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Health for All

All health-conscious citizens will welcome Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva's pledge that budgetary funds allocated for the sector will be increased from the present 1.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product to 2.5 per cent.

This long-awaited step would go a long way towards achieving the "radical change in the health sector" envisaged by Minister de Silva.

Sri Lanka, which had maintained excellent health indices in the South Asian region, was in danger of lagging behind her neighbours in terms of health as a result of budgetary cuts. The doubling of health funds will thus help improve our health service and standards.

In fact, a recent survey by the respected British Medical Journal (BMJ) concluded that pitifully low health spending by South Asia, including Sri Lanka, was the root of the region's ills. The United States spends around 4,000 dollars per person per year on healthcare, but spending in South Asia is only around five dollars a head.

Minister de Silva has rightly elaborated that the increase in funds alone would not help to meet the aspirations of people. In particular, he has stressed the importance of developing healthcare facilities throughout the country. It is no secret that the cities have the best hospitals, whereas outstation patients have to walk for miles to obtain treatment at poorly-equipped hospitals and dispensaries. This imbalance must be rectified without delay.

As the Minister has pointed out, the proper management of healthcare facilities is essential to provide a good service to patients. In this respect, the proposed setting up of a 24-hour hotline for public complaints and suggestions on the health sector is a laudable move.

Health professionals, workers and trade unions must also change their attitudes to effect discernible changes in the service. They must not resort to strikes at the drop of a hat, holding poor patients to ransom. Any grievances could be discussed extensively with the authorities first and strikes should strictly be a last resort. After all, well-to-do city dwellers can afford to go to private hospitals, but the poor have no option other than visiting a government hospital.

Private hospitals do play a major role in the health sector. Nevertheless, health authorities must keep an eye on mushrooming private healthcare institutions, some of which do not even have qualified personnel. They must be closely monitored and regulated so that patients get their money's worth.

The second part of the new Ministry's title - nutrition - is often neglected. Malnutrition has raised its ugly head in Sri Lanka. A coherent programme must be formulated to raise nutrition levels in the under 15 age group.

Health authorities must also face the challenges posed by new diseases such as bird flu and SARS while battling old adversaries such as malaria and TB. A comprehensive programme must be implemented to eradicate such deadly diseases, along with the expansion of vaccination and health awareness campaigns. Everyone in the health sector must cooperate to achieve the avowed goal of 'Health for All'.

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Bundles of joy

There is hardly anyone who can resist the charms of a cat. With its blue eyes, long whiskers, padded paws and shiny coat, a cat is a bundle of joy. Every cat is a VIP (Very Important Pet) that brings delight to its owner as it purrs merrily through the trials and tribulations of our stressful lives. Man and cat have indeed come a long way together.

New archaeological findings suggest that Man tamed the cat around 9,500 years ago, more than 5,000 years than previously thought. Last week's discovery of a purr-fectly preserved ancient feline skeleton in Cyprus suggests that cats could have been honoured members of Stone Age households.

What strikes the researchers is that the whole skeleton was found, which indicates that the cat had been deliberately buried. Until now, cats were first thought to have been domesticated in Egypt, by 1900 BC. Cats were probably brought in from the wild in the early stages of agriculture, when humans stopped being hunters and started farming.

Their grain stocks would attract mice, which the cats would devour gladly.

Today, catching mice is a not a priority for well-fed cats. Take the case of Mikesch, the fat German cat fed two kilos of meat daily by his owner. It emerged last week that Mikesch, who is six times overweight, could not take more than four steps without getting exhausted. This is an extreme case, but the petfood industry literally makes a killing by selling a huge variety of feline foods.

Worldwide, cats are overtaking the other VIP - dogs - as the most preferred pet. This is mystifying, considering that cats are fiercely independent creatures who love humans, but remain their own masters.

Cats remain wild at heart - they are happy to gaze at the TV, but are happier to pounce stealthily on unsuspecting prey.

Latest research indicates that allowing young children to play with cats strengthens their immune systems. Cats are also used for research on sleep, an art they have mastered brilliantly. Their therapeutic value is also well-documented - patients recover faster if their cats are around.

This relationship that began nearly 10,000 years ago is likely to continue well into the future. In the movie 'The Fifth Element' set in the 23rd century, Bruce Willis tells his cat to do something other than watching TV. Cats will not change their ways that much, then.

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