Castle lessons for safe motherhood

By Faraza Farook

Handicapped by a cadre shortage and struggling to improve the reproductive health sector in the country, the Castle Street Hospital for women has begun a series of programmes to create awareness in expectant mothers.

In a move to reduce the number of maternal and infant deaths and to build up a cordial relationship between doctor and patient, the Castle Street Hospital has begun a series of sessions that guide expectant women towards a safe motherhood.

Though maternal deaths are comparatively low in Sri Lanka compared to other Asian countries, the need to educate parents for the reasons behind such deaths has been a long felt need.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Castle Street maternity hospital held a seminar last week on a series of topics relating to parenthood and pregnancy.

Often, the hospital has to take the blame if a mother or baby dies. While there are instances where either has succumbed due to negligence by the medical officer, various factors ignored during pregnancy by the expectant mother are a contributing factor in most cases.

A common problem cited by the consultants at the hospital was that expectant mothers tend to ignore or take little interest in following doctors' advice.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. K. D. S. Ranasinghe speaking on the prevention of infant mortality said most expectant mothers with blood pressure or diabetes were unaware of the fatalities that could result due to the lack of attention they paid during this period.

"Women suffering from blood pressure or diabetes are asked to attend clinics regularly to monitor their progress and that of the baby. But this advice often goes unheeded," Dr. Ranasinghe said.

He explained that extreme changes in the baby's movement, i.e. to be either less or more, indicate a bad sign. "At times likes this, expectant mothers should report to the hospital immediately and pay extra attention. Instead what happens is that they stay at home and come to the hospital at the latter stages," he said.

Dr. Ranasinghe stressed that a delay in seeking a doctor's advice could prove fatal to both mother and baby.

Another specialist, Dr. Ranjith Almeida said elevated blood pressure was common during the last trimester in the first pregnancy and could sometimes be fatal to either mother or baby.

Eclampsia (fits), is a serious condition that women having pressure could encounter if not treated promptly. Heart failure, liver or kidney failure, excessive bleeding are some of the serious complications that women with blood pressure could suffer from.

Patients showing an unusual increase in weight, swelling, high blood pressure, albumin in the urine are all causes for concern and require to be admitted immediately. "A patient impending eclampsia will feel quite well except for symptoms such as headaches and vomiting. Therefore, expectant mothers with blood pressure need to be admitted early," Dr. Almeida warned.

In such instances, sometimes the baby has to be delivered prematurely to save it, he said.

Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. L. A. W. Sirisena was of the view that leaving out fathers during consultation had made them ignorant about the factors that needed attention and thus mothers failed to stick to doctor's advice.

Elaborating he said, "it is important that both parents be educated with regard to pregnancy, failing which the father is unaware of the factors that need extra care during this phase".

Dr. Sirisena said the presence of the father during consultations would ease tension in expectant mothers and also make the father realise that he should share responsibilities during this period instead of burdening his wife.

Accordingly, 'Parentcraft', a programme committed to educate and improve parental contribution was initiated a few years back, Dr. Sirisena said. The sessions held on the third Sunday of every month in the mornings is conducted by specialists in their respective fields.

The topics under discussion include responsible parenthood, development of fetus, ailments and discomforts during pregnancy, rights of an expectant mother, nutrition, 'maternity blues' - and a father's duties, labour and complications, preparation for delivery, postnatal care, posture and exercises.

Gadget that outwits light-fingered gentry

By Chandani Kirinde

A Sri Lankan businessman has made a unique invention to deter pickpockets and help people worldwide who fall victim to this menace everyday.

Mohideen Saheed, a businessman came up with the novel idea after his wife was pick-pocketed last year in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mr. Mohideen said his wife was robbed of her money and passport in Bangkok while they were there for shopping before their daughter's wedding. After going from police station to police station to lodge complaints and undergoing numerous hardships to get new passports, on returning to Sri Lanka, Mr. Mohideen thought up the idea to deter pick pockets.

Mr. Mohideen has made three inventions, one meant for use in hand bags and travelling bags while the other two are for men's shirts and trousers.

