Srinagar, August 4
It could be possible to save lives of around 3,000 infants annually in Jammu and Kashmir if lactating mothers adhere to breastfeeding, experts from Government Medical College here revealed.

They added that if followed strictly, breastfeeding can also prevent malnourishment of around 23,000 babies of the state annually.

“Colostrum, the first feed from mother, provides the necessary immunisation to the newborn by providing a protective coat to the entire gastrointestinal tract,” an expert said during a symposium on the occasion of the Breastfeeding Week.

The week starting from August 1 is being observed as the Breastfeeding Week.

Doctors advised the lactating mothers to at least go for breastfeeding for a span of six months for proper nourishment of their children.

They suggested adoption of worldwide instructions in this regard, which include mandatory breastfeed up to six months starting within first hour of the birth.

They also opined continuation of mother’s feed with supplementary diet after six months and its continuation up to two years.

They, however, viewed the role of the family, medical attendants and anganwadi workers as critical in implementing the concept of breastfeeding.

“There is need for creating awareness among the masses about breastfeeding,” an expert insisted.

Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman while emphasising the significance of breastfeeding said, “Breastfeeding promotes the health of both mother and infant. It prevents various diseases.”

“Breast milk is made from the nutrients of mother’s blood stream and contains fats, sugar, water and proteins in adequate proportions which is required for the growth and development of the baby,” he informed.

Rehman added that during breastfeeding antibodies are passed to the baby through mother’s milk.

“Mother’s milk contains several anti-infective factors, such as bile salt, stimulated lipase, which protects children against amoebic infections and Lactoferrin,” he said. While insisting on creating awareness among the lactating mothers to adopt breastfeeding for more than six months, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman said, “Breastfeeding is associated with the increased cognitive development of a child and therefore every mother should look forward to breastfeed her baby.”

Srinagar, August 4
Separatist leader and chairman of moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed concern over availability of spurious drugs in markets.

He alleged that the local administration has failed to “curb the mafia” involved in spurious drugs scam and promised support to the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), which has warned of intensifying its agitation against those involved in the scam after Eid.

As many as 24 new drug samples have been found to be of sub-standard quality in the state by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

The Organisation had recently lifted 156 drug samples from the state for testing.

“Availability of fake and spurious drugs in markets, hospitals and prestigious health institutions like Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, is a matter of grave concern for the whole Kashmir and needs to be looked into,” Mirwaiz said.

“It is because of the careless attitude of state’s health department with regard to the availability of fake and spurious drugs that already over 500 infants have died in hospitals. Now the revelation that 24 drugs have been found to be spurious is a matter of grave concern,” he added.

The Spurious drugs scam in J&K came to fore when samples of Maximixin-625, supposed to contain amoxicillin trihydrate and potassium clavunate, were lifted from Controller Stores Health, Barzulla, Srinagar, on February 2, 2013.

The samples failed the identification test and the content of amoxicillin was “nil” after analysis.

Over 2.52 lakh fake Maximizin-625 tablets containing zero milligram of Amoxicillin were distributed in the Valley and Jammu hospitals during 2011-2012. The Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) and other civil society groups, while accusing the government of not being able to punish the culprits have demanded constitution of an independent commission to probe the drugs scam.

Handwara, August 4
Unknown masked men dressed in traditional white dress have unleashed scare among people in some villages of Handwara Tehsil.“Some unknown men hurl stones on the rooftops of our houses during night hours and knock at doors and windows to instill fear among us,” alleged one of the villagers.

Residents of Machipora, Baderhar, Bakiakar, Goriakar, Wadipora, Didipora and Chak Didipora have asked for increased night patrolling by the police to apprehend the culprits, which they allege have given them sleepless nights for past one week.

In one such incident, around 2:30 AM today, a person with his face covered broke the window pane of kitchen of Mohd Sultan Gojri’s house at Badarhar and tried to attack his 15-year-old daughter Tahira Akther.

“She was busy cooking meals in kitchen, when the masked man broke the widow of the kitchen and tried to attack her. She screamed and we tried to chase the ghost, but he disappeared in nearby forests taking advantage of darkness,” claimed Gojri, 48.

“For past one week some persons are hurling stones at the rooftops of houses giving us sleepless nights. There is scare, especially among children, as the villagers are unable to do anything to catch these persons,” he added.

In another incident, a masked man forcibly took away 10-year-old Danish Ali and only released him after the hue and cry made by his parents.

“Danish had gone outside home to attend nature’s call and a masked man dressed in white got hold of him and he took him away. We raised an alarm and the man set him free,” Danish’s father, Ghulam Rasool, said.

“Police should undertake night patrolling and trap the masked men, who have unleashed terror in the villages. We are feeling unsafe during night hours and families are forced to stay together due to the growing fear created by them,” added Mohammad Sultan from Didipora.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Handwara Chowdary Mohammad Aslam, meanwhile, said that he was unaware about any such incident.

“I am unaware of these incidents. People should apprise police and we will ensure safety of their lives in all circumstances,” Aslam said.

Srinagar, August 4
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti, while boasting of her party’s “visionary” political and economic agenda today said that if voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections, they will restart an era of development.

“The party’s visionary political and economic agenda has made it to emerge as a genuine, strong and credible regional voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and if voted to power in 2014, PDP would work towards accomplishing its unfinished agenda of securing peace, stability and prosperity in the state,” Mehbooba said while addressing party workers in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

The senior leader recalled that when the PDP-led coalition government came to power in 2002, it not only rekindled a new hope among the masses, but also devised and implemented focused developmental strategies for every area of the state.

“After suffering decades of deprivation and neglect, for the first time, all the regions and sub-regions of the state had started tasting development after 2002,” she said.

“PDP-led coalition’s foremost priority was to provide a sense of security to the people and to relax the security environment, which was effectively supplemented with relief through development and economic rejuvenation,” Mehbooba said.

She added that her party’s agenda was to ensure political, economic and social security of the “potentially gifted” people of the state and insisted that PDP would realise this dream one day,

“There are no limits to the state’s economic potential and PDP’s vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir outlined in its self-rule document is about neutralising the historical, political and economic excesses done with the state,” she said.

“People will never be ignored or overruled in a democratic system and the movement started by PDP for resolution, democracy, empowerment and governance would be taken to its logical conclusion,” Mehbooba said.