World Health Day 2011-Combat Drug Resistance

Today is World Health Day and each year WHO selects a health issue and encourages everyone to work on it in whatever way possible.This year the theme is "Antimicrobial resistance:no action today,no cure tomorrow".Drugs are a matter of public health importance,but unfortunately receive little or no attention from the common man to the policy makers.It is a sad human tendency not to think about what and how it cured,once a disease is cured!

"Achoo" and off the tablet or pill goes down the throat.How many of us do no do this?:)Everyone wants to get well soon and antibiotics in such situations work like 'Miracle Drugs'.We pop them like chocolates and toffees for fever,cough,cold and every illness else.Once prescribed by a doctor,the medicine stays for the same illness for everyone in the house for life.Also there are suggestions from neighbors,relatives,friends and the guy at the medical store,they work better and are cheaper than what the doctor prescibes.If one does not cure our running nose or headache there is always a better drug to start midway.The most helpful of all is that one friendly neighborhood doctor who gives the strongest and best medicine and creates wonders by making us hale and healthy in a day.What we do not know is all this is completely wrong!By doing so we are doing nothing but boosting the immunity of these microbes,not ours!

 Since ages antimicrobials have cured diseases and saved human lives.Due to increasing drug resistance these diseases which were once treatable have now become major threats to our well being and health.If this continues not far is the day when a common cold will turn a killer.It is because of our ignorant practices that microbes are growing stronger than we can imagine to be.Until we act there is nothing that can be done to better the current state of affairs.


Fighting myths and spreading awareness is the need of the hour.We have to be sensible and judicious while we use these drugs,both the doctor and the patient.The former while prescribing and the latter while taking.There are some Dos and Don'ts with these medicines which have to be strictly followed.Any drug that is overused is more dangerous than the disease.Let us not forget that these are only 'drugs' that can save lives,not any elixir of life.


To know more read:
World Health Day 2011
Wikipedia-Antibiotic Resistance
The Hindu-Editorial Article

-R.
 

The Versatile Feather On My Cap

This morning I found one of my favorite readers Rajashree Prasad giving me the‘The Versatile Blogger’ award.Thank you Raji for finding my thoughts like the free flowing water.It is because of appreciators like you that my thoughts keep flowing incessantly and find a place here.

There are steps to follow while I accept this award,the rules say so.And I am going to do that with all my heart for I believe if someone pats my back and says 'Well Done' and means it,I should listen listen to them:)

Step 1-Express gratitude and link back the person giving you the award.

It feels awesome to be called versatile from someone who is:)I was on cloud nine the other day when I found you in the comment section of my blog,someone who speaks my language literally;)It is a pleasure reading your comments here Raji.Keep blogging and exploring the unexplored at Why?Wishing you love,laughter and life.

Step2-Share seven things about you,’honestly’. 

1. Gerald Durrell’s wild humour is currently driving me nuts.
2. Aqua blue can cheer me up.
3. Argument is the food of my soul.
4. I can survive on tamarind.
5. Leave me on an island with books and I will be grateful to you for all my life.
6. I hate butterscotch ice cream.
7. I believe in giving,if you don’t give me you will get it;)

Step 3-Pass this Honour to other newly discovered or followed blogger friends.

I am passing this award to these three bloggers for the versatility that I have found in their words.Each post on their blog is a new story,a new thought,a new feeling and a new joy.Here are the best ones that make me smile:

• Preeti-The Other Side of Life
•  Anupama-I think…Therefore I Am Anupama
•  Sudha Ganapathi-My Favorite Things

Step4-Inform the concerned Bloggers about their award.

The Postman Uncle is on his way…knock…knock:)

Thanks again Raji:)

Good day to you all:)

-R.

Friends For Life

I wander here now on a busy but lonely street

While my heart thumps with a not so new beat

My eyes search and find things that I need not

How do I tell you’O my friend I miss you a lot!’

Ah!From dusk to dawn what nostalgia strikes

Through the wild those dozen treks and hikes

Those ghost stories to each other that we told

And the winds that hugged us together in cold

Cricket in pitch dark,not mornings we played

For on each night out hours awake we stayed

Scooty rides and treats that nobody calls food

No roads of our town that we left for any good

All the bonus birthday bumps,cheer and shout

A silly joke till this day that we can laugh about

Each treasure like these that binds us in knots

Are clicked and captured in million snapshots

When I see them,I know you are still the same

Wish we freeze our times more than in a frame

For now separating us are the ocean and skies

To meet you,my best friend are my silent cries

We shall for life,not if soon tread hand in hand

Remember no friend is left forever in an island

Come lets create the future like our past again

If not for us,for the friendship that will remain

-R-

PS1: Dear boys in this picture,I know this is some heavy stuff for you.This poem is my little gift to you.This picture is one of my favorites just like you.I know you are not the kind of friends who wear their hearts on their sleeves and talk often.Time,place and people that surround all of us are now different.Having watched you for all these years as a common friend this is what I have deciphered-you guys are friends for life!I know this poem is just like a grain on the shore:)I just hope that you,my gubachis like it:)You can dedicate the poem to each other,let me know who wants to first!

PS2:This poem is written as a part of Poetry Potluck Week 29-'Photographs,Memories And Nostalgia'  at Jingle Poetry.