World No Tobacco Day 2012
Theme: Tobacco industry interference
The World Health Organization (WHO) selects “tobacco industry interference” as the theme of the next World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on Thursday, 31 May 2012.
The campaign will focus on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry’s brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) because of the serious danger they pose to public health.
Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death. The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people each year, of which more than 600,000 are people exposed to second-hand smoke. Unless we act, it will kill up to 8 million people by 2030, of which more than 80% will live in low- and middle-income countries.
As more and more countries move to fully meet their obligations under the WHO FCTC, the tobacco industry’s efforts to undermine the treaty are becoming more and more energetic.
For example, in an attempt to halt the adoption of pictorial health warnings on packages of tobacco, the industry recently adopted the novel tactic of suing countries under bilateral investment treaties, claiming that the warnings impinge the companies’ attempts to use their legally-registered brands.
Meanwhile, the industry’s attempts to undermine the treaty continue on other fronts, particularly with regard to countries’ attempts to ban smoking in enclosed public places and to ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
World No Tobacco Day 2012 will educate policy-makers and the general public about the tobacco industry’s nefarious and harmful tactics.
It will also be in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the WHO FCTC. The preamble of the treaty recognizes “the need to be alert to any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine or subvert tobacco control efforts and the need to be informed of activities of the tobacco industry that have a negative impact on tobacco control efforts”.
In addition, Article 5.3 of the treaty states that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”.
Furthermore, the guidelines to the implementation of Article 5.3 state that Parties are recommended to “raise awareness about…tobacco industry interference with Parties’ tobacco control policies”.
On World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following year, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic.
No college offers emergency medicine
Monday’s Mumbai-Pune Expressway accidetn has put focus back on the need for trained manpower to save lives in the crucial hours following such incidents.
The Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2009, approved a course on specialization in emergency medicine and came out with the final framework in 2010. However, at present, no medical college in the state-public or private-offers the course. According to director of Life Supporters Institute of Health Science Paresh Navalkar, “This course will train a doctor in handling all kinds of emergencies and trauma. There are hardly any courses to train doctors to take a cohesive look at the nature of injuries.”
TOI has learnt that the Directorate of Medical Education and Research has already sent a proposal to the state seeking an approval to start the two-year MD course in emergency medicine. “The proposal is pending with the state. We propose to start the course in all 14 medical colleges. Each college will offer two seats,” said Pravin Shingare, joint director of DMER.
The private-run D Y Patil medical college at Pimpri in Pune, however, has already has got a go ahead from the MCI to begin the course from the current academic year. Dean Amarjeet Singh confirmed the college’s plans to start it soon.
Navalkar said in a country where an accident claims a life every two minutes, the government should show urgency in starting such courses. “Most of the emergency rooms are manned by MBBS doctors, who may not be adequately trained to handle critical cases. When the world is moving from golden hour to platinum ten minutes, we are struggling to handle accidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, colleges, at their individual levels, are training a handful doctors. The Sion Hospitalhas been running a successful fellowship programme, where two students graduate every year. But, head of surgery Meena Kumar says more courses have to be designed. Society of Emergency Medicine will also start a one-year fellowship course at PD Hinduja Hospital, where 10 students would be trained per year.
Why to Visit a Temple – Explained Scientifically
I found this interesting article and am sharing with. This is, no way trying to promote any particular religion or a bias or even superstitions. All religions in our group are equal.
There are thousands of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be built the Vedic way. Generally, a temple should be located at a place where earth’s magnetic wave path passes through densely. It can be in the outskirts of a town/village or city, or in middle of the dwelling place, or on a hilltop. The essence of visiting a temple is discussed here.
Now, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core center of the temple, known as “*Garbhagriha*” or *Moolasthanam*. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. This *Moolasthanam* is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the Main Idol. What are they really? No, they are not God’s / priests’ flash cards when they forget the *shlokas*. The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body absorbs it. This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy. Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.
