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H1N1: Preventive strategy before Kumbh must
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Mint-ing health
Aid to add comfort to Char Dham
Quality sells, claim bakers
Thank you PM, say vendors
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H1N1: Preventive strategy before Kumbh must Dehradun, August 13 A wake up call was sounded by experts at the National Institute of Communicable Disease (NICD) at a high-level meeting yesterday where health officials were asked to start planning a preventive strategy well in advance. Health experts say the coming winter months may see a spurt in the number of swine flu cases and the districts have been asked to prepare a micro plan so that disease trends can be tracked in time. Though the state has put in place a disease surveillance system establishing a lab that tests samples of all kinds of viral diseases is not being given due importance. The health officials prefer a the a tie-up with private pathology laboratories instead of responding to the challenge of setting up an independent pathology lab. “At the moment we are only undertaking routine biochemistry, haematology and LV tests at the Coronation and Doon Hospital laboratories; a state-of-the-art lab for testing communicable diseases may come up in the future. Right now, we are getting tests done at the NICD,” said Dr PL Joshi, DG, health. Much to the chagrin of patients, the Doon Hospital pathology laboratory is not equipped to undertake tests. It is left to the discretion of the patient and his family members to chose a lab where tests can be undertaken. In view of the Kumbh Mela, health experts say while an epidemic may occur without a warning, tracing disease trends over a period of time, as undertaken in European countries and America, can help tackle the problem. Under the surveillance programme, any disease is tracked through periodic reporting. For a surveillance system to function effectively, the first requirement is recruiting a large number of reporting cells (clinics/hospitals,
practitioners). Ideally, all people likely to care for the sick should be included in the system. These then need to be sensitised, through meetings and visits by public health professionals, on the importance of reporting cases of a specific nature. An officer at the district level should then coordinate the collection of data for analysis. “Reporting units should be trained in detecting an outbreak early so that the administration can take early action. Action is an essential part of surveillance as mere data collection for academic or record purposes is not the intention. “An active response system is essential for building credibility of the public health system. The idea of surveillance is to pre-empt calamities in advance,” said Dr HS Negi, nodal officer. Also, effective means have to be found to involve the private and informal sectors. The government needs to appoint professionals from outside the state system who have the time to collect data and analyse it. It needs to act as a link with the private sector, answerable to a national-level surveillance body and under no pressure to under-report or over-report. Creating an autonomous body for disease surveillance with committed professionals of integrity manning a nationwide network of units can have a salutary effect on the disease control system. The current strain of H1N1 has high transmissibility rate which the H5N1 bird flu virus did not. Overcrowding will see the H1N1 virus spread fast in the post-monsoon months. Unless the government comes up with a focused strategy before the Kumbh Mela, there may be trouble in
store.
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Mint-ing health In India, specially in the north and the west, pudina constitutes a vital base for the various collations and refreshments. The pudina chutney, grinded with onion-tomato-ginger-garlic-coriander leaves and pinched with a dash of lemon is a must-have with meals. It is a complimentary delight with non-vegetarian roasts and grills. The very aroma, which is overwhelming yet cool, is enough to tickle the taste-buds. The delicately thick
raita, the fragrant sharbat and the icy green thandai made from pudina acts as a reliever from the scorching heat of the Indian plains. In the mountains, apart from its delicious recipes, pudina is used to cure digestion ailments. The essential oil in pudina helps to correct intestinal and bowel disorders. Owing to its good content of menthol, it eases a blocked nose and soothes the throat. The oil is a mild sedative and is used in caseof acute cough and cold. People in the hills have long been using pudina oil for skin inflammation, sores and
insect bites. The diluted oil when applied gently over the forehead and around the temples is believed to relax the brain. Mint is widely used in the preparation of several groceries. The essential oil forms the base for a good number of mouth fresheners, chewing gums, packaged snacks, pharmaceuticals, soaps, toothpastes and body lotions. The mint can be grown from the plant roots on well- drained land. It can also be grown in vases in the kitchen for that heady aroma.
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Aid to add comfort to Char Dham Dehradun, August 13 A Rs 270-crore proposal has been placed before the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) that has expressed willingness to improve facilities at Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Two new helipads at Kedarnath and Kharsal, upgradation of those existing and improvement on the Gauchar airstrip are the major initiatives to be taken up under the Japanese assistance. In all, Rs 93 crore will be spent on this infrastructure initiative which prominently includes Rs 53 crore on air transportation facilities, Rs 33 crore on safety measures such as putting metal barriers for pilgrims and Rs 4.5 lakh for erecting bilingual signages on way to Char Dham. Agencies like the PWD will be entrusted with the task of installing signages and metallic barriers while the civil aviation department will be responsible for air connectivity. The PWD department will be responsible for erecting signages and metallic barriers and the civil aviation department for developing air facilities. A major chunk of Japanese investment will go towards developing and improving facilities at pilgrimage sites. A total of Rs 45.85 crore will be invested on over 100 public toilets to be constructed by non-governmental organisations. A portion of the amount will spent on constructing public toilets on the Rishikesh-Badrinath, Rudrapragyag-Kedarnath, Guptkashi-Ukhimath-Kedarnath, Rishikesh-Gangotri, Dharasu-Yamunotri and Vikashnagar-Yamunotri routes. Parking lots will be created in Gaurikund, Sonprayag, Bhatwari, Chinyalisaur and Gangotri. Another stakeholder in the project, the forest department, will raise 14 rain-sheds from Barkot to Yamnotri to help pilgrims rest at night. orest rest houses en route will also be spruced up. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam will be taking up up-gradation of tourist rest houses owned by the corporation and also construction of information centres on all four routes. The nigam has its rest houses at Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Syanchatti, Deoprayag, Ukhimath and Ghagharai that falls on the yatra route. Besides, the Yatri Niwas at Badrinath owned by the nigam will also
be upgraded.
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Quality sells, claim bakers
Established in 1954, the shop caters to the taste buds of locals as well as the tourist population who drop in regularly to purchase crunchy fresh bakery items. From crisp rusk, sweet and salty biscuits to a variety of breads, the bakery, over so many years, has never compromised on quality. “People are so fond of our products because, till date, we have never compromised on quality,” said Harnam Singh, a partner at the bakery. From early morning till late in the evenings, milk as well as plain rusk, atta biscuits, chocolate and pineapple cakes sell like hot cakes. To produce quality products, the founders of the bakery believe in the principle ‘less is more’ and do not intend to venture into an array of products in which their quality standards may be compromised. “Our rusk, butter biscuits and even ‘atta’ biscuits are preferred not only by locals but also by people who come from Delhi, Punjab and other cities. “For the past two years, we are also selling a variety of breads - brown, atta and garlic. We don’t want to venture into an ‘n’ number of things as quality has always been our priority,” said Harnam Singh. The founders have consistently taught their staff to cook using traditional methods. “When we open our shop, we try and make sure that we are there to supervise the cooks,” added Harnam Singh. “I just love the rusk of Sunrise Bakery. Their cakes and biscuits are so yummy and crunchy,” said Ekta, a resident.
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Thank you PM, say vendors
Haridwar, August 13 “The national policy ensures that we can go about our work without being
harassed,” said the regional head of the association Sanjay Chopra. — TNS
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