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May I express my deep condolences to the bereaved family of Sir
Arthur C. Clarke who died recently.
Though he was an atheist, he appreciated nature and science with
great interest and dedication.
Though he did not believe in God, he explored God's wonderful
creations in the world.
May God reward him for his contribution to the scientific
development. Arthur C. Clarke as an astronomer space researcher
discovered many wonderful things in various planets.
His final wish is to see Sri Lanka in peace and harmony. His last
wish has been well recognised by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and all
peace lovers.
Whatever is achieved materially will not be useful to mankind unless
peace is attained.
Let us be inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's last wish.
M.Y.M. MEEADH
It was for the seventh time the NGO Forum On Ageing (NFOA) organised
the issue of Elders Identity Cards together with the staff of the Elders
Secretariat. Similar projects organised by NFOA previously were at:
1) Veluwanarama Temple - Wellawatte
2) Sri Lankadhara Society
3) Sri Dharmodaya Pirivena
4) International Buddhist Centre
5) St. Nicholas' Home for Elders
6) Subud House
The seventh programme held on February 11 at the Veluwanarama Flats,
Community Hall was a great success. Over 200 elders were issued with
Identity Cards. Most of them requested that the cards be issued in
English.
There were people from all ethnic groups and different faiths. The
NFOA has information that our Elders Cards are given due recognition in
other countries and enjoy better facilities such as discounts when
travelling in trains or coach which unfortunately is not done in Sri
Lanka.
Discounts or free entrance to cinema, theatres, exhibitions, Art
Galleries, flower shows are some of the many facilities.
This is why the NFOA has repeatedly appealed to the Government to
provide better facilities for Senior Citizens. These are the small ways
in which one could show our appreciation for the dedication and
commitment they have worked with for so long and the State and public
should treat them with respect.
The least the State could do is provide them with what has been
promised and stated on the reverse of the Elders Identity Card. At
present they only get the five per cent discount on drugs from Osu Sala.
It is awareness among the officers who implement the facilities such
as Bank managers, Postmasters, Police officers, Station Masters that is
urgently needed.
Venetia Gamage,
NGO Forum on Ageing
Today, April 1, 2008, is my daughter Hasara's 7th birthday. With my
heart full of love I wish that she will be healthy and happy for the
rest of her life. I wish each year, each day that she will never be so
unlucky to have been born perfectly healthy, and then ending up being as
she is today... a child who had severe brain damage... survived... but
is now a victim of cerebral palsy.
I still remember each and every moment of her birth with absolute
clarity... she was such a beautiful and lovable baby and I was elated to
have her brought and laid against my cheek for a kiss soon after her
birth. It was my first baby, but sadly it was only for four days that I
was able to experience that indescribable feeling.
She was not diagnosed on time by the paediatrician as being subject
to fits. Without any hesitation I will state that it was due to the
negligence and mishandling by this paediatrician of a well-known private
nursing home in Colombo, that my daughter is now a 'special' child ...
unable to walk, talk, respond or perform any normal functions
independently.
My anger towards the paediatrician and nurses of a Government
hospital where I took her later on for NICU treatment still remains the
same.
For the past seven years I have tried hard to forgive and forget, but
failed each time when I see my little daughter struggling with all her
might to get up. I will never forget how the nurses scoffed at me for
having the baby at a private nursing home and were cruel enough to tell
me that they shouldn't be treating babies who are brought in from
private hospitals... It was a team of doctors headed by a lady doctor
who did their best to give life to my little girl who was drifting away.
The doctors were very helpful, caring and sympathetic towards us and
I always wonder why the nurses had to be so heartless.... The day that I
admitted my baby to this hospital she was having fits right through the
night, and when I cried and begged the nurse to call the doctor who had
attended on the child, she said there's nothing much that can be done
now and to give up on her!
Drawbacks
With all her drawbacks and slow progress Hasara has grown to be a
very sweet, loving, wonderful child. It is so relaxing to spend time
with her and she's a great stress reliever to me. Even though she has a
little sister now, who has started pre-school, my heart cries each time
I see her lying on her bed while her, sister bids good bye and leaves
for school.
I still struggle with my emotions when I go to birthday parties of
kids her age, and I can't stop thinking how good life would have been
for her if not for the negligence and grave mistakes made by this
paediatrician.
My husband and I have taken Hasara to every single hospital in Sri
Lanka and also to India.
We accept that we cannot expect much for her, but why is that doctors
in Sri Lanka in general are so negative about 'special' children? When
she was 1 1/2 years old we took her to another paediatrician for an
opinion prior to taking her to India.
He just went through her file which was full of reports and test
results, and said bluntly that my daughter will never walk and therefore
there is no point in wasting money taking her to India. His solution was
simple...have another baby ! I guess he implied that we should forget
about Hasara.
I must say here, however, that during the sad visits we made from
place to place we did meet a few doctors who had the time, love and a
compassionate heart to talk to us, advise us and give us the support and
encouragement that we needed so badly to continue on life's pilgrimage
with Hasara.
I have written before about the love and care that Hasara received at
the hospital in India, the Resource Centres that I take her to in Sri
Lanka, and the extremely caring and friendly lady doctor she's being
treated by right now.
I am well aware that I am not the only mother who is faced with such
tormenting situations, but I thought, just as much I write about the
'good' of the institutions and doctors to whom I am indebted, the 'bad'
which is hard to forget, should also receive special mention.
Deal
I am fortunate to have my husband and my mother giving their fullest
support to deal with Hasara's condition. My friends and all the lovely
people who take care of her are a blessing to me, and Hasara herself is
a great blessing for which I thank God.
She's such an adorable, pleasant and intelligent girl and it breaks
my heart when I think of all what she misses as a child of her age. In
my prayers, I remember and pray for all those who help Hasara and I wish
that one day I will be able to forgive and forget the cruelty and
negligence of the rest.
This I need for myself, and also for Hasara, who in her innocence is
benevolent towards all.
Mega Perera,
via email
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