Heart defect: only 5,000 children get treated in India

Every year about 2 lakh children in India are born with a congenital heart defect, but only 5,000 get treated.This was stated at CMC $ H during the inaugural function of 1st Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Programme-2010. Programme-2010."The Heart of a Champion" Organized by the Department of Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, CMC & H, Ludhiana on Friday. 

The Govt of Punjab under the National Rural Health Mission chose the Christian Medical College  & Hospital in Ludhiana  to be one of the few hospitals in Punjab to conduct surgeries for any Govt or Govt aided school going child totally free of cost. This is in view of the fact that there is an alarmingly high incidence of heart defects from birth (called congenital heart defects) in India. 

Photo Courtesy: NHLBI

The incidence is about 8 cases in every 1000  births. Every year about 2 lakh children in India are born with a congenital heart defect, but only 5,000 get treated. In India the valves of children get damaged by rheumatic fever and quite a few of them need surgery – but again most do not get treated in time.The reason for non treatment is a combination of ignorance and a lack of finances.Most heart defects can be treated in a single hospitalization with a good chance that the person will grow to be a normal productive adult. The CMC & H was chosen in view of the excellent infrastructure of CMC and the expertise and skills of the cardiac team.Dr Harinder Singh Bedi – Head of Cardio Vascular & Thoracic Surgery at CMC & H – has had extensive experience of treating children with complex heart diseases in his tenure at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Chidren in Sydney, Australia and at the Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi where he started the paediatric heart surgery programme after returning from abroad. 

Incidentally Dr Bedi’s surgical team has recently successfully completed the surgical treatment of 1000 cases of children with heart disease. Under the NRHM 50 cases have so far been operated in CMC & H. No case has been refused surgery. 95% of the cases have been operated upon within 2 days of referral. There were a few cases who were refused surgery by other reputed Institutes. One of these was Miss Gurmukhi from Gurdaspur. She had a large hole in the heart with severe damage to the heart and lungs and was refused surgery all over India. In her, Dr Bedi devised a new technique of putting in an innovative valve system in the hole so that it would open up in cases of emergency. Gurmukhi has made a remarkable recovery and is a happy and active child now. The other members of Dr Bedi’s surgical team are Dr A Joseph, Dr A Gupta, Dr V Tewarson, Sr Sanjiv , Dr Meenu and Dr Prashant.

Dr Bedi said that most heart defects can be fully treated so that the child has a normal life and an active lifestyle. In fact some of Dr Bedi’s operated patients are officers in the Indian Army and pilots. Their hearts - according to Dr Bedi - are the hearts of champions as they have overcome all odds to be productive members of the country.

Dr Bedi added that :

the aim at CMC & H is:  ‘To  give each child a childhood';

and our dream is ‘To to give each a normal adulthood’.

The function – titled “The Heart of a Champion” – is basically a Thanksgiving to the Almighty and to the Govt of Punjab and to the Health Minister who has initiated this life giving programme. The aim is also to create awareness about Heart Disease and its treatment and to give tips to the parents and the children about basic dental hygiene and nutrition. Dr Bedi said that after congenital heart defects the most important problem in children was of bad lifestyle habits which get inculcated in them at a young age – these include junk food, overindulgence by parents, reduced physical activity and addiction to drugs and tobacco.

The children who had been operated under this scheme gave a lively and spirited performance of dance and songs which was greatly appreciated by all. An educative brochure was released by the Health Minister – Prof Laxmi Kanta Chawla -  on the occasion. The Hon’able Minister said that she was very impressed with the excellent surgical results of CMC and the performance by the children.

The Guest from Govt. were Principal Secretary Health Mr Satish Chandra Dr.K.S. Dhillon Asstt. Director School Health,  Director of Family Health Dr Ashok Nayyar, Dr.J.P.Singh, Director Health Services and Dy Dir Dr KS Dhillon were also present on the occasion.

Dr.Kanwal Masih, Medical Superintendent, CMC& H, Dr.William Bhatti, Principle Christian Medical College and Hospital were also present on the occasion.

The Principal Secretary Health Mr Satish Chandra and the Director of Family Health Dr Ashok Nayyar and Dy Dir Dr KS Dhillon were also present on the occasion.

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director – told that CMC & H is committed to bringing International level care to the children of this region rate so that no child should be denied therapy just because of cost.

