance from swine flu patient, PMC pamphlet says only 3 feet! Despite conveying these corrections to concerned health officials, there is no response from them.
No clear publicized information is provided to public and doctors on why only Naidu Hospital is collecting samples and only NIV is testing them, why only Naidu Hospital is providing required medicines.
Directorate of Maharashtra Health services has issued impracticable and vague instructions to doctors in today’s Indian Express.
Jan Arogya Abhiyan demands an immediate end to this indifference by Municipal and Health authorities. There is need to issue proper, scientific instructions for public and doctors through all newspapers and display them frequently on all television, radio channels.
Who one should visit doctors and when? When to directly approach Naidu Hospital and other 15 screening centres? What kind of congested places should be avoided? Who is at greater risk of infection? Who should use mask? What is exact meaning of ‘contact with swine flu patient’? Does it mean spending whole day with such patient or just brief time? Is it necessary to sterilize entire class or office if there is any swine flu patient? People should get proper scientific and specific answers to all such questions.
Private medical practitioners and civil society experts should be consulted while preparing guidelines for public and doctors.
There are two criteria for throat swab collection and its testing at National Institute of Virology (NIV) and those are: only those patients with cough, cold, fever who had been a) to foreign countries in last eight days or b) in contact with swine flu patients. However this was not made sufficiently clear through newspaper, radio and TV by Municipal Authorities leading to overcrowding at Naidu Hospital.
Even persons not fitting in above two criteria are also getting swine flu infection. Hence there is need to change these criteria and new ones should be properly publicized through media. Even today, there is no clear guideline for private practitioners and doctors. On the contrary on 6th August, government issued a threat of registration cancellation to doctors, through newspaper if they did not take proper care of patients, without making it clear what does it mean to take proper care!
Municipal Corporation printed more than one lakh information pamphlets. But it contains some incomplete and faulty instructions. E.g. ‘wash hands continuously’, ‘avoid congested places’. What does it mean to citizens? Some instructions have been taken from ‘Centre for Disease Control’,USA website. However CDC website says keep 6 feet distance from swine flu patient, PMC pamphlet says only 3 feet! Despite conveying these corrections to concerned health officials, there is no response from them.
No clear publicized information is provided to public and doctors on why only Naidu Hospital is collecting samples and only NIV is testing them, why only Naidu Hospital is providing required medicines.
Directorate of Maharashtra Health services has issued impracticable and vague instructions to doctors in today’s Indian Express.
Jan Arogya Abhiyan demands an immediate end to this indifference by Municipal and Health authorities. There is need to issue proper, scientific instructions for public and doctors through all newspapers and display them frequently on all television, radio channels.
Who one should visit doctors and when? When to directly approach Naidu Hospital and other 15 screening centres? What kind of congested places should be avoided? Who is at greater risk of infection? Who should use mask? What is exact meaning of ‘contact with swine flu patient’? Does it mean spending whole day with such patient or just brief time? Is it necessary to sterilize entire class or office if there is any swine flu patient? People should get proper scientific and specific answers to all such questions.
Private medical practitioners and civil society experts should be consulted while preparing guidelines for public and doctors.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Swine Flu update: Revised Guidelines from Health Minstry
Revised Guidelines for testing of persons with flu like symptoms reporting at hospitals notified for influenza H1N1
So far, the present guidelines stipulate that a person suspected of influenza A H1N1 need to be referred to an identified govt. health facility. He/she needs to be kept in an isolation facility in that hospital and if found positive, is treated accordingly.
In order to make the testing facility for H1N1 more accessible at large and due to the onset of the Influenza season in the country, it has been decided to revise the existing guidelines.
Under the new guidelines, any person with flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold, running nose etc. should go to a designated Government facility for giving his/her sample for testing for the H1N1 virus. After clinical assessment, the designated medical officer would decide on the need for testing. Except for cases that are severe, the patient would be allowed to go home (This was not allowed under the existing guidelines).
The sample of the suspect case would be collected and sent to the notified laboratory for testing. If tested as positive for H1N1 and in case the symptoms are mild, the patient would be informed and given the option of admission into the hospital or isolation and treatment at his own home.
In case the patient opts for home isolation and treatment, he/she would be provided with detailed guidelines / safety measures to be strictly adhered to by the entire household of the patient. He/ she would have to provide full contact details of his entire household. The house hold and social contacts would be provided with the preventive treatment.
Notwithstanding the above guidelines, the decision of the doctor of the notified hospital about admitting the patient would be final.
In case the test is negative, the patient will accordingly be informed.
These guidelines have been issued by the Government in public interest and shall be reviewed from time to time depending on the spread of the pandemic and its severity in the country. These guidelines would however not apply to passengers who are identified through screening at the points of entry. The existing policy of isolating passengers with flu like symptoms would continue.
So far, the present guidelines stipulate that a person suspected of influenza A H1N1 need to be referred to an identified govt. health facility. He/she needs to be kept in an isolation facility in that hospital and if found positive, is treated accordingly.
In order to make the testing facility for H1N1 more accessible at large and due to the onset of the Influenza season in the country, it has been decided to revise the existing guidelines.
Under the new guidelines, any person with flu like symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold, running nose etc. should go to a designated Government facility for giving his/her sample for testing for the H1N1 virus. After clinical assessment, the designated medical officer would decide on the need for testing. Except for cases that are severe, the patient would be allowed to go home (This was not allowed under the existing guidelines).
The sample of the suspect case would be collected and sent to the notified laboratory for testing. If tested as positive for H1N1 and in case the symptoms are mild, the patient would be informed and given the option of admission into the hospital or isolation and treatment at his own home.
In case the patient opts for home isolation and treatment, he/she would be provided with detailed guidelines / safety measures to be strictly adhered to by the entire household of the patient. He/ she would have to provide full contact details of his entire household. The house hold and social contacts would be provided with the preventive treatment.
Notwithstanding the above guidelines, the decision of the doctor of the notified hospital about admitting the patient would be final.
In case the test is negative, the patient will accordingly be informed.
These guidelines have been issued by the Government in public interest and shall be reviewed from time to time depending on the spread of the pandemic and its severity in the country. These guidelines would however not apply to passengers who are identified through screening at the points of entry. The existing policy of isolating passengers with flu like symptoms would continue.
Swine Flu Scenario in Pune
The number of death victims associated to Swine Flu has touched 6(it was 5 when I started typing this) and the scare is quite palpable amongst the citizens of Pune. I have been carefully observing the developments in the last couple of days and wanted to register some of my thoughts on this issue.
First and foremost of the concerns is that it has been more than a week and the government is yet to come with the defined protocol to follow while dealing with Swine Flu. It is understandable in a situation like this, the government cannot work with some pre-set guidelines and needs to condition their strategy and evolve different protocols as the situation demands.
Just the day after the first victim had died, the government attributed it to not approaching the designated health care facilities in time and losing valuable time by consulting the private medical practitioners. In-fact, one of the health department official(I think it is the health minister of Maharashtra) went as far as telling that licensing of the private doctors will be cancelled if they treat someone showing swine flu symptoms.
Just a day or two after that, government is suggesting that private doctors needs to treat them and should not send them away. The ambiguity and dilemma in defining the strategy to deal with how situation evolve is understandable. But should not they deal with some forethought. I mean if within a couple of days, one imagines a scenario of engaging private medical professional in handling the crisis, what is the need to take such an aggressive posture.
And the information also seems going back and forth on all the issues associated, like administering Tamiflu to suspected individuals and everything. The teacher who lost his life in pune was asked to go back and told that he is not a possible suspect by the same government doctors when he has approached them. Such cases are in the rise, so the diagnosing doctors decision whether to send the sample for testing or not is still very ambiguous.
Even for simple things like procuring the masks to protect against the virus, the special protection masks, which are not so easily available at-least needs to be made available to the high risk people such as the pregnant women or other ailing people who are more risk prone and are under medical care and more susceptible to medical infection.
Also with the number of death counts increasing, it is a issue of serious concern, whether the government has any strategy on how intensive and critical care departments will cope with high patient numbers.
It is not just enough to request people not to panic, without making adequate actions that would make them feel confident of the situation.
As regards to spreading the awareness and establishing the proper information to communicate, the fundamental issue as stated in the earlier paras are to establish and define, clearly what needs to be communicated.