The "Thief Stop" for bags uses a piece of fishing net with a plastic piece attached to one side and a double sticker to the other side. To use it, one side is stuck on to the base of the handbag and valuables are stored inside and the net pulled over to cover them.

Mr. Mohideen explained if a pickpocket tried to remove any items, he would have difficulty in taking them out as the net was in place.

The other invention is to stitch a secret flap inside the shirt pocket and place the money under it and have the other less valuable items over the flap. That way, it will be impossible for a thief to lay his hands on the money which would be hidden under the flap.

Mr. Mohideen has also suggested the stitching of a false pocket in men's trousers as well to deter pickpockets.

Mr. Mohideen who invented the "Stop Thief" innovations has already got a patent for his products and hopes to market them in the coming month. He has also created a web site to inform people about his inventions. His web address is www.get4p.com.

"If you can't touch it, you can't snatch it," is the simple rule he has followed in coming up with his inventions.

Refugees in poly-shacks cry for life

By Nilika de Silva

It is strange but true that a group of people live in polythene covered shelters in Badowita, Mt. Lavinia, a flourishing suburban city close to Colombo. A 15-minute ride from the commercial capital will take you to these forgotten people who are dumped there as refugees.

The refugee population consists of Tamils who were displaced in the July '83 pogrom and Sinhalese who left their villages to escape from LTTE atrocities.

Popularly known as polythene hut dwellers, 67 families live huddled in temporary shacks. They become important to powers that be only during election times.

Living on the banks of a canal these people are vulnerable to all kinds of diseases and open to the elements. Only the flimsy polythene sheets protect them from sun and rain.

"The authorities don't even bother to come and spray some malathion to get rid of mosquitoes," lamented Rupa Ranjani ,35, a mother of three who was concerned about her children. Recently a four-year-old child died of deadly dengue fever.

Seventeen-year-old Bavani who is studying for her A/L examination takes on the role of a teacher in the afternoon. She makes it a point to educate the children in the area. Her elder brother has gained entrance to the Open University. However, such success stories are few and far between. There are well over 100 children who are denied any form of education. They face a bleak future with their fathers often becoming drug addicts and alcoholics.

A ray of hope for these unfortunate children is the Daru Setha Programme for Disadvantaged Children. The programme co-ordinator Hilmy Junaid said every attempt was being made to give the children a good education. At present, the Daru Setha Programme helps in the education of more than 500 children in many parts of the island.

"We were all dumped here on March 18, 1996," Michael Anthony, 60, said.

After the '83 riots they were living in various parts of Colombo such as in the Saraswathie and Ramakrishna halls. From there they shifted to shelters at Wellawatte. However, due to the Duplication Road extension their houses were demolished and they were brought here late at night. Since that day they had been living in the polythene huts, he said.

Politicians had held out many promises, but their plight had not changed, the refugees claimed.

Among the polythene shack dwellers is 57-year-old Selvaraj who is a TB patient. Like everybody else he too is exposed to the elements.

The refugees engage themselves in various jobs to make a living. However, what they earn is barely sufficient to feed the family.

Meantime, a group of children sat on the ground learning English. Mr. and Ms. N. de Silva teach them English. "This is my hobby," says Ms. de Silva, a graduate. The couple used to live close to the Ratmalana beach. But after their house was washed away, they were left with no alternative but to come there as refugees. With all the difficulties the Tamil and Sinhalese people live together in harmony. As a result most of the children end up learning all three languages, said Ms. de Silva.

Flying time for politicos

Top government and opposition politicians are out of the country — some for official purposes but others for astrological reasons as well.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has been in Britain for more than two weeks, meeting the queen and British leaders.

She is expected to be in Paris for the crucial Aid Group meeting there tomorrow, joined by Ministers G.L. Peiris and S.B. Dissanayake who in addition are deputy finance ministers.

Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Mahinda Rajapakse, Indika Gunewardene, Rauf Hakeem and Jeyaraj Fernandopulle are out of the country for public or personal purposes.