Buy a radio for Burma. Break through the censorship

A letter from Amnesty 

TAKING ACTION TOGETHER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

‘As you know, in Burma, people cannot access information. They live [in] fear. This… radio project can help people get information... and to do something for change… I want to say thank you, thank you very much’  Dear Rector, This is just one of many thank you messages collected by the organisations that delivered 4000 radios to remote parts of Burma, radios bought by Amnesty supporters like you. They are moving testimonies to the impact of your generosity. But they also serve as powerful reminders that we need to do more. For just £12.50 you can help break down the wall of censorship for a whole village Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s opposition leader, has finally been released after spending 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest. While we are delighted at this news, more than 2,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Burma. We continue to believe that until all freedoms of association, assembly and expression are honoured, no-one in Burma can truly be free. With help from our kind friends at The Co-operative we are hoping to raise enough money to send another 10,000 radios into Burma. In support of the campaign, they have agreed to donate a free radio for each of the first thousand radios purchased. It’s simple – if you’re quick you can ‘buy one get one free’ Watch the video below to see the real impact your radios have had on remote communities in Burma. We are aiming to deliver 10,000 more radios early next year. Please help us. Buy a radio today Thank you. Verity Coyle Burma Campaign Manager As expected, the recent election has done nothing to improve people’s rights - the government continues to attempt to control everything people watch, read and hear. Radio is one of the few tools that can help cut through the censorship by enabling people to access independent information, outside of state control. Please buy a radio now

Happy Eid al Adha or simply Eid Mubarak

Mike Ghouse Essence of Eid-al-Adha  Eid-al-Adha is also known as Hajj or Bakrid (variations listed below) if you wish to greet Muslims on this day you may say “Happy Eid” or “Eid Mubarak”.  At the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as Hajj, Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid-al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice).     During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of Prophet Abraham. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows: An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:120 – “VERILY, Abraham was a man who combined within himself all virtues, devoutly obeying God's will, turning away from all that is false, and not being of those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God:” Love and Sacrifice A parent would risk his or her life to protect the child.  People in love have the passion to value their beloved's life and are willing to get the bullet and save the life, they are willing to rescue him/her from the freezing lake risking their own lives, even strangers do that. It is the willingness to put the life of the loved one’ above one’s own life. Every day our Police officers risk their own lives to protect ours, the firemen and women risk their lives to save a child, a pet or an aged person from a fire; and every day our soldiers put their lives at risk to save fellow soldiers and to save our freedom. Honoring Police, Firemen and soldiers I urge fellow Muslims and all others to stop and salute every one of these men and women, honoring them for their sacrifices and their love for the humanity. Better yet, call the Fire, Police, City and other places and let them know that as a Muslim you appreciate their sacrifice, and this festival is also about appreciation for such sacrifices. Abrahams commitment Love is sacrifice. God wanted to test Abraham’s faith, love and devotion. One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of God to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God’s will, firmly believing that God means good at the end. When he was all prepared to do it, God revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God. Thus the tradition of symbolic sacrifice began, where one would sacrifice a lamb to continue the tradition of Abraham. During the celebration of Eid-al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by sacrificing an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.  Why sacrifice? God does not need one to sacrifice; it has nothing to do with atoning sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage) 22:37 [But bear in mind:] never does their flesh reach God, and neither their blood: it is only your God-consciousness that reaches Him. It is to this end that we have made them subservient to your needs, so that you might glorify God for all the guidance with which He has graced you. And give thou this glad tiding unto the doers of good: The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow God's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from God, and we should open our hearts and share with others. The meat from the sacrifice of Eid-al-Adha is given away in three ways; self, relatives and the poor. It is a symbolic act in the western countries, but it becomes meaningful in those countries where people are under nourished and don’t get to eat the meat as we do. The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the right Path. Each one of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A Muslim is one who submits him/herself completely to the Lord and is willing to follow God’s commands obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us. God's ultimate will God does not want anything more from us than asking us to be just and truthful.  It brings tranquility and balance to an individual and what surrounds him; life and environment. The creator would be pleased when his creation is nurtured, cared for and sustained. Indeed, to be religious is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence. The Rituals Eid-al-Adha is one of two major Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, whose basis comes from the Qur'aan. Eid-al-Adha begins with a short prayer followed by a sermon (khuṭba). Eid-al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar. The festivities last for two to three days or more depending on the country. Eid-al-Adha occurs the day after the pilgrims conducting Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia by Muslims worldwide, descend from Mount Arafat. It happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan. Men, women, and children are expected to dress in their finest clothing to perform Eid prayer (Salatu'l-`id) in any mosque. The regular charitable practices of the Muslim community are demonstrated during Eid-al-Adha by the concerted effort to see that no impoverished person is left without sacrificial food during these days. Eid-al-Adha is a concrete affirmation of what the Muslim community ethic means in practice. People in these days are expected to visit their relatives, starting with their parents, then their families and friends. I am familiar with the practices in the Indian Subcontinent, where the individuals visit the local cemetery to pray for the loved ones, almost like the Memorial Day. In fact the formal prayer which most Muslims recite, asks God to forgive parents, teachers, those living and those that are dead and every one else. It is a sense of purification one goes through. God in the Qur’aan says the one who forgives is dearest to him. I request Muslims from around the world to write if this is a practice in their culture as well in the comments section below. When it comes to food, I can share the practice of my family; The whole family gets to eat the breakfast together, usually the Flat bread (Paratha, Naan or Roti) with Meat balls (Kofta Curry). Then they would join the procession to a place outside the town where they go and pray as a large congregation, usually it is the cemetery grounds. Then everyone comes back home, and enjoys the Biryani (Indian version of fried rice) and Shami kabob. Then visiting as many friends as they can is part of the culture, have a bite to eat while meeting them and greeting them with hugs. I am pleased to invite you to join and experience these congregational prayers at Mosques and Cemeteries around the world with Muslims of different denominations.   I wish a happy Eid to my wife Yasmeen who is celebrating Eid in Atlanta with her brother and sisters family.  I am blessed to be with my brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, uncles and cousins and friends here in my home town Yelahanka. I will be going to the Yelahanka Mosque for the Eid prayers.   I congratulate my younger brother Mohamed Farooq and his family who are performing Hajj this year.    Eid Mubarak to all, and Hajj Mubarak to those who are blessed to perform. Watch his blog Mike Ghouse is a speaker on Pluralism and Islam offering pluralistic solutions to the media and public on issues of the day. His blogs and sites are listed at this link --- Mike Ghouse is a frequent guest at the TV, radio and print media offering pluralistic solutions to issues of the day. He is a thinker, writer, speaker, optimist and an activist of Pluralism, Interfaith, Co-existence, Peace, Islam and India. He His work is reflected at three websites and 22 Blogs at http://www.mikeghouse.net/

