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Kidney disease has become a burning issue at the moment in the North
Central Province of Sri Lanka. According to statistics obtained from the
Health Department over 20,000 people have died so far from this disease
in the province. The majority of the deaths have been recorded from the
rural areas of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Even though the disease has
existed in the region for nearly a decade, very sadly, the causes for
the problem have not yet been properly identified by the relevant
authorities and notified to the public, in this instance the farmer
community, even after all these years.
It is correct that chemical fertilizers are extensively used in the
North Central Province by farmers in both their paddy lands and chena
cultivations. These chemical fertilizers are those which a highly
promoted by Agro companies. Chemical fertilizers have only been
speculated and suspected to be one of the major causes for the spread of
kidney disease. But upto now, no official declaration has been made by
any authority that chemical fertilizers are the very cause for the
disease and Agro companies continue to do good business in these
regions.
Kidneys are a pair of vertebrate organs situated in the body cavity
near the spinal column that excrete waste products of metabolism. In
human beings, they are bean-shaped organs about 4 1/2 ins. (11 1/2 cms)
long, lying behind the peritoneum in a mass of fatty tissue and consist
chiefly of nephrons by which urine is secreted, collected and discharged
into a main cavity where it is conveyed by the ureter to the bladder. In
short, the kidney organs in humans purify blood. Therefore, kidneys are
very vital parts in the human body which should be protected for healthy
living.
After much public representations made, the Health Department
recently launched an extensive analysis relating to kidney disease at
different locations in the North Central Province. But so far, it has
not been able to reach a unanimous conclusion with regarding to its
findings. This has been due to the fact that there is no proper
co-ordination among the responsible authorities. This unfortunate
situation was even highlighted in the COPE (Committee on Public
Enterprises) Report which was submitted for discussion in Parliament a
few weeks ago.
Over 20,000 deaths in a decade figure out to roughly 2,000 deaths a
year and work out to an average of 167 deaths a month. Is it that nobody
cares if 167 persons - and poor farmers for that matter - die a month by
chemical poisoning, if that really is the cause?
The situation is so grave now that it requires a Task Force with the
representation of all relevant authorities to take action to handle the
matter before it goes out of hand.
Harshi Nadie Perera – Piliyandala
People prefer slimming and weight reduction for better health and
personality. However utmost care should be exercised as regards slimming
methods. Sometimes vigorous slimming methods could result in death. Some
related matters are listed below.
Sweetened drinks – Artificially sweetened drinks should be avoided
completely, especially before meals. They will reduce the regular
contents in the blood composition and stimulate hunger which is the
cause for over consumption of food. Drink more water, natural juices,
butter milk etc., at regular intervals.
Pepper – It is better to take a rasam soup which contains more pepper
about an hour before lunch. Pepper stimulates blood circulation which
increases the body temperature. Meals already consumed, digest fast
which burns more calories. Also it reduces accumulation of fat.
Lunch – Take a cup of soup or rasam (preferably vegetarian) with no
fat before lunch.
Meals – Take a balanced diet which contains protein and vitamins.
Take fruits in the mornings. Morning tea could be taken 1 ˝ before or
after breakfast. It is best to have a light or no dinner. A cup of
fat-free warm milk is good.
Exercise – Select suitable exercises according to your age and
health. Do not try vigorous weight training. Walking is the best form of
exercise.
Rest – Adequate rest is important for body and mind. If you close
your eyes and meditate, your mind will be at rest. Breathing exercises
are good. In Yoga it is called Pranayamam. Proper sleep at night is
important. Avoid sleeping at day time. A nap after lunch will help you
to rest your mind.
Tablets – Never take slimming tables that are being advertised. These
tables may not have required information and your doctor will not be in
a position to treat you for side effects.
Surgery – There are several surgical methods adopted to remove fat
from one’s body. Fat sucking, stitching of stomach are some. Never
accept these methods without medical consultation.
S.R. Balachandran - Wellawatte.
Often we read in the newspapers of the many accidents that occur at
both unprotected railway crossings as well as those with either gates or
alarm bells. A railway trade union had a few days ago, put the blame on
such accidents which eventually end with tragic deaths of the occupants
of vehicles on the railway authorities for not installing gates at over
500 unprotected railway crossings.