Not to be outdone Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is leaving for on Wednesday while deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya has gone to London and Speaker Anura Bandaranaike will be in California for the Christmas-New Year season.

Kalpage dead

Prof. Stanley Kalpage, educationist, diplomat and finally politician , died yesterday at the age of 75.

After a distinguished carrier in the education field as secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education and chairman of the University Grants Commission, Prof. Kalpage ventured into the diplomatic arena as Sri Lanka's envoy to New Delhi and then the United Nations — regarded as the two top diplomatic postings.

He moved into mainstream politics as a frontliner in the UNP, but broke away with the alternative group last year.

Regarded as one of the country's intellectuals, Prof. Kalpage was a regular columnist for The Sunday Times.

Having graduated from the University of Colombo with a degree in agriculture and chemistry, he obtained his doctorate and a diploma in Agricultural Science from the London University.

The funeral will take place today at 4 p.m. at the Kanatte cemetery.

Who's misusing doctors' passes?

By Tania Fernando

Passes issued to various professionals are being misused by persons who are looking for ways and means of getting around the many check points and other inconvenient barriers.

With the many check points in around Colombo, persons who do not want to be hassled to gain entrance into places are resorting to using vehicle passes issued to professionals.

The car passes of doctors seem to be misused by many medical representatives, who use them not only to pass the security check points but also to obtain a parking space at hospitals, it is alleged.

A few doctors who spoke to The Sunday Times said that they are totally against the practice as every time they are stopped the police don't accept them for who they are, as the police claim it is a common sight to see a doctor's pass on many vehicles. They also said that the biggest problem is that the parking spaces in hospitals are taken by those persons and they cannot park in the space reserved for them.

However DIG Traffic, S K Shanka said if any driver causes a traffic offence, irrespective of his profession he will be brought to book. He said that the sticker on the car does not carry a lot of weight, but in case of an emergency they will give whatever support necessary to a doctor. "If he is following an ambulance we will let him through" he said.

A manager of Hemas Pharmaceuticals said that there are some representatives who uses the sticker on their cars, but they are being discouraged from doing so. He also said disciplinary action will be taken against those who continue to use them.

Tomb of bricks after wedding reception

By Tania Fernando

An event of joy turned to tragedy, when two youths were killed on the spot and seven injured in a collision between a van a parked lorry at Katubedda soon after midnight yesterday.

The 22-year-old youths, Pushpa and Mahesh, died on the spot when they were returning home to Moratuwa while the driver and six others in the backs seat were injured in the crash after a wedding reception at a hotel in Mount Lavinia.

The lorry loaded with bricks was parked on the Galle Road when the tragedy occurred with the van virtually running into the lorry.

A three-wheeler driver who was an eye witness said the van appeared to be running at a high speed. He said rescuers had to unload the bricks and tow the lorry to wrench the van out.

He said the two youths who were killed were sitting on the front seat. Mount Lavinia police said there was evidence that plenty of liquor was consumed at the reception.

Price hike greets festive season

With the festive season around the corner prices in commodities have skyrocketed once again hitting the common man.

Prices in rice, fish, eggs, vegetables and meat stuff saw an increase during the last week.

According to the Weekly food Commodities Bulletin prices of all rice varieties have increased . compared to the same period of last year, the prices of all rice varieties had increased.

The supply has declined from 16 to 15 lorries per day and paddy prices increased in most areas. The prices of both local and imported big onion have increased by Rs. 2. The retail prices in potatoes has increased by Rs. 2.

Vegetable supply has declined shooting up the prices. The highest price increase of Rs. 5 was recorded for snake gourd followed by brinjal by Rs. 5 and bitter gourd by Rs. 4 and capsicum by Rs. 2. The retail prices of most vegetables have gone up. A price increase of Re. 1 was reported for most of the other vegetables.

Prices in fresh fish increased with the overall supply decreasing due to unfavourable weather conditions. The highest increase of 8% was seen in several varieties of fish. The retail prices of most varieties have increased with the highest increase of Rs. 16.78 for thora fish. The retail prices in dried fish too saw an increase.

Meat prices too have increased during the past week.

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