Friday, June 24, 2011

Friendship and Lies

Today I talked with my friend
Today I opened up my heart
Today I bared my soul to one I call my friend
Today I did not hold back anything
The confusions i feel
The lies I hear all around me
Sometimes even the lies I tell myself
Today was about being bare, shielding nothing
And oh the relief, to know you can trust
The relief to share the pains and blames of life
Alas what does tomorrow hold I do not know
What does tomorrow have in store for me
I do not care, all I know is this
Today I lived my life exactly as I wanted to
Today I talked about friendship, family and foes
Today I left behind the mask and the fable
Of Friendship and lies!!!!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Musing on paper; the lessons of life

Its been long since i visited you my friends online
I apologise for the long absence and the rude silence
Things have moved in opposite directions and I have been on a learning spree
"What did you learn"? you ask
That i do not know it all and that i will learn for ever
That you gather friends without trying and enemies quite the same
That there's no reason for loving one person and hating another'
That both are genuine feelings which must be accepted as real
one nust be encouraged and the other dispelled
That a life of peace is the only life worth living and a life of strife brings so much pain
That you have to remember the best and forgive all the rest
Life is an adventure and what you make of it and oh never boring!
I also learnt to pray for what i truly want as prayers always get answered
That God gives us our greatest desires and sometimes we do not even know
That wishes are horses and that beggers indeed can ride
That in my dreams I am the heroine and my life is perfect too
I am still learning and I hope I made some sense
See you soon my friends
I go to school again!!!!!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Childhood Injury Prevention; at home, at play and on the road

The 4th to 10th of April 2011 was the National Public Health Week (NPHW) and this year’s theme “Safety is no accident: Live injury free”, was apt considering the global burden of injuries and the scant attention they previously received. A recent article in ‘The Nations Health’ (2011) asserts that Injuries are amongst the immediate public health concerns identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). What is an injury? How was it defined previously and how is it defined today and why the difference.
Injuries were traditionally thought of as unavoidable and random “accidents” making them seem like a part of the myriad inevitabilities of life over which we have no control. This of course made injuries little thought of as public health issues and therefore not in the purview of public health policy and prevention programs. However public health officials and researchers have agreed that injuries are preventable and constitute a huge global burden on all age groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its factsheet, “Facts about injuries”, estimates that about 5 million people die from injuries annually (WHO, 2001) more than the death toll from malaria and HIV/AIDS combined and in the same document defines an injury as physical damage to the body which results from acute exposure to chemical, electrical, thermal, mechanical or radiant energy in amounts that exceed the physiologic tolerance of the body.
Injuries are categorized into intentional and unintentional. Intentional injuries include deliberate acts of violence directed at self or others, while unintentional injuries include traffic collisions, burns, poisoning, drowning and falls. I have decided to write on keeping children safe for a lot of reasons, most cogent of being their vulnerability. The first pertinent question would be who is a child? There are many correct answers one of which is that for most parents they will always refer correctly to their children as “my children” irrespective of age, another consideration is that childhood defer by socioeconomic situations and cultural norms. For the purposes of this submission a child is any one 0-18 years drawing on the United Nations definition in its convention, on the rights of a child article 1. We will however not be too rigid on this definition as some data include 19 year old people.
Childhood injuries are a major public health concern, they deserve more attention than they get and they bring pain and far reaching consequences to families and communities; cutting dreams short and many times leaving behind huge burdens of guilt and depression on families and communities.
To further buttress the enormity of childhood injuries there is a lot of relevant data from the World report on childhood injury prevention (WHO,2008) and the CDC- Childhood Injury report 2008 which brings the problem closer home by giving detailed figures about the situation in the United States.
The world health organization attributes a whopping 950, 000 deaths annually from injuries worldwide to children 0- 18 years old. About 90% of these injuries are unintentional. In addition tens of millions are hospitalized for non- fatal injuries, which may end up with life- long disabilities. Further break down of this data shows that road traffic collisions are the leading cause of death amongst 15- 19 year olds and the second leading cause amongst 10- 19 year olds. Like a lot of public health concerns the burden of injuries fall heavily on the poor both amongst countries and within countries. About 95% of injuries fall on children in low and middle income countries. Though more in developing nations, injuries still cause a huge death toll on children in developed countries, accounting for 40% of all deaths in children. The fact that injuries can be prevented cannot be overemphasized, the rate of childhood injuries in children less that 15 years dropped by half between 1970 and 1995 in Organization for Economic cooperation and development countries (OECD). Until recently not much had been done in low and middle income countries, this may be due to competing priorities for available resources. This is changing slowly as research continues to support the effectiveness of injury prevention policies and programs. There is need for more to be done for the most vulnerable population on earth, “our children”, irrespective of their continent, country or family.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in its Childhood Injury report 2008 focuses on unintentional injury in children 0-19 years in the United States between the years 2000 and 2006. The leading cause of morbidity and mortality amongst these children is unintentional injuries with an estimated 20 deaths daily from preventable injury, and 12,175 children deaths annually from mostly traffic collisions. Unintentional injuries are more amongst male children than female, highest amongst American Indians and Native Alaskans and lowest amongst Asian and pacific Islanders. The fatal injuries varied by type amongst different age groups for children less that 1 year cause of death was mostly suffocation, those between 1- 4 years mostly by drowning and for those 5- 19years being an occupant in a vehicle involved in a road traffic crash. There were also differences by states and regions. In the case where injuries were non-fatal it is estimated that about 9.2 million initial hospital emergency room visits of children were for unintentional injuries. About 20 million children and adolescents are afflicted by injuries which restrict their movements and account for 17 billion dollars in medical costs. The point has been made injuries to children abound and the data has shown that such injuries can be in the house or during play; drowning, suffocation, falls, electrocution, burns and mostly on the road; collisions. What can we do as parents, teachers, policy makers and children too? As detailed above injuries are preventable that is why the theme is “SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT”.
Safety measures at home; this list is by no means exhaustive and inculcates suggestions from sources such as the NPHW website, Safe kids USA and others
Ensure that the rooms are adequately lit; hallways, staircases, closets
Electrical cords should be kept out of the way and outlets should be child inaccessible and properly covered
Chemicals including cleaning fluids and drugs should be kept in locked cabinets or at least away from children
Children should not be where hot food is being cooked or served and the stove should always be attended to by an adult. Do not carry a baby and hot food
Water heater should be regularly checked for temperature and always set it at 120F or lower and always test water with the back of your hands before putting your children into the bath and never leave them unattended
Ensure the smoke alarm is installed and works and Practice safety drills such that the family knows how to exit in case of fire or other emergency
Home pools should be barricaded with 4 sided 5 feet high fences and self latching and self closing gates
Childproofing the whole house; stair gates, crib rail, cabinet locks
Remember infants must sleep “back to bed” with nothing in the crib; no pillows, no loose sheets, no soft toys
There should be barriers around fireplaces, ovens and furnaces
Window guards should be installed to prevent falls
At Play; this is so easy to overlook especially since the children sometimes see this as too stressful
Wear helmets when riding bikes or other sports that require this as a minimum
Shin pads are also necessary
Monitor children to ensure they comply; this is so important
Make sure children have their annual physical and an okay from their doctors to engage in sports and they should warm up before any sports activity
Children should drink enough water during sports and play to prevent dehydration
Signs showing that kids are playing are also a good way to keep children safe
Protective surfaces rather than asphalt or cement should be installed beneath playground equipment to prevent play related injuries
Educate coaches on youth athletic injury prevention

