It’s Raining Now!
The smell of earth that raises along with the first rains, the feel of cool breeze on your skin, the splash of water drops drizzling from the grey clouds…all bring a broad smile on your face.
Yes, with the monsoon approaching, soon will be the time to hunt for your umbrellas and raincoats which you have kept somewhere in your closet. Rains just don’t please our farmers but they also relieve all of us from the scorching summer heat. Monsoon is the climate to relax, munch on delicious recipes, enjoy those waterfalls at picnic spots and much more. But amidst all the fun, it is very essential to keep a check on your health and fitness.
During rainy season, there are a host of infectious diseases that arise and it is necessary to take precautions to save yourself from them. Fever, body ache, stomach cramps, loose motions, headache, weakness…all are symptoms of infections. Stomach infections as well as other infections are very common during monsoons.
Monson is the season when your appetite increases. You feel like having all crispy and crunchy recipes. And with every such recipe comes along those dreaded calories. More the calories more will be the weight gain. Having no time, rains and ill heath – are some reasons that can affect your fitness regime. But always remember that having a healthy diet and following a regular exercise plan are the keys to good health. To be in pink of health is what everyone desires, and to be so, you should regularly monitor your health status be it summer, winter or monsoons!
World Blood Donor Day
Once again comes a day when you can pay tribute to all those donors who by donating their blood have saved numerous lives. It is the World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) on 14th June. This year the theme for the World Blood Donor Day is to put emphasis on improving the safety and sufficiency of blood supplies through the achievement of “100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood and blood components.”
World Blood Donor Day is jointly sponsored by the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations and the International Society of Blood Transfusion. Each year a country is identified by these partners to host a global WBDD event that provides a focus for an international media campaign to raise awareness of the critically important role of the voluntary non-remunerated donors in every national health care system. The event also supports the blood transfusion services, blood donor organizations and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in strengthening and expanding their voluntary blood donor programs and to reinforce the national and local campaigns. This year, the country selected is Australia. The Australian Government in close association with the Australian Red Cross and Australian Red Cross Blood Service will host this global event on 14th June 2009.
Some facts that you should be aware of…
- More than 5,36,000 women die every year during pregnancy or childbirth. 99% of them are from the developing countries
- In developing countries, many people die as safe blood is not available, even in many urban health-care facilities
- Nearly 4,00,000 young people under the age of 25 are killed in the road traffic crashes every year and millions more are injured or disabled
- In many countries testing is not reliable because of staff shortages, poor quality test kits, irregular supplies or lack of basic laboratory quality. Also in many countries not all of the donated blood is screened for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis prior to transfusion
- Often transfusions are prescribed when simpler and less expensive treatments might be equally effective. This exposes some patients to the unwanted risk of infections or severe transfusion reactions due to incompatibility of blood groups
- As per statistics, more than 81 million units of blood are collected globally every year. Less 45% of these are donated in developing countries where more than 80% of the world’s population lives. The average blood donation rate is 11 times higher in developed countries than in developing countries
- The demand for blood is increasing and so the blood shortages are common. Every year more blood donors are needed to replace those that are lost every year due to ill health, retirement and relocation
Therefore, it is important for every nation to recognize that safe clinical transfusion practices are fundamental for blood transfusion to be truly life-saving with minimal risk. Also, safe blood transfusion is an essential part of the emergency trauma care systems to minimize death and disability of the injured patients. Every country needs to ensure that blood supplies are sufficient and free from HIV, hepatitis viruses and other chronic infections that can be transmitted through unsafe transfusion.
This day gives us an opportunity to raise awareness on issues related to blood donation and blood transfusion. It is a day to thank all the blood donors and to acknowledge all those volunteers who are responding to a world-wide increase in the demand for donations of blood and blood components. You never know what your fate awaits. Someday it could be you or your dear one who may struggle with the need for blood in an ICU. It is, therefore, necessary to realize and recognize the importance of blood donation.
Donate a part of yourself today to save the lives tomorrow!
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
“When this world was made,
It was so neat and clean.
Why must man kind have been so mean,
The ponds and rivers flow so free.
But clean again they will never see.
The sky and clouds were a sight to be seen,
Now it is a struggle to keep them clean.”
- Dennis Penny
Let’s take up this challenge and make Mother Earth – a cleaner place to be in! Times are changing and so are the climatic conditions….Today, skyscrapers and flyovers add to the beauty of our surroundings instead of the trees and streams, which we were surrounded by, once upon a time. Mother Nature has perpetually nurtured the requirements of mankind, but in order to quench his thirst of ever growing needs, the greedy man has utilized every bit of nature for his benefit. In gratifying his desires, man has forgotten that he is causing gross damage to the environment and as a result, to himself.
This year on the World Environment Day (WED), let’s come together and stimulate worldwide awareness towards the environmental issues.
WED, commemorated each year on 5th June world wide after the historical Stockholm Conference on Human Environment in 1972, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations enhances political attention and action oriented strategies besides creating awareness amongst the masses.
Various issues discussed on this day are poverty alleviation, population growth, economic development, protection of environment, equitable use of resources, prevention of pollution, planning for future, etc. WED is a reminder to show our gratefulness to Mother Nature, which sustains all forms of life.
WED is a day to focus thoughts and our energies for collective efforts to protect the environment and to keep the world clean and green. This year the theme for World Environment Day is ‘Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change.’ From participating in awareness rallies and seminars to the simple action of planting a pod at your home or in your locality…will be your contribution on this day.
As Blaise Pascal said, “The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.” So dear readers, think twice before throwing a pebble as the ripple created will affect one and all.