One of the doctors on TV, suggested that information spread through radio does not seem to be happening at all, I think all media tools like SMS, FM radio channels all need to be channelized for the information spread. Fortunately it is reported that the spread of the Flu is not large in rural areas, in the event of such a spread, the information spread through Radio needs to be effectively used.
I will keep posting on whatever that in the course of time thoughts I have on this issue that needs to be shared with.
First and foremost of the concerns is that it has been more than a week and the government is yet to come with the defined protocol to follow while dealing with Swine Flu. It is understandable in a situation like this, the government cannot work with some pre-set guidelines and needs to condition their strategy and evolve different protocols as the situation demands.
Just the day after the first victim had died, the government attributed it to not approaching the designated health care facilities in time and losing valuable time by consulting the private medical practitioners. In-fact, one of the health department official(I think it is the health minister of Maharashtra) went as far as telling that licensing of the private doctors will be cancelled if they treat someone showing swine flu symptoms.
Just a day or two after that, government is suggesting that private doctors needs to treat them and should not send them away. The ambiguity and dilemma in defining the strategy to deal with how situation evolve is understandable. But should not they deal with some forethought. I mean if within a couple of days, one imagines a scenario of engaging private medical professional in handling the crisis, what is the need to take such an aggressive posture.
And the information also seems going back and forth on all the issues associated, like administering Tamiflu to suspected individuals and everything. The teacher who lost his life in pune was asked to go back and told that he is not a possible suspect by the same government doctors when he has approached them. Such cases are in the rise, so the diagnosing doctors decision whether to send the sample for testing or not is still very ambiguous.
Even for simple things like procuring the masks to protect against the virus, the special protection masks, which are not so easily available at-least needs to be made available to the high risk people such as the pregnant women or other ailing people who are more risk prone and are under medical care and more susceptible to medical infection.
Also with the number of death counts increasing, it is a issue of serious concern, whether the government has any strategy on how intensive and critical care departments will cope with high patient numbers.
It is not just enough to request people not to panic, without making adequate actions that would make them feel confident of the situation.
As regards to spreading the awareness and establishing the proper information to communicate, the fundamental issue as stated in the earlier paras are to establish and define, clearly what needs to be communicated.
One of the doctors on TV, suggested that information spread through radio does not seem to be happening at all, I think all media tools like SMS, FM radio channels all need to be channelized for the information spread. Fortunately it is reported that the spread of the Flu is not large in rural areas, in the event of such a spread, the information spread through Radio needs to be effectively used.
I will keep posting on whatever that in the course of time thoughts I have on this issue that needs to be shared with.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement
“When you arrive in the world you are guided in, looked after and physically held by an expert, a midwife. This is a person who is a specially trained multi-tasker who can ensure that a new life begins in the safest, most positive way possible,” she says. “But there is no equivalent person to gently lead you out of the world, to hold you when you are departing and to make you feel safe when you cross over from life into death.”
Link to write-up in The Hindu on hospice care
Link to write-up in The Hindu on hospice care
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
சினிமா.. பாபா..சினிமா..
Even if Shakespeare was around today, he would have to learn screenwriting. Not to say screenwriting is greater than Shakespeare.
Kamal in form
Kamal in form
Monday, May 25, 2009
NPR story on how Siblings cope with the loss
Excerpt from an interview that was part of this show.
Respondent: Even after my brother was killed..I have picked up the phone called him dozens of times..
Interviewer: You mean ..to hear his voice on the answering machine..
Respondent: No its not there anymore..but yeah..its just to have that number.. yeah..no one has gotten that number again..its still dead..i hope no one gets it..that would be a awkward conversation..
Link to that NPR story
Respondent: Even after my brother was killed..I have picked up the phone called him dozens of times..
Interviewer: You mean ..to hear his voice on the answering machine..
Respondent: No its not there anymore..but yeah..its just to have that number.. yeah..no one has gotten that number again..its still dead..i hope no one gets it..that would be a awkward conversation..
Link to that NPR story
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
எல்லா கட்சியுமே நடுங்கியிருப்பாங்க
After casting his vote here, Rajnikant told reporters that he had voted to ensure a stable government at the centre.. யாருக்கு voice இந்த வாட்டியோன்னு..வேணாம் விட்டுடு..
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
பயந்துட்டாங்க..
Even today, they told me ‘Vaaippu illa’ (there is no chance). Who is giving who a chance here? They don’t understand our tolerance. This is such a serious issue!”My friend Mr.Gnanasammandam’s name in Madurai is also missing
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Fighting Cancer With Knowledge & Hope: A Guide for Patients, Families and Health Care Providers: Book by Dr. Richard Frank
While giant strides are being made in areas ranging from treatment to patient comfort, Frank found that written information that explains cancer—and many of the factors that surround it—in plain, understandable language was lacking.
Link to the news item on a book by Dr. Richard Frank
Link to the news item on a book by Dr. Richard Frank
கருணாநிதிக்கு கமல் tuition எடுக்கலாம்: ரீமேக் கம்பன் கொடுத்த ஐடியா
"தலைவன் இருக்கின்றான்' என்ற தலைப்பை மாற்றியதற்கு காரணம்?
அதை விட "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' என்ற தலைப்பு பொருத்தமாக இருந்ததால். தவிர, இது எழுத்தாளர் ஜெயகாந்தனின் தலைப்பு. அவருக்கு மரியாதை செலுத்தும் விதமாகவும் இந்தத் தலைப்பை வைத்திருக்கிறேன்.[ ஒரு புதன்கிழமை என்று வைத்திருந்தால் இன்னும் நன்றாக இருந்திருக்கும் ]
சிறந்த கதாசிரியரான நீங்கள் ஒரு ஹிந்திப் படத்தை "ரீமேக்' செய்ய வேண்டிய காரணம்?
இது கம்பனிடமிருந்து வந்த "ஐடியா'; வால்மீகி எழுதிய ராமாயணத்தைத் தமிழில் கம்பன் எழுதியதுதான் காரணம். நல்ல விஷயங்கள் எங்கிருந்தாலும் அதைத் தமிழுக்குக் கொண்டுவர வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தின் வெளிப்பாடுதான் இந்த "ரீமேக்'. ஹிந்தியில் இந்தக் கதையைச் சிறப்பாகச் செய்திருந்தார்கள். அந்த நல்ல விஷயத்தைத் தமிழகத்துக்கும் தர வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசைதான்.ஹிந்தியில் ஒரு பிரச்னையை மையமாக வைத்து இந்தப் படத்தை உருவாக்கியிருந்தார்கள். ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்துக்கும் ஒரு பிரச்னை பெரிய விஷயமாக இருக்கும். ஜார்க்கண்டில் இனப் பிரச்னை என்றால் தமிழகத்தில் தற்போது ஈழப் பிரச்னை இருக்கிறது. தமிழுக்கு ஏற்ப மாற்றங்களைச் செய்து படத்தை உருவாக்கி வருகிறோம்.[ புதன்கிழமை தேசிய பிரச்சனையை வைத்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட படம். தேசிய பிரச்சனை தமிழ் நாட்டு பிரச்சனை இல்லை என்று சொல்ல வருகிறாரா கமல் ? தற்போது தமிழ்நாட்டு பிரச்சனை என்ன ? ]
அப்படியானால் இந்தப் படத்தில் ஈழப் பிரச்னை இடம்பெறுகிறதா?
இல்லை. ஈழப் பிரச்னை பற்றி ஒரு படம் எடுக்கும் எண்ணம் இருக்கிறது. இப்போது அதற்கான தைரியம் இல்லை.
தமிழ் நடிகர்கள் பலர் இருக்க, மலையாள நடிகர் மோகன்லாலை இந்தப் படத்தில் நடிக்க வைப்பதற்கான காரணம்?
மொழிக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டது கலை. மோகன்லாலை அவர் இன்னார் இன்னார் என்றெல்லாம் நான் பார்ப்பதில்லை. அவர் மிகச் சிறந்த நடிகர். அவருடைய திறமைக்காகத்தான் இந்த வேடம். கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாகவே இணைந்து நடிக்க வேண்டும் என அடிக்கடி பேசிக் கொள்வோம். இப்போதுதான் சரியான களம் அமைந்திருக்கிறது.
படத்தின் சிறப்பம்சம்?