On the move; this falls mostly on parents and adults, sometimes on the teens as they begin their journey on the road. Adults still have a part to play even in the case of teens on the road. Remember most children die on the road, do not increase the statistics.
Always ensure you and all the passengers in the car have their belts on. According to their age, children should be properly belted in car seats and boosters.
Infant car seats should face the rear for as long as possible as facing rear is safer for infants. Though they may face front from 20 pounds that’s the minimum and children shouldn’t be rushed to forward facing positions as soon as they hit 22 pounds. In fact the new recommendation is that kids less that 1 should definitely face rear and should stay till 2 years as long as they fit the height and weight recommendations of the manufacturer. This is corroborated in the March/April, 2011 edition of Pediatrics and is in the new National highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommendations.
Avoid jaywalking, be aware of your environment and face traffic when walking. Wear visible clothing in the night so you will be seen.
Do not send texts, take calls, groom yourself or eat and drink while driving
Be a designated driver, do not drink and drive
Wear helmet and reflective clothing while on a scooter, bike or other vehicles
Let your teens pledge not to text, drink, speed, make calls or carry too many passengers
The issue of injury prevention is one that everyone can be a part of, by doing a little daily and teaching children safety tips, one can change the course of the future and reduce the death and toll of injury.
References
CDC Childhood Injury Report, 2008, Patterns of Unintentional injuries amongst children 0-19 years old in the United States 2000- 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/SafeChild/ChildhoodInjuryReport/index.html
National Public Health Week (NPHW) website 2011, http://www.nphw.org/nphw11/first1.htm#
Safe kids USA website http://www.safekids.org/our-work/research/fact-sheets/home-safety-fact-sheet.html
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS
The Nation’s Health, May/ June 2011, The official newspaper of the American Public Health Association
Pediatrics March 2011, Official Journal of the American College of Pediatrics, Online edition PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2011-0213) http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2011-0213v1
World Health Organization 2001, Facts about Injuries, Preventing Global injuries, http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/resources/publications/en/injury_factsheet.pdf
World Health Organization, 2008, World Report on Child Injury prevention, http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241563574_eng.pdf

