HEALTH

World No Tobacco Day today
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 30
According to a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tobacco kills 4.5 million people worldwide every year and out of them, approximately one million are Indians. Tobacco claims one life every eight seconds. It remains one of the most important causes for preventable mortality and morbidity. In India, it is responsible for one in every four deaths.

World No Tobacco Day theme for 2003 is ‘tobacco free films, tobacco free fashion-action!’ This year No Tobacco Day will focus on the role of the fashion and film world in fostering tobacco epidemic particularly among the youth. The WHO is calling on the entertainment industry in particular the world of films and fashion to stop promoting the product.

Dr Deepinder Singh, a local medical consultant, said latest studies revealed that four countries of the South-East Asia Region (SEAR) i.e. India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Thailand were among the top 20 tobacco producing countries in the world. Tobacco contained around 3000 chemical components and most of them were extremely harmful. Most destructive among them were tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is highly poisonous and addictive substance. It is so addictive that 60 per cent of patients are unable to leave the habit even after heart attack. In India 60 per cent males and 3 per cent females smoke whereas 51 per cent men and 30 per cent women are in habit of chewing tobacco.

The main commercial smoked tobacco products prevalent in this region are regular cigarette, bidi and chilam. Chewable tobacco like hand rolled tobacco, pan masala, gutka and khaini are also very common among the ruralities.

Several city residents when asked about the theme of ‘No Tobacco Day’, said the tobacco industry, to woo the youth tries to associate their products with fashion, fun, health, success and appeal.

One of a chain smoker from the upper strata of society on condition of anonymity disclosed that he became a chain smoker because of entertainment industry. “Televisions, and films show cigarettes as a trendy fashion accessory and people who smoke as fashionable and elegant trendsetters. It gives a good feeling”, he said.

The medical experts, however stressed that the world of films and fashion had to stop promoting a product that killed one human being every 10 seconds. Industry, governments and censor boards have to work together to ensure that films and fashion are made smoke and tobacco free.

Meanwhile, the district Health department will observe No Tobacco Day at Central Jail and Mata Dalip Kaur Sachdeva Charitable Hospital, Sahnewal, Dehlon Road tomorrow under the guidance of Civil Surgeon, Dr S.N.Tiwari. To observe the day, a free medical camp will organised by Homoeo Healers, Model Town, from June 1-7 in which free homoeopathic medicine would be provided to the patients.

The Directorate of Social and Health Services at the Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle in association with academicians, NGOs, doctors has resolved to get the Supreme Court directive, which prohibits smoking at public places enforced through ‘mission implementation’ from May 31 to mark No Tobacco Day.

Chemists end strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 30
Residents here heaved a sigh of relief with members of the Chemists and Druggist Association calling off their three-day strike here yesterday. The chemists at a meeting here yesterday decided to end the strike in “public interest”. The members said they would challenge the decision of the Health Department of closing seven firms of a wholesale dealer in the court, since the government seemed to be in no mood to listen to them.

The situation had turned alarming when even the retail chemists joined hands with the wholesale dealers two days ago and there were talks of extending the strike statewide and dealers in other states were also being contacted in this regard.

Mr Sukhminder, a city resident, welcomed the decision of the chemists. “My mother is suffering from cancer and everyday she has to be given lots of medicines but for the past two days, we were not getting the medicines and I had to go to Chandigarh to get these”, he said.

Mr Rakesh Sharma, another city resident, said if the chemists had any grouse, they should talk to the authorities concerned. “The issue should be amicably resolved and patients should not face harassment”, said Mr Sharma.

The Chemists and Druggist Association went on a strike in protest against the Health Department’s decision of closing seven shops of Gurmel Medical Hall on May 27. The association members alleged that such a decision was the outcome of political rivalry and that the owner was being falsely implicated.

Cool care for your hot eyes

Take good care of your eyes in the summers. Hot weather effects your eyes. The excessive use of eyes must be stopped. At the same time we should know the methods to keep our eyes clean and healthy.

Tips for keeping eyes healthy

Wash eyes with cold or triphala water in the morning, noon and at bedtime. Fill the eye-wash cups with water up to the brim. Bend your head and dip the eyes in the water. Blink gently in the water. Wash the eyes for at least five minutes.

Wear good-quality goggles in strong sunlight otherwise your eyes can get damaged.

During reading and writing never hold the book too close to the eyes. Keep the book at a distance of at least 10 inches. After reading for about an hour continuously it is necessary to give rest to your eyes. The best way is to cover closed eyes with your palms. You should do this while sitting on a chair in front of a table. Place the elbows on the table and do it for five minutes.

The feet should be washed with ice water twice a day and at night before going to bed. Do massage the bottoms of the feet with ice. The ice massage has a good effect on the eyes.

Blinking at the moon is good for the eyes. During moonlit nights lie down on the back facing the sky. Blink while looking at the moon for 10 minutes. Keep the eyes relaxed.

Avoid reading and writing in moving vehicles.

Do not strain your eyes by reading in dim light.

Parents should try to cultivate in their children the right reading habits.

Eyes should be protected from dust and smoke. If a dust particle enters an eye do not rub it. Dip the eye in a vessel containing pure water and then blink. The dust particle will be washed away.

To avoid vitamin- A deficiency incorporate milk and fresh green leafy vegetables in your daily diet.

During hot weather wash yours eyes with rose-water four times a day.

Do not share handkerchiefs and towels with an infected person.

Do not wear contact lenses or eye makeup until the infection is gone.

If any eye problem continues for more than one week consult an eye specialist.

Dr Anil Dheer

ADMINISTRATION

Basement restaurants flout ban
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 30
The ban imposed by the district administration on the operation of restaurants from basements seems to have been thrown to winds by a number of restaurants in the city. In the aftermath of Khud Mohalla fire tragedy, the district administration had ordered the closure of all the restaurants operating from basements.

A random survey by The Tribune revealed that the restaurants were doing their business as usual. The owners were hardly bothered about the district administration orders. Some of these restaurants had all the makings of a potential tragedy.

One of the restaurant near the Clock Tower, opens down into the basement. As one gets down the basement, it looks like a precipice with total darkness around. There is only one opening that leads out and even that is too narrow with a limited space not enough for two people to walk together.

Similarly the other Restaurant on the Mall Road also runs from the basement only and there is only one opening that leads out to the road. And again the opening space is not much. There are other restaurants in Sarbha Nagar, BRS Nagar, Ghumar Mandi, which keep on flouting the fire safety norms.

It is learnt that although the district administration initiated a survey to identify such restaurants, no follow up action seems to have been taken. Not a single restaurant has been closed by the administration in the follow up to the orders to this effect, while not much safety measures have been taken.