நல்ல கதை. மிகச் சிறந்த தொழில்நுட்பக் கலைஞர்கள் பணியாற்றுவது பலம். படத்தில் "ரெட்' கேமராவை முதல்முறையாகப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். காலை படமாக்கும் காட்சிகளை இரவில் "எடிட்' செய்துவிடலாம்.
"அன்பே சிவம்' உள்ளிட்ட உங்களுடைய சில தரமான படங்கள் அடித்தட்டு மக்களைச் சென்றடையாததற்கு காரணம்?
சில சமயங்கள் அவ்வாறு நடப்பதுண்டு. யாரையும் குற்றம் சொல்லமுடியாது. எம்.ஜி.ஆரை விட அடித்தட்டு மக்களைச் சென்றடைந்த ஒருவர் இருக்க முடியாது. அப்படிப்பட்ட எம்.ஜி.ஆரின் "பாசம்' என்ற நல்ல படம் 10 நாள்களைத் தாண்டி ஓடவில்லை.இதுபோன்ற விஷயங்களில் தோல்விகள் ஏற்பட்டாலும் மனம் தளராமல் தொடர்ந்து நல்ல முயற்சிகளில் ஈடுபடுவேன். எல்லாத் தலைவர்களுமா தேர்தலில் வென்று விடுகிறார்கள்? தோற்றாலும் தொடர்ந்து அரசியலில் இருப்பதில்லையா? அதுபோலத்தான்.நிகழ்ச்சியில் ஸ்ருதி ஹாசன், எழுத்தாளர்கள் மனுஷ்யபுத்திரன், இரா.முருகன், யு டி.வி. மோஷன் பிக்சர்ஸ் ராம் மிர்சந்தானி, பட இயக்குநர் சக்ரி ஆகியோர் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.
திரையுலகில் 50-ம் ஆண்டில் கமல்!தமிழ்த் திரையுலகம் தோன்றி 75 ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவடைந்திருக்கும் சூழலில் நடிகர் கமல்ஹாசன் "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தின் மூலம் திரையுலகில் தனது 50-வது ஆண்டில் அடியெடுத்து வைக்கிறார்.ஏ.வி.எம். நிறுவனம் தயாரிப்பில் கமல், குழந்தை நட்சத்திரமாக நடித்த "களத்தூர் கண்ணம்மா' 1959 ஆகஸ்ட் 12-ம் தேதி வெளியானது."உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தின் அனைத்துப் பணிகளும் மே மாதம் நிறைவடைந்து, ஜூன் இறுதியில் வெளியாகத் தயாராகிவிடும். இருப்பினும் ரசிகர்கள், திரையுலக நண்பர்கள் அனைவரின் விருப்பப்படியும் பொன்விழாவை முன்னிட்டும் "களத்தூர் கண்ணம்மா' வெளியான ஆகஸ்ட் 12-ம் தேதி "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தை வெளியிடத் திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
அதை விட "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' என்ற தலைப்பு பொருத்தமாக இருந்ததால். தவிர, இது எழுத்தாளர் ஜெயகாந்தனின் தலைப்பு. அவருக்கு மரியாதை செலுத்தும் விதமாகவும் இந்தத் தலைப்பை வைத்திருக்கிறேன்.[ ஒரு புதன்கிழமை என்று வைத்திருந்தால் இன்னும் நன்றாக இருந்திருக்கும் ]
சிறந்த கதாசிரியரான நீங்கள் ஒரு ஹிந்திப் படத்தை "ரீமேக்' செய்ய வேண்டிய காரணம்?
இது கம்பனிடமிருந்து வந்த "ஐடியா'; வால்மீகி எழுதிய ராமாயணத்தைத் தமிழில் கம்பன் எழுதியதுதான் காரணம். நல்ல விஷயங்கள் எங்கிருந்தாலும் அதைத் தமிழுக்குக் கொண்டுவர வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தின் வெளிப்பாடுதான் இந்த "ரீமேக்'. ஹிந்தியில் இந்தக் கதையைச் சிறப்பாகச் செய்திருந்தார்கள். அந்த நல்ல விஷயத்தைத் தமிழகத்துக்கும் தர வேண்டும் என்ற ஆசைதான்.ஹிந்தியில் ஒரு பிரச்னையை மையமாக வைத்து இந்தப் படத்தை உருவாக்கியிருந்தார்கள். ஒவ்வொரு மாநிலத்துக்கும் ஒரு பிரச்னை பெரிய விஷயமாக இருக்கும். ஜார்க்கண்டில் இனப் பிரச்னை என்றால் தமிழகத்தில் தற்போது ஈழப் பிரச்னை இருக்கிறது. தமிழுக்கு ஏற்ப மாற்றங்களைச் செய்து படத்தை உருவாக்கி வருகிறோம்.[ புதன்கிழமை தேசிய பிரச்சனையை வைத்து எடுக்கப்பட்ட படம். தேசிய பிரச்சனை தமிழ் நாட்டு பிரச்சனை இல்லை என்று சொல்ல வருகிறாரா கமல் ? தற்போது தமிழ்நாட்டு பிரச்சனை என்ன ? ]
அப்படியானால் இந்தப் படத்தில் ஈழப் பிரச்னை இடம்பெறுகிறதா?
இல்லை. ஈழப் பிரச்னை பற்றி ஒரு படம் எடுக்கும் எண்ணம் இருக்கிறது. இப்போது அதற்கான தைரியம் இல்லை.
தமிழ் நடிகர்கள் பலர் இருக்க, மலையாள நடிகர் மோகன்லாலை இந்தப் படத்தில் நடிக்க வைப்பதற்கான காரணம்?
மொழிக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டது கலை. மோகன்லாலை அவர் இன்னார் இன்னார் என்றெல்லாம் நான் பார்ப்பதில்லை. அவர் மிகச் சிறந்த நடிகர். அவருடைய திறமைக்காகத்தான் இந்த வேடம். கடந்த சில ஆண்டுகளாகவே இணைந்து நடிக்க வேண்டும் என அடிக்கடி பேசிக் கொள்வோம். இப்போதுதான் சரியான களம் அமைந்திருக்கிறது.
படத்தின் சிறப்பம்சம்?
நல்ல கதை. மிகச் சிறந்த தொழில்நுட்பக் கலைஞர்கள் பணியாற்றுவது பலம். படத்தில் "ரெட்' கேமராவை முதல்முறையாகப் பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். காலை படமாக்கும் காட்சிகளை இரவில் "எடிட்' செய்துவிடலாம்.
"அன்பே சிவம்' உள்ளிட்ட உங்களுடைய சில தரமான படங்கள் அடித்தட்டு மக்களைச் சென்றடையாததற்கு காரணம்?
சில சமயங்கள் அவ்வாறு நடப்பதுண்டு. யாரையும் குற்றம் சொல்லமுடியாது. எம்.ஜி.ஆரை விட அடித்தட்டு மக்களைச் சென்றடைந்த ஒருவர் இருக்க முடியாது. அப்படிப்பட்ட எம்.ஜி.ஆரின் "பாசம்' என்ற நல்ல படம் 10 நாள்களைத் தாண்டி ஓடவில்லை.இதுபோன்ற விஷயங்களில் தோல்விகள் ஏற்பட்டாலும் மனம் தளராமல் தொடர்ந்து நல்ல முயற்சிகளில் ஈடுபடுவேன். எல்லாத் தலைவர்களுமா தேர்தலில் வென்று விடுகிறார்கள்? தோற்றாலும் தொடர்ந்து அரசியலில் இருப்பதில்லையா? அதுபோலத்தான்.நிகழ்ச்சியில் ஸ்ருதி ஹாசன், எழுத்தாளர்கள் மனுஷ்யபுத்திரன், இரா.முருகன், யு டி.வி. மோஷன் பிக்சர்ஸ் ராம் மிர்சந்தானி, பட இயக்குநர் சக்ரி ஆகியோர் கலந்துகொண்டனர்.
