MEDICAL SERVICE VOL. 40 No. 6 JULY-1983
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- Title
- MEDICAL SERVICE VOL. 40 No. 6 JULY-1983
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COMMUNITY HEALTH CEU
32S, V Main, I Block
Koram«n0ala
Bangaldrt’560034
India
on the beginning of human life • the problems of health and hospital
organisations in india—some administrative change • case for breast
feeding • the law on the abolition of untouchability • yoga and old age—
a holistic view point
vol 40
no 6
july 1983
medical
service
official house journal
of the catholic
hospital association of India
“the love of Christ
urges us" 2 cor 5 : 14
vol 40
no 6
editorial board
July 1983
contents
dr c m francis
dr ravi narayan
dr prem chandran john
dr daleep mukarji
mr augustin veliyath
fr george lobo sj
1
editorial
2
2
on the beginning of human life
prof jerome lejeune
5
the problems of health and hospital organisations
in india—some administrative change
m sankara rao
9
case for breastfeeding
ian steele
15
the law on the abolition of untouchability
p d mathew
19
yoga and old age—a holistic view point
jayadeva yogendra
23
chai news and notes
27
3
editor
fr john vattamattom $vd
4
5
cover design
6
p m isaac bangalore
7
published by the catholic
hospital association of India
c b c i centre, goldakkhana
new delhi-110001
printed at kalpana printing
house new delhi-110016
"Articles and statements published in this journal
do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of
the catholic hospital association of india"
EDITORIAL
Man :
a miracle being
In this issue we are presenting to you a testimony by Prof. Jerome
Lejeune of Paris about the beginning of human life. By presenting the
scientific facts about how and when a human being is said to come into
existence. Prof. Lejeune establishes beyond any doubt that life begins at
the very moment of conception. In his own words : "to accept the fact that
thereafter fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is
no longer a matter of taste or of opinion. The human nature of the human
being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain
experimental evidence."
The situation we see in practically all countries of the world today,
including our own beloved land of "Ahimsa", is quite different from what
Prof Lejeune had to say. The question as to when does life really begin
seems to be there are different people saying different things about the
beginning of life. Some say there is NO life for a child in the woomb.
Some others opine that life begins three months after conception. There
seems to be people who even say that life begins only 3 days after delivery.
Abortions performed in our own country by thousands under the innocent
looking name MTP seem to disprove what Prof. Lejeune had to say. But
Prof. Lejeune's presentation is scientifically and otherwise regarding the
beginning of life except maybe for people who want to hide facts and
ignore the dictates of their conscience at least temporarily.
In our country a concept that is very much misunderstood is population
explosion, as though the hundreds and thousands of innocent lives are
destroyed every day are responsible for the economic backwardness.
Strikes, bundhs, even bloodshed for defending the rights of the people are
daily happenings in our country under the auspices of unions, associations
etc. But suppose there was a union of the unborn and they were to speak
out 1 Yet they are speaking. But all of us are as though deaf to hear their
cries.
We are familiar in this country with steps being taken to "protect
cows," "protect wild life", "protect forest" etc. But when the question of
protecting the life of human beings is concerned, it is as though we are not
concerned.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote: "Every child comes to the world with a
message that God is not yet discouraged of man". We have the psalmist
saying : "For it is you, who created my being, knit me together in my
mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my being." Man is
certainly a miiacle being as presented by Prof. Lejeune. Let us, who have
the chance to livfe and claim the RIGHT to live, defend the rights of the
unborn as well as the born.
Institutionwise celebration on the theme
'Respect-Life'
We have still to get reports from very many institutions about their celebration
on the theme "Respect-Life". I once again request all those institutions who
haven t done so still, to have the same on a convenient day and send us the
report.
— Executive Director
Diocesanwise celebration on the theme
'Respect-Life'
The second phase of celebration proposed is diocesanwise in order to make all
concerned aware of the importance of having respect for life. A programme
lasting for at least one full day is requested to be arranged by means of seminar,
discussion, study circle, liturgical celebration etc. on this all important theme,
1 request all the dioceses to have it by end of October before we have the
national celebration which will be this year’s convention at St. Pius X College,
Goregaon, Bombay, from November 6th to 10th, 1983. A circular dated
19.7.1983 to this effect has already been sent to all the Bishops and diocesan
coordinators. After the celebration a short report, together with photographs if
any, should be sent to the office for publication in our journal 'Medical Service".