Further, the Sanctum is closed on three sides. This increases the effect of all energies. The lamp that is lit radiates heat energy and also provides light inside the sanctum to the priests or *poojaris* performing the pooja. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers takes a worshipper into trance, thus not letting his mind waver. When done in groups, this helps people forget personal problems for a while and relieve their stress. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy further aiding in a different good aura. The effect of all these energies is supplemented by the positive energy from the idol, the copper plates and utensils in the *Moolasthan*am / *Garbagraham*. *Theertham*, the “holy” water used during the pooja to wash the idol is not plain water cleaning the dust off an idol. It is a concoction of Cardamom,*Karpura* (Benzoin), zaffron / saffron, *Tulsi* (Holy Basil), Clove, etc…Washing the idol is to charge the water with the magnetic radiations thus increasing its medicinal values. Three spoons of this holy water is distributed to devotees. Again, this water is mainly a source of magneto-therapy. Besides, the clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & *Tulsi* leafs protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and *Pachha Karpuram* (benzoin), act as mouth fresheners. It is proved that *Theertham* is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. Hence it is given as *prasadam* to the devotees. This way, one can claim to remain healthy by regularly visiting the Temples. This is why our elders used to suggest us to offer prayers at the temple so that you will be cured of many ailments. They were not always superstitious. Yes, in a few cases they did go overboard when due to ignorance they hoped many serious diseases could be cured at temples by deities. When people go to a temple for the *Deepaaraadhana*, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there. The water that is sprinkled onto the assemblages passes on the energy to all. This also explains why men are not allowed to wear shirts at a few temples and women are requested to wear more ornaments during temple visits. It is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed by the women. Also, it is a practice to leave newly purchased jewels at an idol’s feet and then wear them with the idol’s blessings. This act is now justified after reading this article. This act of “seeking divine blessings” before using any new article, like books or pens or automobiles may have stemmed from this through mere observation.
Energy lost in a day’s work is regained through a temple visit and one is refreshed slightly. The positive energy that is spread out in the entire temple and especially around where the main idol is placed, are simply absorbed by one’s body and mind. Did you know, every Vaishnava(Vishnu devotees), “must” visit a Vishnu temple twice every day in their location. Our practices are NOT some hard and fast rules framed by 1 man and his followers or God’s words in somebody’s dreams. All the rituals, all the practices are, in reality, well researched, studied and scientifically backed thesis which form the ways of nature to lead a good healthy life.
The scientific and research part of the practices are well camouflaged as “elder’s instructions” or “granny’s teaching’s” which should be obeyed as a mark of respect so as to once again, avoid stress to the mediocre brains.
Suffering Delhi
When you live life king-size, you pay the price
Anoop Kohli
It’s a rather old joke. A Delhi man on a flight to London asks the hostess for some paracetamol. On being asked if he is suffering from flu, he says it is obvious he flew, but is suffering from Delhi.
That is no longer a joke. People do suffer from Delhi. Laudably, they have learnt to develop sufficient immunity. Dengue, swine flu, anthrax, Delhi belly, the New Delhi beta-lactamase drug-resistant bacteria – the list goes on. And that’s not to mention one of the most non-negotiable traits of eating well there – fat or butter in whatever form generally measured in pounds and added. In fact, the large-hearted Delhi businessmen and politicians who may visit a cardiologist for an examination are bound to call the doctor home for a meal to tell him how well Mrs Singh cooks.
Somewhere in the transaction, the medico’s adherence to strict dietary rules and the overwhelming hospitality of his client reach a compromise. The specialist may relax a few rules for himself, and the client has every reason to take the instructions with levity, having demonstrably conveyed to his doctor that there is a trade-off between good living and good health.
Nature is unforgiving at times, but can also sometimes bestow concessions to those who thrive on its bounty. Little wonder the city of Delhi comes under nature’s benevolence zones. The denizens of the capital, whether born here, or migrated from elsewhere, know that chicken, like them, has two legs; the more muscular, the better, and better still if well-buttered. Drinks are a must as a digestive, and if you can’t take two neat and the news reaches your employers, all prospects of an imminent promotion may be put on the back burner.
Of course, the problem with alcohol is that it might lighten the spirit, but
the roads and dividers here do not keep that in mind. The BMW might
be a nice car but it keeps on killing people in Delhi. No point spending
so much money on a BMW if you don’t rev it up to 240 km/h.
The Buddh Circuit was actually tested on the roads of Delhi, the experiment starting at least 10 years ago. The best incentive for buying a newly powered car is to be allowed a test drive on the circuit.
Overzealous drivers aside, Mother Nature’s benevolence zone doesn’t seem to keep out certain medical issues either. The incidence of coronary disease, hypertension, obesity and obesity-related disorders is pretty high. The approach is still rather casual and accommodative. “I don’t spend money on the treadmill, doc. I have a buddy cardiologist and get an angiography done once a year. That takes care of it all.” Lucky you and hats off to your doctor buddy.
When malady strikes, the womenfolk resort to convenient euphemisms. In this city, you don’t mention the malady, for that could be depressing. The organ stands for the disease. Mrs Chawla the other day was reportedly telling Mrs Bagga, that Brig Dhingra, who just retired from the army, has got “heart” (that is the same as saying he had a heart attack). Likewise, the ever-drinking Mr Chaddha has got “liver”.