திரையுலகில் 50-ம் ஆண்டில் கமல்!தமிழ்த் திரையுலகம் தோன்றி 75 ஆண்டுகள் நிறைவடைந்திருக்கும் சூழலில் நடிகர் கமல்ஹாசன் "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தின் மூலம் திரையுலகில் தனது 50-வது ஆண்டில் அடியெடுத்து வைக்கிறார்.ஏ.வி.எம். நிறுவனம் தயாரிப்பில் கமல், குழந்தை நட்சத்திரமாக நடித்த "களத்தூர் கண்ணம்மா' 1959 ஆகஸ்ட் 12-ம் தேதி வெளியானது."உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தின் அனைத்துப் பணிகளும் மே மாதம் நிறைவடைந்து, ஜூன் இறுதியில் வெளியாகத் தயாராகிவிடும். இருப்பினும் ரசிகர்கள், திரையுலக நண்பர்கள் அனைவரின் விருப்பப்படியும் பொன்விழாவை முன்னிட்டும் "களத்தூர் கண்ணம்மா' வெளியான ஆகஸ்ட் 12-ம் தேதி "உன்னைப்போல் ஒருவன்' படத்தை வெளியிடத் திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
எதிரிக்கு எதிரி நமக்கு நண்பன்
David Blaker is a SriLankan state literary awardee, and like our Mount Road Maha Vishnu(for starters it is N. Ram) you cannot expect from him an unbaised write-up on the ongoing Sri-Lanka crisis. Nevertheless, it is quite heartening to read his critique of the emotional ourpouring of our Arundhati Roy, who has suddenly re-surfaced in mainstream media last week, started to feel very enraged by the Srilanka crisis and equates it to ethnic cleanising of Nazi era(now readers or the author herself has gotten tired of Narmada, Gujarat and the likes..now the latest pet project is lanka..). Excerpts from his article in Sunday Times..
Roy seems to be a victim of her own intellectual laziness. Her recent article in Times(as always sold exclusively to Hindu and one more paper)is mostly third hand information. Instead of delving into the real issues, Roy chooses to skm across what pricks her outrage the most. Roy prefers emotion and drama, and makes even well established facts sound like tribal tomtoms in the jungle
Roy seems to be a victim of her own intellectual laziness. Her recent article in Times(as always sold exclusively to Hindu and one more paper)is mostly third hand information. Instead of delving into the real issues, Roy chooses to skm across what pricks her outrage the most. Roy prefers emotion and drama, and makes even well established facts sound like tribal tomtoms in the jungle
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
பைத்தியக்காரத்தனத்துக்கு விலை ஒரு சிறுவனின் உயிர்
செல்லப் பிராணிகளை பல மக்கள் வசிக்கும் குடியிருப்பவர்களில் உள்ளோர் வளர்த்தால் மிகவும் ஜாக்கிரதையாக இருத்தல் அவசியம். அவர்கள் தம் செல்ல பிராணிகள் அவர்களுக்கு மிக well behaved and friendly to people என்று நினைகல்லாம். அவர்களின் அந்த நினைப்பின் முட்டாள்தனத்துக்கு ஒரு குழந்தையின் உயிர் விலையான சோக சம்பவம்.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/30/stories/2009033056850100.htm
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Political Observations
We have an advantage that we have abundant natural resources in our country,this including a talent pool of educated people, literate people and uneducated people with wordly wisdom.
We also have several advantages like booming sectors in flourishing economy temporary minor hiccups not taken into consideration ,a maturing entratainment industry which we relish in our spare time, a expensive but renowned health care industry, network of educational establishments churning out street smart kids.
We also have a third or second largest economy in the making within a span of 15-20 years.
During the election campaigns in US, we closely followed Mr.O'bama's campaign and was thrilled by his caption "yes we can". Have we wondered whether we too can have this feeling of "yes we can"?
My following text is to highlight a pressing need of the hour for a silent but non-revolutionary awakening among us for a minor change/amendment in our political system. The makers of our constitution who have been geniuses in coming out with a fine blue print for democracy have but failed on 2 counts. I make this statement with due respect to our makers of our constitution , but with a humble spirt i make these observations.
During the 26/11 attacks we watched our youth spearheading a campaign mouthing slogans of delhi chalo to wake up our leaders in the parliament to pressing need for effective security techniques in the country. i could see in the tv , a spirt of bapu, a dynamism of nehru, a steely resolve of sardar, a determination of bhagat amongst the mindset of the youth.
Coming to brasstacks, we see a profileration of parties based on ideologies,caste based ideologies. While the democracies in US and UK with thier two party system are able to move ahead peacefully without any confusion of sorts, we are not able to do so in a streamlined manner. The reason being that during elections the voter is not able to make a clear choice in his descion , since there is a plethora of parties for a choice to be made and well as leaders of parties are confused and seem to make alliances based on permutations of future coalition parties.
Is it possible for the younger generation among us, we the people in our generation to make a campaign assertively stating that "yes we can" for a 2 party system. his would solve most of the confusion in our country as a first step.Could we press our leaders for a 2 party system at the center by making minor amendments to that effect. In this way caste based politics wont be there , in first step and the voter would not only choose between the two of parties at the center. Once this goes successfully , the success plan at the center would percolate at the states, where finally a 2 party system is also at the state.
I request our friends to think deeply with existing clarity and make up thier minds so that future generations dont go through the confusions of past and present generations.
A very simple solution being that the major and second major party could be taken as 2 parties , and remaning parties made to join these parties , either the largest or second largest party. By largest i mean in terms of party membership.
AN e.g from my humble view is that we have parties , largest being congress and the BJP, the other parties willing to form a coalition stake could fuse themselves into congress or BJP, thus dissolving thier party indentities.
I think from my humble opinion that this is way for clear cut electoral policies as well electoral choice as is prevalent in US or UK.
sincerely.
We also have several advantages like booming sectors in flourishing economy temporary minor hiccups not taken into consideration ,a maturing entratainment industry which we relish in our spare time, a expensive but renowned health care industry, network of educational establishments churning out street smart kids.
We also have a third or second largest economy in the making within a span of 15-20 years.
During the election campaigns in US, we closely followed Mr.O'bama's campaign and was thrilled by his caption "yes we can". Have we wondered whether we too can have this feeling of "yes we can"?
My following text is to highlight a pressing need of the hour for a silent but non-revolutionary awakening among us for a minor change/amendment in our political system. The makers of our constitution who have been geniuses in coming out with a fine blue print for democracy have but failed on 2 counts. I make this statement with due respect to our makers of our constitution , but with a humble spirt i make these observations.
During the 26/11 attacks we watched our youth spearheading a campaign mouthing slogans of delhi chalo to wake up our leaders in the parliament to pressing need for effective security techniques in the country. i could see in the tv , a spirt of bapu, a dynamism of nehru, a steely resolve of sardar, a determination of bhagat amongst the mindset of the youth.
Coming to brasstacks, we see a profileration of parties based on ideologies,caste based ideologies. While the democracies in US and UK with thier two party system are able to move ahead peacefully without any confusion of sorts, we are not able to do so in a streamlined manner. The reason being that during elections the voter is not able to make a clear choice in his descion , since there is a plethora of parties for a choice to be made and well as leaders of parties are confused and seem to make alliances based on permutations of future coalition parties.
Is it possible for the younger generation among us, we the people in our generation to make a campaign assertively stating that "yes we can" for a 2 party system. his would solve most of the confusion in our country as a first step.Could we press our leaders for a 2 party system at the center by making minor amendments to that effect. In this way caste based politics wont be there , in first step and the voter would not only choose between the two of parties at the center. Once this goes successfully , the success plan at the center would percolate at the states, where finally a 2 party system is also at the state.
I request our friends to think deeply with existing clarity and make up thier minds so that future generations dont go through the confusions of past and present generations.
A very simple solution being that the major and second major party could be taken as 2 parties , and remaning parties made to join these parties , either the largest or second largest party. By largest i mean in terms of party membership.
AN e.g from my humble view is that we have parties , largest being congress and the BJP, the other parties willing to form a coalition stake could fuse themselves into congress or BJP, thus dissolving thier party indentities.
I think from my humble opinion that this is way for clear cut electoral policies as well electoral choice as is prevalent in US or UK.
sincerely.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Social observation(Bapu..Bapu)
It was morning and the day was getting hotter,by hotter I mean peoples emotions
were getting fiery. There were news of clashes between 2 castes,there was a news spreading by way of hearsay that a strike had gone violent.In another part of the country there were rumors of regionalism raising its ugly head and a couple of people had been roughed up in that region on grounds that they were not born in that native place!!.
In addition the suffering old men and women were trudging on barefoot, this was the army of hungry old people trudging on bare foot expecting a meal or two from the flashily dressed people driving fashionable cars and bikes.. thier pumpled egos and fantasies driven up by movies and the feel good factor that economy was booming for them. An old lady begging for food was completely ignored by a set of young men and women poised in couple of tables on a road side famous eatery. The old lady clutched her under belly in deep hunger and the muscles in her abdomen were corroded by the gastric juices..symptoms like fainting and low blood pressure were assailing her senses and she had to endure this suffering of going without food for this day too..