— Executive Director
Question Box
When problems are mounting every day, it is not possible to deal with all of
them in a magazine like ours. However there may be cases in which one would
like to get some help and guidance quicker and even personally. With this in
view we are going to introduce a question box in our magazine. Your questions
and doubts on health matters can be sent to this question box and you will get
an answer directly or through the column of Medical Service as early as possible.
A panel of doctors will deal with the questions, and answer will be given
accordingly. Please clear your doubts and questions through this question box.
Please write to :
Question Box, Medical Service
c/o Dr. Paul Neelamkavil
Dept, of Dermatology
St. John's Medical College Hospital
Bangalore 560 034.
— Executive Director,
On the Beginning of Human Life
by Prof Jerome Lejeune (Paris)
Testimony presented April 23, 1981 before the Senate Sub-Committee of the U.S.A.
on Separation of Powers
Mr.
Chairman and members,
My name is Jerome LEJEUNE, Doctor in
Medicine and in Science. I am in charge of
the mentally defective out-patients at the
Hospital des Enfants
Malades
(Sick
Children's Hospital of Paris). After spending
ten years in full time research, I am professor
of fundamental genetics of the University
Rene DESCARTES.
Some twenty-three years ago I described
the first chromosomal disease in our species,
the extra chromosome
21,
typical of
mongolism. For this work I had the privilege
of receiving the Kennedy award from the late
President, and the william ALLEN memorial
medal from the American Society of Human
Genetics. I am a member of the American
Academy of Arts and Science.
When does a person begini I will try to
give the most precise answer to that
question actually available to science.
Modern biology teaches us that ancestors are
united to their progeny by a continuous
material link, for it is from the fertilization of
the female cell (the ovum) by the male cell
(the spermatozoon) that a new member of
the species will emerge. Life has a very,
very long history but each individual has a
very neat beginning, the moment of its
conception.
The material link is the molecular thread
of D.N.A. In each reproductive cell, this
ribbon roughly one meter long, is cut into
pieces (23 in our species). Each segment is
July 1983
carefully coiled and packaged
(like a
magnetic tape in a mini cassette) so that
under the microscope it appears like a little
rod, a chromosome.
As soon as the 23 paternally derived
chromosomes are united, through fertiliza
tion, to the 23 maternal ones, the full
genetic information necessary and sufficient
to express all the inborn qualities of the new
individual, is gathered.
Exactly as the
introduction of a minicassette inside a tape
recorder will allow the restitution of the
symphony, the new being begins to express
himself as soon as he had been conceived.
Natural sciences and the sciences of law
speak the same language. Of an individual
enjoying a robust health a biologist would
say he has a good constitution; of a society
developing itself harmoniously to the benefit
of all its members, a legislator would state it
has an equitable constitution.
A legislator could not conceive what a
given law is, before all its terms have been
clearly and fully spelled out. But when this
full information has been given, and when
the law has been voted for, then it can help
in defining the terms of the constitution.
Nature works the same way,
the
choromosomes are the tables of the law of
life, and when they have been gathered in
the new being (the voting process is the
fertilization) they fully spell out his personal
constitution.
5
What is bewildering is the minuteness of
the scripture. It is hard to believe, although
beyond any possible doubt, that the whole
genetic information, necessary, and sufficient
to build our body and even our brain the
most powerful problem solving device even
to analyse the laws of the universe, could be
epitomized so that its material substratum
could fit neatly on the point of a needle!
Even more impressive, during the matura
tion of the reproductive cells, the genetic
information is reshuffled in so many ways
that each conceptus receives an entirely ori
ginal combination which has never occurred
before and will never again. Each conceptus
is unique, and thus irreplaceable. Identical
twins and true hermaphrodites are exceptions
to the rule: one man one genetic make-up;
but interestingly enough, these exceptions
have to take place at the time of conception.
Later accidents could not lead to harmonious
development.
operating to the elaboration of an individual,
is three.
In full accordance with this empirical
demonstration, the fertilized egg normally
cleaves itself in two cells, one of them divi
ding again, thus forming the surprising odd
number of three, encapsulated inside their
protective bag, the zona pellucide.
To the best of our actual knowledge, the
prerequisite for individuation (a stage
containing three fundamental cells) is the next
step following conception, minutes after it.
All this explains why Drs. EDWARDS
and STEPTOE could witness in vitro the
fertilization of a ripe ovum from Mrs. BROWN
by a spermatozoon from Mr. BROWN. The
tiny conceptus they were implanting days
later in the womb of Mrs. BROWN, could
not be a tumour or an animal. It was a fact
the incredibly young Louise Brown, now
three years old.