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter - True Light from True Light


It's easter day, and happilly we proclaim the resurrection of the Lord
I attended the Great Easter vigil Holy saturday breaking into sunday
The beginning of this beautiful night never ceases to amaze me
The filing out of God's people and the return into the church
The preparation to arise with our Prince of Peace
Jesus is risen, indeed he is and we arose with him
We have another chance to make things better by the power of the Lord
The whole purpose of this reflection is the impression I got before we returned into the church
The burn fire exuded warmth to us as Christ also warms our hearts
The huge candle carried by the deacon SWAYED above our heads as we heard "Christ our Light".
The mass servers lit their candles from the huge one and we all the entire church had candles lit.
Those candles were lit from one Candle,and we all shared the light to each other and the light of christ was held by all with candles
In the same way I thought Christ asks us to spread his light in the world to each other spreading outwards till the whole world feels the true light of Christ.
First start within the church, spread the light and spread outwards, knowing that you share the love of christ. You are not diminished by it and yet you gave it to your neighbor and he gave it to his and we had a greater light that we can truly call TRUE LIGHT FROM TRUE LIGHT! Have a wonderful easter filled with the Light of CHRIST.

Friday, April 22, 2011

I met him- I dared to dance with the SON

As I walked the lonely streets of life, I worked day and night
Searching for heights which I can’t attain, trying to please everyone
I pained myself, I pained my kin, and I became the ill- tempered sow
I felt the ground opening before me
I saw the earth opening before me as I slipped slowly down
Then I met him, and he turned my world around
I learnt about the reality of life, I learnt I couldn’t please everyone
I found I could die and not win the battle and still burn in hell
He loved me just the way I was; he loved me so much more
He directed me back to my kit and kin, he sent me home again
He directed me to my lovely ones, before I burnt out myself
He took my hands and looked into my eyes, and we danced
The dance which changed it all, the dance which I scared at first to start
A slow musical trot at first that became the all consuming frenzy
And I learnt in ways inconceivable, ways unspeakable
That life is more than who knows or owns
But who loves and is loved and how much we can give
He taught me to love and to live and to readily die for the people that I love
That heaven is for people who love
And hell is for people who own, and keep owning without giving
That people have to believe in Him who is higher than them
That life is without meaning except we learn to love
Except we let go and submit to the creator and owner
Of all of life and all of us, now I can’t live outside of HIM

Good Friday

Glad to be back today after a few days on the road. My lenten journey I complete and in words i express my reflections
I started off this lenten period with resolutions to reflect on the true meaning of Lent, ash wednesday, holy thursday, Good Friday, holy saturday and of course Easter!
Did I achieve anything? One thing I do know for sure is that God achieved all he set to achieve in my life this period.
He always does. I acknowledge that and I humbly bless his name for not looking at my lack of commitment but going on with his work, he only says I should let him be and let him live his life through me.
Today or more accurately yesterday was Good Friday and I thank God again for the gift of his son. For loving me even when I was yet in sin,for not giving up on me. For the beautiful family, friends and foes that surround me. Yes, foes for I learn of God's grace from them and of my inadequacies too. Thank you GOD for the gift of Jesus on Good Friday.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

What to do Lord

Today I got a message and I hold it firm
He gave me this inkling because I had asked
Why did you make me, what am I to achieve?
The whole world belongs to you and I believe you have a purpose
For every soul you created for every person you made
I have studied to be a physician as I dreamt at first
I have also gone further to learn about the health of masses
I have had experiences many and varied and all lead to something
They lead to where you want me to be
What is it Lord, where do I go from here?
I remembered the words of the song "Que Sara, Sara"
Also the song, "the answer my friend is blowing in the wind"
And truly the answer came blowing in the wind
Not the howling breeze but the silent wind of silence
The words oh 'Chrysologus' came forth
"You are a healer by my side, as you were meant to be
With your words sooth people, and with your hands bring relief
With your voice calm fears and with your face extend a smile
Let your heart be aflame to warm the freezing world
You are a healer beside me, what more do you want to hear