Few couple of lovers were seen handing thier hands and enjoying the fleeting moment and time,oblivious of the scene that a young infant had been let to handle crumbs of breads in roadside while the mother was seen begging in the fleet of cars waiting at the signal which was about to turn yellow(those were the good old days..Mumbai Express!!!).
In a remote region of the country 2 sets of regious people were seen fighting with one and another. Blood was running freely on the roads and pavements. Children were burnt alive. Young men were beheaded while young ladies were raped. The rapacious nature of both the sets of relegion forgetting that there could be possibility of GOD being one if there was one GOD, and it was just the matter of religions being different.
All the events were paradoxical to fact that there had lived a man who had belonged to humanity.This man was frail in anatomy but had led crores people in a non violent struggle from his place called Sabhartamti. He had had been called Bapu and was one of the first ever social prophets.His sayings were much respected and admired by the western world. People had forgotten this social prophet called Bapu in his own land (and dancing to the tunes of Bapu.. Bapu..).
were getting fiery. There were news of clashes between 2 castes,there was a news spreading by way of hearsay that a strike had gone violent.In another part of the country there were rumors of regionalism raising its ugly head and a couple of people had been roughed up in that region on grounds that they were not born in that native place!!.
In addition the suffering old men and women were trudging on barefoot, this was the army of hungry old people trudging on bare foot expecting a meal or two from the flashily dressed people driving fashionable cars and bikes.. thier pumpled egos and fantasies driven up by movies and the feel good factor that economy was booming for them. An old lady begging for food was completely ignored by a set of young men and women poised in couple of tables on a road side famous eatery. The old lady clutched her under belly in deep hunger and the muscles in her abdomen were corroded by the gastric juices..symptoms like fainting and low blood pressure were assailing her senses and she had to endure this suffering of going without food for this day too..
Few couple of lovers were seen handing thier hands and enjoying the fleeting moment and time,oblivious of the scene that a young infant had been let to handle crumbs of breads in roadside while the mother was seen begging in the fleet of cars waiting at the signal which was about to turn yellow(those were the good old days..Mumbai Express!!!).
In a remote region of the country 2 sets of regious people were seen fighting with one and another. Blood was running freely on the roads and pavements. Children were burnt alive. Young men were beheaded while young ladies were raped. The rapacious nature of both the sets of relegion forgetting that there could be possibility of GOD being one if there was one GOD, and it was just the matter of religions being different.
All the events were paradoxical to fact that there had lived a man who had belonged to humanity.This man was frail in anatomy but had led crores people in a non violent struggle from his place called Sabhartamti. He had had been called Bapu and was one of the first ever social prophets.His sayings were much respected and admired by the western world. People had forgotten this social prophet called Bapu in his own land (and dancing to the tunes of Bapu.. Bapu..).
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
முதல்வனே கண் பாராய்
The Food and Consumer Protection Department will set up a call centre, with a toll-free number, to redress the grievances of ration card holders, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection commissioner K. Rajaraman said on Tuesday.
Link
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Preliminary draft of my work on Patient Rights
Ashwin1 was diagnosed of having acute appendicitis and advised to undergo appendectomy (surgical procedure to remove appendicitis) immediately. But for the slight discomfort the previous week, he felt his health was quite normal and can't understand the need to undergo a surgical procedure at such a short notice. Not wanting to take chances, felt that he will probably have a second opinion from another physician on his condition and the need for an immediate surgery. He requested the hospital authorities to share with him the medical reports so that he will have a second opinion on the suggested course of treatment. He was surprised to find the indifferent attitude of the hospital towards him and their unwillingness to part with information to seek another opinion..
Aditya's 2 3year old son was prescribed a drug overdose by a pediatrician for the recurring fever. This led to very severe consequences and the child needed ICU care for 3 days and a painful process of recovery due to this wrong medication. Aditya wanted to register his complaint against the pediatrician and the hospital but finds out that there is absolutely no framework for grievance redressal and there is a systemic neglect to have one. The prevalent attitude with the people managing the health care set-up's is that such human errors are an inevitable artifact of the Indian landscape and there is not a need to address them and the hospitals do not have a legal or a moral responsibility to address them..
65 yr old widowed Chitra3 was admitted for a by-pass surgery in a leading multi-specialty hospital. She gathered information about the treatment costs and was given an estimate of the cost involved with the treatment and decided to go ahead with it. But the hospital stated in the middle that due to unexpected complications that came up during the surgery charges have become significantly higher than what she was told in the beginning. Neither she nor the ones who were caring for her were even briefed of such a possibility at any point in time before the start of the treatment. The difference in the rates were so significant that Chitra may not be able to meet that expenditure, which puts her in an un-enviable position of having to choose whether to continue the treatment or not in that hospital.. for not being able to afford it..
Does any of this sound too familiar an experience to relate to what you or your loved ones face while dealing with the health care set-up? Then you have certainly hit upon a web-page, which makes an earnest attempt at addressing one of the fundamental aspects of the complex issue, which has led the health care system to what it is now.
Traditionally Doctor-Patient relationship in our culture has worked on the tenets of basic faith and trust on doctors. In earlier times social accountability (the possibility of earning a bad name due to improper medial advice) and the very dynamics of society which offered scope for a personal relationship with doctors treating or managing the hospitals in towns and cities provided a framework where-in the ability of doctors to self-govern themselves was thought of to be sufficient. However in these times of crass commercialization and corporatization of health care system in our country, the above line of thinking has lost its relevance.
To ensure that the patient's interests are best served in this system, we need a well defined regulatory mechanism that is defined to the minutest details on its implementation and larger consumer participation towards ensuring its implementation. Fundamental to the realization of any of our aspirations on that front is the articulation of the fundamental rights that a patient is entitled to in this system.
A pertinent point to note here is that 87%(search in net or collect this info from Dr. Abhijit and put the appropriate number here) of the health care service in India is offered by the private players. The continuing systematic decline of the state run health care institutions is going to further increase this number in the coming years. These private health care players can range from anything like a single person managed OPD clinics, individuals owned 20-30 bed nursing homes to corporate run multi-specialty hospitals. With the broad spectrum of interests that drives the private players in the health care system, without a legal obligation for compliance to set rules and punitive measures for its dereliction, it is almost impossible to bring in any rational framework to make this wide variety of players comply with the basic rights that the patients are entitled to. The focus of this web-page is to mobilize public support towards a movement aimed at achieving this.
While various organization and bodies in the past have focused on the issue of patient rights in the health care system, the efforts have been quite scattered and invariably targeted at certain specific interest groups (E.g. National Inst of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) focusing on the rights of mental health patients, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) guidelines for the rights of the HIV infected). SATHI CEHAT working under the auspices of Guan Maharashtra(Re-name to the appropriate body) has worked to evolve a standard charter for the patient rights. This provides a comprehensive set of the basic rights and also defines the mechanism for the functioning of health care set-up that would facilitate the establishment of these rights for the patients. The developed charter now needs the states approval to formulate them as mandatory rules to follow for the hospitals. The charter is focused on the following:
Right to access health care
Independent of their caste/creed or economic status has the right to health care
Right to non-discrimination
In the case of HIV-infected or other illness where there is a social stigma attached to it.
Right to emergency treatment
Right to Information
Share information on all aspects of treatment
Nature of illness
Complications that can arise out of treatment, cost and expected outcomes
Alternative treatment options available
Consequences of not choosing to take the treatment
Access to his/her medical records at all times
Discharge/Death summary at the time of leaving the hospital
Right to privacy and confidentiality
Right to autonomy and decision making
Right to seek a second opinion
Right to have a grievance redressal forum
Right to have a mechanism to make informed consent
This is applicable to nursing homes involved in clinical trials
Though the issues and rights based discourse that are outlined above has a pan India relevance, the ground level activities of CEHAT are targeted at getting this charter of rights established at the hospitals in Maharashtra. This requires that this charter gets the approval of the Maharashtra state government (as health is usually a state subject).
