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| Thursday, 16 October 2003 |
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Please forward your letters to editor@dailynews.lk in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Dietetic control of Diabetes in Sri Lanka Diet control plays the most important role in diabetes. Mal function of body metabolism is main reason behind the development of diabetes. There is no cure for this disease, but proper control will help the patient live good quality of life without complication. Combinations of diet control and exercise with or without medication are used in diabetes control methodology. Features of these techniques have been revolutionised during past decades. Diet control instructions were change drastically after thousands of successful experiments worldwide. But access of information to patient level is still an unbelievably slow process, especially in Sri Lanka. Most of Sri Lankan diabetic patients are still adviced to cut down their rice consumption, and then they increase eating more bread, which has higher Glycemic index than rice. Consumption of low glycemic index diet is beneficial in diabetes control. Fibre content of a food is important in diabetes since it provide physiological barrier to fast digestion and absorption of food. That does not mean a food that contain higher fibre content is always better. The type of fibre and their attachments to the food plays important part. Recent studies showed some foods, which contain higher fibre; content does not help glucose control (e.g.: whole meal bread has almost similar glucose response as white bread). By considering the fact of higher fibre content practitioners recommend consumption of Kurakkan (Millet) for diabetic patients. But Glycemic Index data shows higher rate in most of Kurakkan base foods than rice. Consumption of fruits in diabetes is still a controversy. Some scientists believe fructose sugar, which is the main sweetener in fruits, side steps certain regulatory process in metabolism, increasing obesity and affecting glucose homeostasis (glucose balance). Therefore over-consumption of fruits is not recommended. It is time for Ministry of Health and Nutrition to revive its nutritional policies with help of international nutritional research institutions to deliver more efficient and better health to the people of the country. DR. ANANDA CHANDRASEKARA, Human Nutrition Unit, School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, University of Sydney, Australia So called 'Unethical' whatever Having read quite a lot of letters from readers to various newspapers about 'unethical' conversions, I have still to see a person who has been personally affected protesting such. It seems that those vehemently protesting are ones who want to impose their will on others and decide for them as to what they can do with their lives. It would be interesting to know of someone who can walk into a police station and make a complaint that he was 'unethically' converted. At least the policeman on duty can have a good laugh. Perhaps we shall then see someone complaining that he was forced into an 'unethical' marriage as his father-in-law offered a bigger dowry than the father of the woman he was really in love with or a complaint that someone was forced into 'unethical' employment as they offered him twice the salary he was getting and so on.... The question is 'who decides what is ethical and unethical?' There are certain newspapers which exhibit anti-peace and racist overtures (Not the Daily News) feeding the minds of the gullible with false propaganda in the guise of journalistic freedom. Many Christians are being attacked and their places of worship destroyed. One can't expect much from a police system which asks you at the point of a complaint whether you are a Sinhalese and a Buddhist. "You will be persecuted and killed and hated by people because of your loyalty to me.' said Jesus to his disciples (Matthew 24:9) "Continue to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) There is only one way to stop a Christian from helping his fellowmen and talking about his faith and that is to kill him. Unless the Government takes concrete steps to stop this trend there will be an open season on all Christians. The bureaucracy will become 'Talibanized' and groups with the Al Queda mentality will hold sway over the lives of decent people. E.W. , Ratmalana Fate of English medium students When an idea is implemented for the first time, can we expect high-class results, or even judge the results on the same basis as others? No, definitely we can't. But unfortunately this is what seems to have happened with the GCE A/L in the English medium. The English medium was introduced to government schools in 2001 for A/L students studying only in Biological and Physical Science streams. This batch sat for the exams in April, 2003. We should all appreciate this great idea and effort. However, the students who joined this English medium were students who have been schooling either in the Sinhalese or the Tamil medium, thus they faced many problems given as follows: 1. Sudden change of language of learning 2. Inexperienced teachers (in schools and tuition), since this was their first batch 3. Uncompleted syllabus, as the English medium started only in May 2001 while the other 2 media started in Jan 2001. Moreover, the answer scripts were marked by professors, according to their standards. What has all these led to? Naturally bad results? Needless to say no student from the government school English medium topped the first few places on the list, qualifying for medicine or engineering. The idea seems to be a failure! Such an outcome will discourage parents from even giving a second thought to educate their children in the English medium in government schools. In addition, the repeaters may switch to their mother tongue for their second sittings. I hope this article will be an eye-opener for the relevant authorities and Z-score committee and that some appropriate action will be taken. A.C.P., Dehiwala It was reported (DN Oct.3) that the S.P.C. gives a 5 per cent discount to the elders on the purchase of drugs on the production of the "Senior Citizens" Identity Card. The earlier discount was only 2 per cent. It was also stated that this facility is extended to persons who come to purchase drugs on behalf of the elders as long as they produce the Elders' Identity Card and the prescription. Since "OSU SALA" outlets are located only in important provincial towns at the moment, I wish to suggest that this concession should be extended to the senior citizens through Osu Sala 'Agencies' too, which are located throughout the island, on production of the senior citizens I.C., as it is not convenient and feasible for the aged and infirm senior citizens to travel long distances in public transport to obtain their drugs at concessionary rate, through S.P.C. outlets in provincial towns. An arrangement should be made between the S.P.C. Agents and the S.P.C. to get their accounts adjusted or re-imbursed monthly or quarterly, by furnishing the details of the bills on which discounts have been given on senior citizens identity cards. The total amounts could be re-imbursed or set off at the time when drugs are issued to the S.P.C. Agents by the S.P.C. through their sales reps. or area managers, as the case may be. Over to you Chairman, S.P.C. LIONEL LEANAGE, Ambalangoda |
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