ADVERTORIAL

Expanding benefits of healthcare service

New hospital in Malabe

Pessimism over private medical service has started to fade away soon after a new chapter of healthcare service came into being with a standardized system of private hospitals. As a resident of Malabe, a city distant from the heart of Colombo, I'd look at it as an attempt to extend the benefits of healthcare service to the outskirts of main cities. The new private hospital in Malabe, is one such laudable attempt.

Acknowledged by many, Malabe is a town which is witnessing a rapid development with a considerably higher number of residents who have chosen it to be their hometown. Having all other facilities fulfilled locally, development of the health care service was very much felt. The government hospitals of nearby towns were far too distant to reach, thus many had to seek the assistance of ad hoc private medical centers. The picture of a hometown with all required facilities at hand will now be fulfilled with the opening of the new hospital in the Millennium Drive.

Situated in the New Kandy Road (Kaduwela Road), the new hospital is convenient to reach by anyone from Malabe and suburbs to Colombo, travelling in the New Kandy Road. As the residents were informed, the seven acre hospital project has incurred a cost of Rupees two billion.

<P> When enquired from the administrative staff about the new facility, the first thing assured was rendering standardized quality service, having spent a massive sum of money over the project. Their main concern was to establish the Professorial Units consisting of experienced senior consultants who will commit a full time service as the hospital is to be used as a teaching hospital. Patients will be on frequent examination by the medical students under the supervision of the senior doctors. Also, an opportunity is granted for the willing patients to be inspected as teaching material for the benefit of the society at large. The hospital which is constructed to have 1,002 beds, 200 rooms and 800 ward beds, is said to be fully equipped with four operating theatres, an ICU, Emergency Treatment Unit, laboratory, Pharmacy, Radiology and other professorial units.

The first phase of the construction will be completed within three years with 750 beds open for the patients. Intending to cater to the local community, it is said that 20% of the beds have been allocated for low income earners free of charge and other services on concessionary rates. Therefore, many from Malabe and its suburbs are sure to benefit from the hi-tech facilities.

By a correspondent

Research confirms fish oil supplements can slow growth of prostate cancer

Britain's leading daily newspaper The Daily Mail recently reported that a low fat diet combined with fish oil supplements can slow the growth of prostate cancer. According to the newspaper, one of Britain's highly respected dailies, scientists in the US made the discovery following the testing of prostate tissue samples taken from patients.

Scientists found that after four to six weeks, the cancer cells reduced considerably, following the patients having been on fish oil supplements continuously. However, the same effect was not observed on the patients who were on fish oil supplements but a typical western diet.

According to Professor William Aronson, who led the study at the University of California in Los Angeles, the fact that a low-fat diet combined with fish oil supplements reduced the number of rapidly dividing cells in the prostate cancer tissue represents an important milestone in the fight against cancer.

It also enables medical professionals to be predictive of the rate at which the cells will divide in future cancer progression. In the study, scientists studied blood samples before and after the diet commenced and also studied tissue from surgically removed prostate glands.

The changes indicative of the diet and supplements the patients were on, were clearly present in the prostate issue, according to the study.

The study seemed to confirm that the diet appeared to alter the fatty acid composition of prostate cell membranes. Similar results have been recorded from lab cell cultures and animals, before the study commenced.

“Lower the rate of proliferation, the lesser chances of the cancer spreading outside the prostate, where it would be harder to detect and treat” confirmed Prof. Aronson whose research appeared first in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

“You are truly what you eat. Based on our studies on animals, we believe we could see the same results in humans. We are pleased about our findings which confirm that by making changes to our diet, we may be able to favourably affect the biology of prostate gland cancer,” said Dr Aronson.

Those who took part in the study but were on a western diet obtained 40% of their calories from fat. Their intake was based on typical diets consumed in developed countries and included high levels of omega 6 fatty acids from corn oil.

However, the typical western diet contained low amounts of fish oil which provided omega 3 fatty acids, considered as vital for the body's growth.

In contrast, in the low fat diet, a mere 15% calories came from fat. The men who were on the low fat diet also took five grams of fish oil per day in the form of five capsules.

Avirate signs up with Fashion TV

Avirate, a brand which prides itself on being 100% Sri Lankan, expanded its presence locally and internationally with Fashion TV recently.

Avirate Managing Director Ashraf Sattar and Fashion TV Senior Vice President Asia Pacific Alex Ecker.

The exclusive fashion store which caters to the modern woman with its tag line of ‘high street sensuality,’ was proud to host Fashion TV at its Flagship Store.

Signing of the contract took place at its head office Timex Garments, which was attended by the Chairman Avirate Ashraf Sattar, and Director Avirate Anis Sattar. The contract was signed by Managing Director Avirate, Arshad Sattar and Fashion TV Senior Vice President Asia Pacific Alex Ecker.

Chief Executive Officer Asim Younoos, Communications Manager Sarinda de Silva, and Fashion TV Art Director Zev Manor (Fufu) were also present.

“One year and two months after the launch of our brand, we are proud to sign up with Fashion TV, which is the fashion channel viewed and rated the best fashion channel globally,” said Manager Communications, Sarinda de Silva.

“This year has been a landmark one for Avirate, The opening of our flagship store, and the Phonix City Mall Store in Bangalore, India, and our three Sri Lankan stores are the vanguard of an ambitious local and international expansion plan that will take Avirate to a much wider market, offering high street fashion while retaining the exclusivity associated with the brand” De Silva added.

Asim Younoos, Chief Executive Officer of Avirate said, “It is a pleasure to sign up with Fashion TV, as this enables the lady viewers of India, Sri Lanka and the world to see what types of unique dresses and an exclusive range Avirate has to offer” Younoos said.

“Our strength is our ability to forecast fashion trends and see the satisfaction of the buyers,’ he said.

Avirate offers a range of day and evening wear, lingerie, accessories and shoes at its stores located in Sri Lanka and India.

Avirate introduces weekly new styles of each seasons fashion in all its stores.