The information in the side-bar and the links will take you to pages that will give a better overview on the individual rights. It also includes a chronological summary on the efforts of SATHI-CEHAT to date on this issue. As stated previously the prime objective of this web-page currently is to mobilize public support for this campaign. As a concerned individual, if you wish to contribute to this cause, it is just a click away. You can sign the E-petition (we will provide link to the E-petition page here). This letter outlines the charter and is drafted in the way that the signatories are part of the campaign to demand the Government to make the implementation of this charter a reality.
The long term objectives of this page are also
Establish a forum to share individual grievances and personal experiences of the people on the context of denial of basic rights of patients in the hospitals
Establish Doctor-Citizen forum, where-in the concerns of the citizens with the hospitals are addressed to a council of doctors representing the private health care system. The activity in this web-page can act as catalyst for the creation of the real one.
Establish community based participatory regulation in health care system
Volunteer Activism for monitoring the functioning of the system
Creation of citizen groups for grievance redressal forums
We welcome any valuable suggestion from the readers of this page to make this campaign a success. We would also very much like to have the readers thought (in the comments space) on any issues that aligns with this current campaign and the long term objectives outlined above.
Aditya's 2 3year old son was prescribed a drug overdose by a pediatrician for the recurring fever. This led to very severe consequences and the child needed ICU care for 3 days and a painful process of recovery due to this wrong medication. Aditya wanted to register his complaint against the pediatrician and the hospital but finds out that there is absolutely no framework for grievance redressal and there is a systemic neglect to have one. The prevalent attitude with the people managing the health care set-up's is that such human errors are an inevitable artifact of the Indian landscape and there is not a need to address them and the hospitals do not have a legal or a moral responsibility to address them..
65 yr old widowed Chitra3 was admitted for a by-pass surgery in a leading multi-specialty hospital. She gathered information about the treatment costs and was given an estimate of the cost involved with the treatment and decided to go ahead with it. But the hospital stated in the middle that due to unexpected complications that came up during the surgery charges have become significantly higher than what she was told in the beginning. Neither she nor the ones who were caring for her were even briefed of such a possibility at any point in time before the start of the treatment. The difference in the rates were so significant that Chitra may not be able to meet that expenditure, which puts her in an un-enviable position of having to choose whether to continue the treatment or not in that hospital.. for not being able to afford it..
Does any of this sound too familiar an experience to relate to what you or your loved ones face while dealing with the health care set-up? Then you have certainly hit upon a web-page, which makes an earnest attempt at addressing one of the fundamental aspects of the complex issue, which has led the health care system to what it is now.
Traditionally Doctor-Patient relationship in our culture has worked on the tenets of basic faith and trust on doctors. In earlier times social accountability (the possibility of earning a bad name due to improper medial advice) and the very dynamics of society which offered scope for a personal relationship with doctors treating or managing the hospitals in towns and cities provided a framework where-in the ability of doctors to self-govern themselves was thought of to be sufficient. However in these times of crass commercialization and corporatization of health care system in our country, the above line of thinking has lost its relevance.
To ensure that the patient's interests are best served in this system, we need a well defined regulatory mechanism that is defined to the minutest details on its implementation and larger consumer participation towards ensuring its implementation. Fundamental to the realization of any of our aspirations on that front is the articulation of the fundamental rights that a patient is entitled to in this system.
A pertinent point to note here is that 87%(search in net or collect this info from Dr. Abhijit and put the appropriate number here) of the health care service in India is offered by the private players. The continuing systematic decline of the state run health care institutions is going to further increase this number in the coming years. These private health care players can range from anything like a single person managed OPD clinics, individuals owned 20-30 bed nursing homes to corporate run multi-specialty hospitals. With the broad spectrum of interests that drives the private players in the health care system, without a legal obligation for compliance to set rules and punitive measures for its dereliction, it is almost impossible to bring in any rational framework to make this wide variety of players comply with the basic rights that the patients are entitled to. The focus of this web-page is to mobilize public support towards a movement aimed at achieving this.
While various organization and bodies in the past have focused on the issue of patient rights in the health care system, the efforts have been quite scattered and invariably targeted at certain specific interest groups (E.g. National Inst of Mental Health and Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) focusing on the rights of mental health patients, National Aids Control Organization (NACO) guidelines for the rights of the HIV infected). SATHI CEHAT working under the auspices of Guan Maharashtra(Re-name to the appropriate body) has worked to evolve a standard charter for the patient rights. This provides a comprehensive set of the basic rights and also defines the mechanism for the functioning of health care set-up that would facilitate the establishment of these rights for the patients. The developed charter now needs the states approval to formulate them as mandatory rules to follow for the hospitals. The charter is focused on the following:
Right to access health care
Independent of their caste/creed or economic status has the right to health care
Right to non-discrimination
In the case of HIV-infected or other illness where there is a social stigma attached to it.
Right to emergency treatment
Right to Information
Share information on all aspects of treatment
Nature of illness
Complications that can arise out of treatment, cost and expected outcomes
Alternative treatment options available
Consequences of not choosing to take the treatment
Access to his/her medical records at all times
Discharge/Death summary at the time of leaving the hospital
Right to privacy and confidentiality
Right to autonomy and decision making
Right to seek a second opinion
Right to have a grievance redressal forum
Right to have a mechanism to make informed consent
This is applicable to nursing homes involved in clinical trials
Though the issues and rights based discourse that are outlined above has a pan India relevance, the ground level activities of CEHAT are targeted at getting this charter of rights established at the hospitals in Maharashtra. This requires that this charter gets the approval of the Maharashtra state government (as health is usually a state subject).
The information in the side-bar and the links will take you to pages that will give a better overview on the individual rights. It also includes a chronological summary on the efforts of SATHI-CEHAT to date on this issue. As stated previously the prime objective of this web-page currently is to mobilize public support for this campaign. As a concerned individual, if you wish to contribute to this cause, it is just a click away. You can sign the E-petition (we will provide link to the E-petition page here). This letter outlines the charter and is drafted in the way that the signatories are part of the campaign to demand the Government to make the implementation of this charter a reality.
The long term objectives of this page are also
Establish a forum to share individual grievances and personal experiences of the people on the context of denial of basic rights of patients in the hospitals
Establish Doctor-Citizen forum, where-in the concerns of the citizens with the hospitals are addressed to a council of doctors representing the private health care system. The activity in this web-page can act as catalyst for the creation of the real one.
Establish community based participatory regulation in health care system
Volunteer Activism for monitoring the functioning of the system
Creation of citizen groups for grievance redressal forums
We welcome any valuable suggestion from the readers of this page to make this campaign a success. We would also very much like to have the readers thought (in the comments space) on any issues that aligns with this current campaign and the long term objectives outlined above.
Health tips on a postcard
Writing postcards fill up most of the empty hours in the life of this health-sector personnel who retired as Additional Director, Health, to the Andhra Pradesh government. And no, he does not write letters to the editor on either Barrack Obama’s foreign policy or on Slumdog Millionaire’s merits and demerits, post the Oscar awards.Link
Monday, February 23, 2009
Allah Rakha Rahman
On August 15th 1992, Chennai and other parts of Tamilnadu experienced a new sound..
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Revised National Mental Health Programme
The Bangalore-based mental health tertiary care and research institution, NIMHANS, has submitted its report, setting forth a plan for implementing the Revised National Mental Health Programme
Thursday, February 5, 2009
எனக்கு ஒரு உண்மை தெரிஞ்சாகணும்
Veteran film and theatre actor A.K. Veerachamy was honoured with the “Hamsadhwani R. Ramachandran Award” for his contribution to the field of arts recently
Link
Link
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
‘Nirmaya’ health insurance :
This is an exercise in updating useful news items that I get to read.
Health insurance for mentally challenged individuals and another news item on Cadaver donations
Health insurance for mentally challenged individuals and another news item on Cadaver donations
Sunday, February 1, 2009
சர்க்கரை நோய் சமாளிப்பது எப்படி
சர்க்கரை நோய், என்று சொல்லப்படும் Diabetes இன்று மனிதர்கள் எதிர் கொள்ளும் உடல் பிரச்சனைகளில் முக்கியமான ஒன்று. அதிலும் India is Diabetes's world capital என்று சொல்லப்படுகின்ற அளவில் நம் நாட்டில் இந்த நோயின் பாதிப்புக்கு ஆளானவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகமாக உள்ளதாக புள்ளி விவரங்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. இந்த சர்க்கரை நோயை சமாளிப்பது எப்படி என்ற சிந்தனைக்கு பதில் கூறும் நோக்கத்தில் "சர்க்கரை நோய் சமாளிப்பது எப்படி" என்ற தலைப்பில் Dr. Maruthupandian(எழுத்து வடிவம் அய். ஜெயச்சந்திரன்) எழுதிய(!) இந்த புத்தகத்தை கிழக்கு பதிப்பகம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளது(விலை ரூ. 80). இந்த புத்தகத்தை படித்த பின்பு இந்த புத்தகம் தொடர்பாக எனக்கு தோன்றிய எண்ணங்களையும் சிந்தனைகளையும் பகிர்ந்து கொள்ள எண்ணும் ஒரு முயற்ச்சியே இந்த பதிவு ஆகும்.