Even in developed countries, the rail tracks which cover over
thousands of kilometres have not been installed with gates at all
railway crossings. It is the duty of the drivers of vehicles as well as
pedestrians, to ensure that there are no on-coming trains before
crossing the rail-tracks.
In Sri Lanka, drivers of vehicles cannot see either sides of the rail
tracks until they virtually come to inches away from the tracks, as
there are un-authorised constructions on railway reservations which
cover the view of on-coming trains. I suggest that Station Masters at
relevant railway stations, should make a note of all such un-authorised
constructions which are within 50 metres on either side of the railway
crossings and get them demolished with police assistance. The railway
authorities could also get the assistance of the local authorities in
clearing the area.
If there are trees etc., which cover the view of the rail tracks from
the road these should also be removed. Installing gates at all
unprotected railway crossings is not at all practical.
Similarly putting the blame on accidents at such places on the
government is also not fair as persons crossing the railway tracks
should ensure that there are no on-coming trains before crossing.
Tilak Fernando - Wellawatte
Does the interest rate offered to customers by a Bank vary from
branch to branch? My friend who has his Fixed Deposits with the National
Savings Bank at the Kirillapona and Colpetty branches is given two
different rates of interest.
This baffled him and he showed the documents to me and requested me
to write to the press for verification.
I think this is a gimmick by State Banks. Because another friend also
had this problem with branches of another popular State Bank.
He wrote to the Manager that he wished to immediately withdraw the
deposits and put them into another bank. Surprisingly, the following day
itself a senior executive visited him, offered and apology and the
higher interest of the two. Banks, whether they are State or private
should not play pranks with their customers.
Nazly Cassim - Colombo 13
For the last few weeks I have noted that the traffic lights at Armour
Street and Urugodawatte junctions have been switched off both in the
mornings and evenings by the police who are on duty at such places. This
is greatly inconveniencing the public and motorists. It is also an utter
wastage of time. If the traffic lights are switched on they will
function methodically as set accordingly by the police and the Traffic
Department of the CMC.
If necessary, adjustments for traffic movements could be made to the
electronic signals by discussing it with the CMC. It is absurd to
completely switch them off at the peak hours. Hope the Police and CMC
will join together and make things easier for all concerned.
It is also suggested that the UDA and the CMC build an overhead
bridge covering all the eight main roads at the Urugodawatte junction
for the convenience of pedestrians. Presently they waste their time in
crossing every road which has a flow of unending vehicles.
Nazly Cassim - Colombo 13
During the past few months, citizens would have observed the
unwarranted cutting down of huge trees in various parts of the city
particularly in the Colombo 7 area. Some of the areas where this wanton
destruction of decades of old trees took place are, Wijerama Mawatha,
Reid Avenue, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, R.A. de Mel Mawatha and Havelock Road.
There was really no necessity to cut down these huge trees. If the
authorities wanted to develop the road they could easily have found a
way of avoiding the cutting of trees.
In other cities such as Kular Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore there are
huge trees sometimes on the edge of the road. Take for example Orchard
Road in Singapore where there are dozens of trees lining the roads which
form a canopy over the road and pavements providing much needed shade
for the public. In Bangkok on Wireless Road, they have widened the road
in such a way that two carriage ways have been constructed on the
extreme sides of the road so that the trees remain untouched. But there
is one thing they all do. That is that the trees are regularly monitored
and unwanted branches etc., are chopped off.
A few weeks ago down Frazer Avenue in Dehiwala two Tabubea trees
which were over 30 years old that stood by the roadside were chopped
off. I stopped by and inquired from the workers as to why these tress
were being brought down and they said that the householders nearby had
wanted them chopped off. I did write and bring this to the notice of the
Mayor of Dehiwala -Mt Lavinia but did not receive any response. In other
countries it a punishable offence for residents to even cut-off a branch
of a tree that is in a public area leave alone chopping off the entire
tree.
I think the authorities should get the guidance and assistance of the
Director of the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens in both planting of trees by
the roadside as well as removal of trees in a scientific way so that the
trees thus removed could be re-planted elsewhere.
Tilak Fernando. - Wellawatte.
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