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16th April 2000

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Blood reading comes before horoscope

By Faraza Farook

As a first step in controlling the number of diseases transmitted by blood or sex, people should opt for a blood test in choosing their partner before matching horoscopes, says Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Speaking at a seminar to mark World Health Day, on the theme ' safe blood starts with me', Minister de Silva stressed the need to play a major part in the role of prevention rather than of cure.

The spread of thalassaemia, a disease where the patient would need blood transfusions at least once a month, should be controlled instead of continuing with blood transfuions, he said,

"Much is to do with the behavioural pattern of our people. People believe strongly about matching horoscopes when getting married.

Instead, if they take a blood test it would contribute a lot towards controlling thalassaemia," he said.

With the advancement of technology in an ever changing world and an increasing number of people having blood related diseases, the community should take the lead in building a healthy population, he said.

"Today a blood test prior to marriage can tell you if you are likely to have a child suffering from thalassaemia. Thereby you can avoid such marriages that would produce an anaemic child" he said.

A public education programme will be held in Kurunegala and Moneragala, two vulnerable districts where most of the thalassaemia patients are reported.

The Government is also in the process of identifying such patients and places and establishing a ward in hospitals for such patients.

Dr. (Mrs.) Shanthimala de Silva, Consultant Paediatrician at the Negombo Base Hospital who spoke about safe blood and genetic disorders said, many people lose hope for children suffering from thalassaemia.

" If treated properly, they can live and if married to a normal person, their children will not be affected," she said.

Plans drawn up for the millennium include the establishment of a voluntary donor list. Medical experts at the seminar were of the view that regular, voluntary blood donors are the safest donors.

Unlike today, where you can count on the blood bank to get blood, about ten years back, people had a tough time having to find blood donors.

"Before 1992, we didn't get blood from the Central Blood Bank. If people don't donate, the patient doesn't get blood.

People pay around Rs. 500 for a donor" she said.

The Government is also planning on regularising the donation of blood and limit it only to the Central Blood Bank (CBB) and its branches.

"We wouldn't encourage private blood banks because it becomes a business then and can be dangeous. But private hospitals can obtain blood from the CBB and store it," Minister Siripala de Silva said.

Meanwhile Central Blood Bank Director Dr. Ranjini Bindusara said private hospitals that conduct surgery and need blood should register with the CBB.

The CBB also offers to train staff from private nursing homes.


Fewer cracker victims, more violence during New Year

By Tania Fernando

While a concerted campaign helped to reduce the number of cracker victims this year, other incidents took a heavy toll during the past four days of national New Year.

Police reports from all parts of the country revealed that about 25 people were killed and more than 2000 injured in incidents related to New Year and motor traffic accidents..

In the Galle police division there were six deaths and 108 other casualties while Kandy reported one death and 230 casualties.

One of the most serious incidents was a shooting in Kalutara where two people were killed.

A PA politician and another person were killed during a New Year Cycle race, bringing the celebrations to a tragic end.

While over one thousand patients were treated at the Colombo National Hospital ten succumbed to their injuries.

Some 337 were warded in the hospital, and they had 198 patients transferred from Kalutara, Panadura, Kurunegala, Avissawella, Chilaw and other hospitals, National Hospital Director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe.

Dr. Weerasinghe said the positive aspect was the reduction in the number of cracker victims, with only two being brought for treatment. This was largely due to the awareness programmes carried out in the media, he said.

But the incidents relating to drunk driving showed no decline despite repeated warnings.

City Traffic Police Inspector N.K Seneviratne said eight drivers had been arrested for drunken driving and would be hauled before courts tomorrow.

He said they intensified efforts to crack down on drunken driving during the New Year period.


Lanka gives positive report

Sri Lanka's Central Blood Bank has drawn up a national policy on blood transfusions and is seeking Cabinet approval for it, Director Ranajai Bindusara said.

Speaking at a South Asian conference to mark World Health Day at the BMICH, she said the national policy covered ways of improving voluntary blood donation programmes and measures to ensure safe blood.

Blood Bank representatives from SAARC countries participated in the conference where they discussed methods used in each country scenario and ways to improve them.

Dr. Bindusara said Sri Lanka was commended for its standard of transfusions. "Unlike in Sri Lanka where it is centrally administered when it comes to blood transfusion services, some of the participant countries had their systems managed by multi-sectoral agencies- i.e. private hospitals, the Red Cross etc.," she said.

"HIV positivity is high in these countries," Dr. Bindusara said.

The CBB is now targeting provincial blood banks to improve the voluntary donor list which is 80% in Colombo and 40% islandwide. In addition to the delegates, Blood Bank staff from all over the country, doctors, nurses, medical laboratory technicians, public health inspectors, minor staff, all ministry officials, donor organisers, blood donors and consultants participated in the three day seminar.


Stranded people hit from all sides

By Chris Kamalendran

More than 2000 civilians awaiting transport to the north are stranded in Trincomalee due to the cancellation of regular flights to Jaffna and a similar number are waiting to travel to Colombo, a government official said yesterday.

Trincomalee Divisional Secretary V. Velumylan said some 2000 people who were given clearance by the Defence Ministry to travel by air had now arrived in Trinco to travel by ship.

Flights to Jaffna were cancelled following the crash of the Antonov plane at Thalawa on March 30.

The official said these people would have to wait for about one month to get an opportunity to travel to the north.

He said the next ship to Kankesanthurai would be leaving on Tuesday and this was fully booked with priority being given to 300 displaced people.

The ship carries passengers between Trinco and KKS twice every 45 days.

Meanwhile some police stations in Colombo and suburbs are reported to be refusing to extend the passes given to those who came to Colombo but now cannot leave due to the cancellation of flights.

Police said they had got orders not to renew the passes for these stranded people.


Hameed remembered

Former Minister A. C. S. Hameed's 73rd birth anniversary was marked on Monday.

Mr. Hameed who was the longest serving legislator in the world was an elected member of parliament for 37 years.

He was centrally involved in at least three of the main attempts made in the past 15 years to resolve Sri Lanka's dogged armed conflict through negotiations. These were namely the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987, the Premadasa-LTTE talks of 1989/90 and the All Party Conference of 1990-1992.

Through his life and work Mr. Hameed endorsed in several ways the thinking of the liberal intellectual and the processes of management of plural societies.


Bhasha mandiraya for language skills

A language laboratory-"Bhasha Mandiraya" was opened last week at Rajagiriya.

This language laboratory which functions under the Department of Official Languages, is equipped to help students achieve fluency in languages of their choice.

The main emphasis is laid upon the two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil and on the link language English. However, facilities to learn foreign languages such as French, German, Japanese, Hindi and Russian are also available to the public.

The language laboratory will serve the diverse needs of language learners, instructors, translators, simultaneous interpreters, academicians and researchers.

It is expected to develop the skills of language enthusiasts while also directing them towards possible career opportunities.

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