முந்தைய paraவில் "எழுதிய" என்று ஆச்சரிய குறியிட்டதன் காரணம் என்னவென்றால், எனக்கு இந்த எழுத்து வடிவம் என்ற சொல்லின் அர்த்தம் சரியாக புரியாததே ஆகும். இந்த புத்தகத்திலும் அதன் விளக்கம் எதையும் நான் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை. என்னுடைய understanding என்னவென்றால் there is an abundant wealth of technical(includes medical)/field specific knowledge that needs to be translated(I dont just mean the language here) and be made accesible to a larger population and are these "எழுத்து வடிவம்" some sort of facilitators for such an exercise. In the sense these are set of people, who try to digest the technical details involved through dialogue with the field experts and translate the information into a written/literary form. இந்த புத்தகத்தில் கூறப்படும் "எழுத்து வடிவம்" இந்த வகையை சார்ந்த்தா?, தெரியவில்லை.
முதலில் இந்த புத்தகத்தின் மையக்கருத்தாக Dr. Maruthupandiyan சொல்லும் விஷயம் என்னவென்று பார்போம். இந்த சர்க்கரை நோயானது Chronic Illness வகையை சார்ந்தது, அவை Acute Illness வகையை போல தோன்றிய உடன் கிடு கிடுவென வளர்ந்து உடலுக்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்காமல், நம் உடலிலேயே நீண்ட காலம் உரைந்து பல வித நோய்களுக்கும் ஊற்றுக்கண்ணாக இருக்க கூடிய ஒரு நோய். ஆனால் பெரும்பாலனோருக்கு நினைத்தால், உரிய வாழ்வியில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்தி கொண்டால் இந்த நோய் வராமல் தடுக்கவும், அப்படியே வந்து விட்டாலும் அதன் தாக்கத்தை வெகுவாக குறைக்கவும் சாத்தியம் உள்ள ஒரு நோயாகும். அப்படி ஒரு நிலை ஏற்படுவதற்க்கு இந்த நோய் பற்றிய முழுமையான அறிவும், விழிப்புணர்வும், கட்டுக்குள் வைக்க தேவையான தகவல்களும் அறிந்து வைத்தலும் உதவும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையும், அந்த நம்பிக்கையை செயலாக்கும் நோக்கத்தில் உருவானது தான் இந்த புத்தகம் என்றும் சொல்கிறார்.
சர்க்கரை நோய் பற்றிய ஒரு எளிய அறிமுகத்துடன் தொடங்கி, அது யார் யாருக்கு வரக்கூடிய சாத்தியங்கள் அதிகம் என்று விளக்கி, அந்த நோயின் தன்மை, மற்றும் பல வகைகளை என்ன என்று எடுத்து கூறி, நோய் தோன்றலின் அறிகுறிகள் எவை என்றும், அந்த அறிகுறிகளை தொடர்ந்து அதை உறுதி படுத்தி கொள்ள தேவையான பரிசோதனைகள் என்ன என்ன என்று விளக்குகிறது புத்தகத்தின் முதல் பகுதி. இதன் இரண்டாம் பகுதியில் இந்த நோயின் பொதுவான பாதிப்புகள், மற்றும் இந்த நோயினால் ஏற்படக்கூடிய நீண்ட நாள்பட்ட பாதிப்புகள் ஒவ்வொன்றையும் எடுத்து கொண்டு விரிவாக விளக்க படுகிறது. இந்த நோய் பராமரிப்பு பட்ற்றியும், மேற் கொள்ள வேண்டிய உணவு முறை, உடற் பயிற்சிகள் பற்றியும் விளக்க படுகிறது. இதனை தொடர்ந்து சில நோயாளிகளின் கேள்விகலுக்கு டாக்டரின் பதில்களும் இந்த பகுதியில் இடம் பெருகின்றது. அதன் பின் பிற்சேர்க்கையாக சில உபயோகமான(உணவு அட்டவணை, பரிசோதனை முறைகள் ஆகியவை) தகவல்கள் வழங்க பட்டுள்ளன.
முதலில் இந்த புத்தகம் ஒரு டாக்டராலேயே எழுதப்பட்டிருபது இந்த புத்தகத்தில் உள்ள தகவல்களுக்கும் கருத்துக்களுகும் ஒரு நல்ல நம்பகத்தன்மையை ஏற்படுதுகின்றது. நோய் பற்றிய அறிமுக பகுதிகளும்(குறிப்பாக கனணையம் செயல்பாடு குறித்த முதல் பகுதி விளக்கங்கள்), ஒரு மேம்போக்கான விளக்கமாக இல்லாமல், முழுமையான நோய் குறித்த அறிதலை ஏற்படுத்த வழி வகுக்கும் வகையில் அமைந்து உள்ளது இந்த புத்தகதின் சிறப்பு. அதே நேரத்தில் புத்தகத்தின் பல இடங்களில், குறிப்பாக நாள்பட்ட விளைவுகளை ஒவ்வொன்றாக எடுத்து விளக்கும் பகுதிகளில், டாக்டர் தன் நோயாளிகளின் நடந்த உண்மை சம்பவங்கள், special situations ஆகியவற்றை பகிர்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தால் இன்னும் பயனுள்ளதாக அமைந்து இருக்கும். இந்த குறை ஒரளுவுக்கு கேள்வி பதில் பகுதியில் நிறைவடைகிறது.
Diabetes வராமல் தடுத்து கொள்ளவும், வந்த பின் காத்து கொள்ளவும் ஒரு பன்முக அணுகுமுறை தெவை படுகிறது. அவைகளில் உணவு முறை, உடற் பயிற்சி இரண்டும் முக்கியமான முகங்கள். இந்த உணவு முறைகள் என்பது ஒரு region specific item. அதனால் ஆராய்ச்சி கண்டுபிடிப்புகளை நம் உணவு முறைகளுக்கு apply செய்து பார்ப்பது அவசியமாகிறது. For example Glycemic Index of the food is considered an important aspect in deciding on the food habits of the diabetic. This glycemic index is typically associated to a specific food product(Rice has a specific GI, whilst Wheat, Pulses has a different GI). Unlike, most of the western diet, Indian food grains or pulses(Protein intensive) are not eaten in isolation. Even our Idli or Dosas are a combination of Rice and Pulses, unlike the western staple diets like wheat potatoes, hence interpertation of diet based on GI is a little tricky in our context). இந்த மாதிரி இந்த நோய் அணுகுமுறைகளுக்கு ஒரு வித region/context specific approach பற்றி கூற பல விஷயங்கள் உள்ளன. இவை இந்த புத்தகத்தில் address செய்ய பட்டிருபதாக நான் உணரவில்லை. அதே போல இந்த உணவு முறை பகுதிகளை ஒரு dietician contributory articleஆக எழுதி இருந்தால் இன்னும் பயனுள்ளதாக இருந்திருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறேன். இந்த கருத்து உடற் பயிற்சி குறித்த பகுதிக்கும் பொருந்தும்.
புத்தகத்தில் முக்கியமாக நாள்பட்ட விளைவுகள் குறித்து விளக்கும் இடங்களில், மேலும் சில விளக்க படங்கள் கொடுதிருந்தால் உபயோகமாக இருக்கும். அதே போல பிற்ச்சேர்க்கை பகுதிகளை கூடுதல் பக்கங்களாக சேர்க்காமல், diet, Calorie charts ஆகியவற்றை சமையல் அறையில் ஒட்டி கொள்ள கூடிய அட்டவணை வடிவில்(ஒரு உதாரணதிர்க்கு) சேர்த்தால் பயணுள்ளதக இருக்கும். அதே மாதிரி handling low sugar emergencies பற்றிய குறிப்புகளை ஒரு கையடக்க புத்தக இணைப்பாக வழங்கினால் பயனுள்ளதாக இருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறேன்.