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People's World to pick up labor journalism prize

by: BARBARA RUSSUM

november 8 2010

The Peoples World will be in Washington D.C. Nov. 19 where one of its editors will be among those honored by the nation's labor journalists for excellence in their craft.

During the International Labor Communications Association's Media Awards ceremony at the national headquarters of the American Federation of Teachers the Peoples World labor editor, John Wojcik, will receive a feature-writing prize for his Sept. 19, 2009 story, "Steeler Nation Fights Its Way Back."

ILCA judges said about his story: "John Wojcik uses sports fandom as a poignant window into the long-term costs of blue-collar layoffs in the country's heartland...an eloquent argument for an industrial policy in America."

 The country's labor press comes together every year to celebrate excellence in labor journalism and to exchange ideas on how to better deliver labor's message in the mass media.

During the awards ceremony, Jennifer Berkshire, a writer for the Massachusetts AFT Advocate, will receive the 2010 Max Steinbock Award, the highest honor given by the ILCA. In her story, We Wanted a Voice, she recounts the successful effort by teachers at Conservatory Lab Charter School in Brighton, Mass., to form a union.

American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 newsletter Allegro will receive one of three Saul Miller awards, named after the longtime director of the AFL-CIO publications department and ILCA vice president. Miller's son David, is a member of Local 802 and wrote the winning article about his father.

At the awards event Ed Ott, former executive director of the New York City Central Labor Council, will give a talk on trends in nontraditional organizing drives and how such organizing has secured respect on the job for huge numbers of service workers.

There will be a panel discussion on how to use the new social media to win labor campaigns. Journalists coming to the gathering report that from countering attacks on teachers, to building support for all kinds of strikes, the social media have been an effective tool.

The labor journalists will also get a chance to learn how the Department of Labor will respond to the expected attacks that will come from the new Republican majority in the House, Carl Fillichio, senior adviser for communications to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will discuss this topic and answer questions for the reporters. (Courtesy : People's World)