The plump Mrs Kapoor is another example; she has got “gall bladder” (gall stones). The enlightened ones do talk of spondylosis, while there are others, fond of periodic swooning, who claim to have been suffering from low blood pressure for 20 years or so.
It strikes me now that no one has ever mentioned that someone has got “brain”. Not that it affects my business as a neurologist, but perhaps the brain is hardly considered a functioning organ of the body here that it could ever go seriously wrong!
And yet, despite all this, there is something about Delhi worth suffering for!
DNB CET July 2012 to be held online
National Board of Examinations
New Delhi
….
Dated: May 28th, 2012
NOTICE
Kind Attn: Applicant Candidates for DNB CET July 2012 – Schedule of Examination Notified
• NBE shall be conducting DNB CET from 9th August 2012 to 17th August 2012 (Except on 15th August) at various centres in following cities:
SL. NO. CITY
1. Bangalore
2. Ahmedabad
3. Mumbai
4. Nagpur
5. Kolkata
6. Delhi & NCR
7. Hyderabad
8. Chennai
9. Trivandrum
10. Chandigarh
11. Pune
• CET shall be conducted on Computer Based Platform.
• Each candidate will be informed about his/her scheduled date of examination and examination centre through admit card and NBE website www.natboard.edu.in
The menace of hi-tech copying is spreading fast
Blame it on technology. In recent years, cheating in exams has undergone a major change. The students no longer tuck in photocopies of books or little chits with notes inside their sleeves, shirt collars and socks or carry a Rampuri knife into the exam hall so that they can copy at will in front of helpless invigilators. Now, they buy a variety of hi-tech gadgets like watches, phones, pens and glasses that are Bluetooth/scan-enabled. From the all-India medical entrance tests to professional college examinations, students have been caught browsing the Net, dialling their friends or listening to recordings of their own voices during examination. The cheating has just gone hi-tech.
But now, institutes are themselves going hi-tech to check the menace. Since April, besides banning the use of electronic gadgets in exams, Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University has asked all exam centres to install mobile phone jammers, CCTVs and metal detectors. “We’ve learned this from the students. The technology we use prevents using cheating devices,” says Dr Mayil Vahanan Natarajan, the university’s vice-chancellor. “Technology may never be able to totally prevent malpractice, but students should know there is a higher chance of getting caught.”
But, alarmed by the increasing number of cheating cases, institutes are trying to be one step ahead of their students. Recently, University of Madras purchased spy software that can nab plagiarism in research work. “It’s paying off. We found students plagiarising homework, projects, dissertation and research,” says vicechancellor G Thiruvasagam.
The spy software scans through the report and picks up sections that are copied from the internet. Last week, University of Madras blacklisted a PhD candidate and his guide after they found that the student had copied several paragraphs of the reserch from the internet. An external examiner — a foreigner — complained about it to the vicechancellor. “The student will not be allowed to pursue his course anymore in the university and his guide can never mentor any of our students,” says Thiruvasagam.
Besides technology, educational institutions are also evolving methods that promote and test concept-based learning instead of conventional rote-based system. “We must create an environment to make learning more flexible for students and not threaten them that if they fail one exam their career is doomed. Most students copy because they want to make it big,” says Pankaj Chandra, director, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Students, he feels, must be taught what is big. For this, say experts, it is important to tell students about their rights and responsibilities right from school, and told in clear terms that it’s not okay to cut and paste from the internet. “They do it because it is easy. They think it is harmless as they are hardly warned,” says Shashi Mathur, dean, Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi. The IIT faculty, he says, sensitises their students about the hazards of copying in the initial stages of the course. “If we find students plagiarising their research, copying or sneaking in gadgets during exam, they get zero for the course. At an IIT course this can be a very serious setback,” says Mathur.
But, the cheating menace is spreading fast and, according to teachers, the number of students caught could be abysmally low. Even those who get caught are often not given timely punishments. For instance, in 2006, more than 30 students from two centres in Chennai were among the first 100 ranks in the All India Post Graduate Medical Entrance test. A CBI inquiry was ordered and during the probe the investigators found two doctors had used pen scanners to receive copies of question papers and send back answers to questions via SMS to candidates writing the examination. The doctors, who aided these students, are now practising medicine and the students themselves graduated successfully from prestigious colleges. The Medical Council of Tamil Nadu did not initiate action as the cases were before the Madras High Court.
The human cost of hi-tech cheating may be much more than we can imagine.