To summarize, inspite of the fact that I believe that there are things whih ould have been dealt differently, this book does provide a very comprehensive knowldege on issues related to diabetes and as to how to deal with it as an illness.
முந்தைய paraவில் "எழுதிய" என்று ஆச்சரிய குறியிட்டதன் காரணம் என்னவென்றால், எனக்கு இந்த எழுத்து வடிவம் என்ற சொல்லின் அர்த்தம் சரியாக புரியாததே ஆகும். இந்த புத்தகத்திலும் அதன் விளக்கம் எதையும் நான் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை. என்னுடைய understanding என்னவென்றால் there is an abundant wealth of technical(includes medical)/field specific knowledge that needs to be translated(I dont just mean the language here) and be made accesible to a larger population and are these "எழுத்து வடிவம்" some sort of facilitators for such an exercise. In the sense these are set of people, who try to digest the technical details involved through dialogue with the field experts and translate the information into a written/literary form. இந்த புத்தகத்தில் கூறப்படும் "எழுத்து வடிவம்" இந்த வகையை சார்ந்த்தா?, தெரியவில்லை.
முதலில் இந்த புத்தகத்தின் மையக்கருத்தாக Dr. Maruthupandiyan சொல்லும் விஷயம் என்னவென்று பார்போம். இந்த சர்க்கரை நோயானது Chronic Illness வகையை சார்ந்தது, அவை Acute Illness வகையை போல தோன்றிய உடன் கிடு கிடுவென வளர்ந்து உடலுக்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்காமல், நம் உடலிலேயே நீண்ட காலம் உரைந்து பல வித நோய்களுக்கும் ஊற்றுக்கண்ணாக இருக்க கூடிய ஒரு நோய். ஆனால் பெரும்பாலனோருக்கு நினைத்தால், உரிய வாழ்வியில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்தி கொண்டால் இந்த நோய் வராமல் தடுக்கவும், அப்படியே வந்து விட்டாலும் அதன் தாக்கத்தை வெகுவாக குறைக்கவும் சாத்தியம் உள்ள ஒரு நோயாகும். அப்படி ஒரு நிலை ஏற்படுவதற்க்கு இந்த நோய் பற்றிய முழுமையான அறிவும், விழிப்புணர்வும், கட்டுக்குள் வைக்க தேவையான தகவல்களும் அறிந்து வைத்தலும் உதவும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையும், அந்த நம்பிக்கையை செயலாக்கும் நோக்கத்தில் உருவானது தான் இந்த புத்தகம் என்றும் சொல்கிறார்.
சர்க்கரை நோய் பற்றிய ஒரு எளிய அறிமுகத்துடன் தொடங்கி, அது யார் யாருக்கு வரக்கூடிய சாத்தியங்கள் அதிகம் என்று விளக்கி, அந்த நோயின் தன்மை, மற்றும் பல வகைகளை என்ன என்று எடுத்து கூறி, நோய் தோன்றலின் அறிகுறிகள் எவை என்றும், அந்த அறிகுறிகளை தொடர்ந்து அதை உறுதி படுத்தி கொள்ள தேவையான பரிசோதனைகள் என்ன என்ன என்று விளக்குகிறது புத்தகத்தின் முதல் பகுதி. இதன் இரண்டாம் பகுதியில் இந்த நோயின் பொதுவான பாதிப்புகள், மற்றும் இந்த நோயினால் ஏற்படக்கூடிய நீண்ட நாள்பட்ட பாதிப்புகள் ஒவ்வொன்றையும் எடுத்து கொண்டு விரிவாக விளக்க படுகிறது. இந்த நோய் பராமரிப்பு பட்ற்றியும், மேற் கொள்ள வேண்டிய உணவு முறை, உடற் பயிற்சிகள் பற்றியும் விளக்க படுகிறது. இதனை தொடர்ந்து சில நோயாளிகளின் கேள்விகலுக்கு டாக்டரின் பதில்களும் இந்த பகுதியில் இடம் பெருகின்றது. அதன் பின் பிற்சேர்க்கையாக சில உபயோகமான(உணவு அட்டவணை, பரிசோதனை முறைகள் ஆகியவை) தகவல்கள் வழங்க பட்டுள்ளன.
முதலில் இந்த புத்தகம் ஒரு டாக்டராலேயே எழுதப்பட்டிருபது இந்த புத்தகத்தில் உள்ள தகவல்களுக்கும் கருத்துக்களுகும் ஒரு நல்ல நம்பகத்தன்மையை ஏற்படுதுகின்றது. நோய் பற்றிய அறிமுக பகுதிகளும்(குறிப்பாக கனணையம் செயல்பாடு குறித்த முதல் பகுதி விளக்கங்கள்), ஒரு மேம்போக்கான விளக்கமாக இல்லாமல், முழுமையான நோய் குறித்த அறிதலை ஏற்படுத்த வழி வகுக்கும் வகையில் அமைந்து உள்ளது இந்த புத்தகதின் சிறப்பு. அதே நேரத்தில் புத்தகத்தின் பல இடங்களில், குறிப்பாக நாள்பட்ட விளைவுகளை ஒவ்வொன்றாக எடுத்து விளக்கும் பகுதிகளில், டாக்டர் தன் நோயாளிகளின் நடந்த உண்மை சம்பவங்கள், special situations ஆகியவற்றை பகிர்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தால் இன்னும் பயனுள்ளதாக அமைந்து இருக்கும். இந்த குறை ஒரளுவுக்கு கேள்வி பதில் பகுதியில் நிறைவடைகிறது.
Diabetes வராமல் தடுத்து கொள்ளவும், வந்த பின் காத்து கொள்ளவும் ஒரு பன்முக அணுகுமுறை தெவை படுகிறது. அவைகளில் உணவு முறை, உடற் பயிற்சி இரண்டும் முக்கியமான முகங்கள். இந்த உணவு முறைகள் என்பது ஒரு region specific item. அதனால் ஆராய்ச்சி கண்டுபிடிப்புகளை நம் உணவு முறைகளுக்கு apply செய்து பார்ப்பது அவசியமாகிறது. For example Glycemic Index of the food is considered an important aspect in deciding on the food habits of the diabetic. This glycemic index is typically associated to a specific food product(Rice has a specific GI, whilst Wheat, Pulses has a different GI). Unlike, most of the western diet, Indian food grains or pulses(Protein intensive) are not eaten in isolation. Even our Idli or Dosas are a combination of Rice and Pulses, unlike the western staple diets like wheat potatoes, hence interpertation of diet based on GI is a little tricky in our context). இந்த மாதிரி இந்த நோய் அணுகுமுறைகளுக்கு ஒரு வித region/context specific approach பற்றி கூற பல விஷயங்கள் உள்ளன. இவை இந்த புத்தகத்தில் address செய்ய பட்டிருபதாக நான் உணரவில்லை. அதே போல இந்த உணவு முறை பகுதிகளை ஒரு dietician contributory articleஆக எழுதி இருந்தால் இன்னும் பயனுள்ளதாக இருந்திருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறேன். இந்த கருத்து உடற் பயிற்சி குறித்த பகுதிக்கும் பொருந்தும்.
புத்தகத்தில் முக்கியமாக நாள்பட்ட விளைவுகள் குறித்து விளக்கும் இடங்களில், மேலும் சில விளக்க படங்கள் கொடுதிருந்தால் உபயோகமாக இருக்கும். அதே போல பிற்ச்சேர்க்கை பகுதிகளை கூடுதல் பக்கங்களாக சேர்க்காமல், diet, Calorie charts ஆகியவற்றை சமையல் அறையில் ஒட்டி கொள்ள கூடிய அட்டவணை வடிவில்(ஒரு உதாரணதிர்க்கு) சேர்த்தால் பயணுள்ளதக இருக்கும். அதே மாதிரி handling low sugar emergencies பற்றிய குறிப்புகளை ஒரு கையடக்க புத்தக இணைப்பாக வழங்கினால் பயனுள்ளதாக இருக்கும் என்று நம்புகிறேன்.
To summarize, inspite of the fact that I believe that there are things whih ould have been dealt differently, this book does provide a very comprehensive knowldege on issues related to diabetes and as to how to deal with it as an illness.
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