Pune
cop with a vision inspires others to donate eyes
For the first time in
the history of the Pune police, 25 policemen have volunteered to donate their
eyes after being inspired by deputy commissioner of police (headquarters),
Shirish Sardeshpande.
The cops signed up for
donation during a camp organised by Ruby Hall Clinic at Shivajinagar
headquarters on September 6. Salamander, the incharge of Gandhinagar
headquarters, has been conducting various programmes for policemen. Speaking to
DNA, he said, “It was an impromptu decision. While overseeing the
arrangements at one of the camps organised at the recreation hall, I noticed
that the camp for eye donation was deserted. I went there out of curiosity and
asked a couple of questions. The doctors at the counter informed me about the
procedure. Immediately, I decided to donate my eyes. I felt proud after signing
the form. ” Soon , 25 policemen followed his example.
Sardeshpande said, “We
did not insist on any of the policemen. They took the decision on their own.”
“Every person should
donate eyes. I hope the number would increase after other police personnel also
think seriously about it,” he said.
An eye bank technician
from Ruby Hall Clinic, Aaba Thokale, said, “We never expected such a positive
response at our first eye donation camp for city cops.”
Ruby Hall Clinic has
been conducting such camps for information technology firms in the city for the
past couple of years.
DCP pledges to
donate body
Deputy commissioner of
police (traffic) Vishwas Pandhare told DNA, “Every part of the body is
important. I have already donated my eyes, and have decided to donate other
parts of my body as well.”
Source: www.dnaindia.com
21.09.2012
World Alzheimer’s Day
2012: Cases on the rise in India
With
an increasing elderly population falling prey to it, Alzheimer’s disease, a
kind of dementia, stands as one of the biggest health threats in India, say
doctors. The disease caused by the degeneration of brain cells and nerves,
impacts functioning of the brain, effecting day-to-day activities by its
victims. Though the causes of the disease are not completely known yet, India
has almost a fourth of the world’s Alzheimer’s patients, with doctors adding
that underreporting is the biggest problem.
“The
biggest problem with Alzheimer’s disease is that it is highly underreported,”
says Sanjay Kumar Saxena, head of the neurology department at Fortis Hospital
in the national capital. “There are around 18-19 million dementia patients in
the world and around a quarter of them are in India. There is an acute lack of
facilities to detect or treat patients with Alzheimer’s, so patients get
ignored. In the west, they are much better off,” says Saxena.
“In
India, one in 20 people over 60 years of age and five in over 80 years age are
suffering from AD (Alzheimer’s Disease). With the population of elderly people
in our country increasing, prevalence of AD is also going to increase,” says
Najeeb Rehman, Consultant, Neurology, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences. He
also highlights that more women suffer from it compared to men. “Men and women
are both equally at risk, but in developed countries more women are suffering
from AD. It is a reflection of higher longevity of life among women than men,”
he says. According to the Dementia India Report 2010, it is estimated that over
3.7 million people are affected by dementia in our country. This is expected to
double by 2030.
The
disease causes a total loss of the ability to carry on simple day-to-day jobs
like eating, talking, and other things. Patients lose memory, and have to be
taken care of continuously. Often, social stigma related to this disease, which
is commonly seen as mental illness, creates the biggest problem. ”The stigma
attached to the disease effects the family, because the patient is not aware of
what is happening to him,” says Saxena.
Pandey
adds that the focus should be on spreading awareness related to the disease.
“The focus should be on activities such as educational seminars, awareness
walks and other programs and events to dispel myths surrounding Alzheimer’s and
dementia and know the facts. This would also enable the communities to become
more Alzheimer-friendly,” he adds.
When helping
others, do not look for a reward; if you are looking for rewards, don't help
others
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