The viability of a conceptus is extraor
dinary. Experimentally a mouse conceptus
can be deep frozen (even to -269c)and, after
careful thawing, implanted successfully. For
further growth, only a recipient uterine
mucosa can supply the embryonic placenta
with appropriate nutriments. In his life
capsule, the amniotic bag, the early being is
How many cells are needed to build an
individual? Recent experiments spell out the just as viable as an astronaut on the moon in
answer. If very early conceptuses of mice
his space-suit: Refuelling with vital fluids is
required from their mother-ship. This nuture
are artifically disassembled (by a peculiar
is indispensable for survival, but it does not
enzymatic treatment) their cells come apart.
"make" the baby: no more than the most
By mixing such suspensions of cells, coming
from different embryos, one sees them
sophisticated space shuttle can produce an
reassembling again. If the tiny mass is then
astronaut. (Such a comparison becomes
implanted in a recipient female, some little
even more cogent when the foetus moves.
mice (very few indeed) manage to develop
Thanks to a refined sonar-like imagery,
to term, completely normal. As theoretically
Dr. Ian DONALD from England a year ago
expected by B. Mintz and demonstrated by succeeded in producing a movie featuring
Market and Peter, a chimeric mouse can
the youngest star of the world, an eleven
derive from two or even three embryos, but weeks old baby dancing in utero. The baby
no more. The maximum number of cells co
plays, so to speak, on a trampoline! He bends
All these facts were known long ago and
everybody was
agreeing that test-tube
babies, if produced, would demonstrate the
autonomy of the conceptus, over which the
test tube has no title of property. Test-tube
babies now do exist.
6
Medical Service
his knees, pushes on the wall, soars up, and
falls down again. Because his body has the
same buoyancy as the amniotic fluid, he
does not feel gravity and performs his dance
in a very slow, graceful, and elegant way,
impossible in any other place on the earth.
Only astronauts in their gravity-free state can
achieve such gentleness of motion.
By the
way, for the first walk in space, technologists
had to decide where to adapt the tubes
carrying the fluids. They finally chose the
belt-buckle to the suit reinventing the
umbilical cord.
music: A deep, profound, reassuring hammer
ing at some 60, 70 per minute (the maternal
heart), and a rapid high pitched, cadence at
some 160, 170 (the heart of the foetus),
these mixed mimic those of the counterbass
and of the maracas, which are the basic rhy
thms of any pop music.
Mr. Chairman and members, when I had
the honour of testifying previously before the
Senate, I took the liberty of referring to the
universal fairy tale of the man smaller than
the thumb.
And to let you measure how precise the
detection can be: if at the very beginning,
just after conception, days before implanta
tion, a single cell was removed from the little
berry-looking individual, we could cultivate
that cell and examine its chromosomes. If a
student looking at it under the microscope,
could not recognize the number, the shape,
and the banding pattern of these chromo
somes, if he was not able to tell safely whe
ther it comes from a chimpanzee being or
from a human being he would fail in his
examination.
After two months of age, the human being
is less than one thumb's length from the
head to the rump. He would fit at ease in a
nutshell, but everything is there: hands, feet,
head, organs, brain, all are in place. His
heart has been beating for a month already.
Looking closely you would see the palm
creases and a fortune teller would read the
good adventure of that tiny person. With a
good magnifier the finger prints could be
detected. Every document is available, for a
national identity card.
With the extreme sophistication of our
technology, we have invaded his privacy.
Special hydrophones reveal the most primitive
We know what he feels, we have listened
to what he hears, smelled what he tastes and
we have really seen him dancing full of grace
and youth. Science has turned the fairy-tale
of Tom Thumb into a true story, the one each
of us lived in the womb of his mother.
To accept the fact that there after fertili
zation has taken place a new human has
come into being, is no longer a matter of
taste or of opinion. The human nature of
the human being from conception to old age
is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain
experimental evidence.
Courtesy : THE EXAMINER
Dr. Y Rama Krishna Prasad, MBBS, seeks suitable employment in a Catholic
Hospital. Please contact directly to :
Dr. Rama Krishna Prasad
Pandaripuram — 4
Guntur 522002
Andhra Pradesh
July 1983
7
The Problems of Health and Hospital Organisations in India —
Some Administrative Change— (Change in Structural —
Functional Approach)
by M. Sankara Rao M.A
Lecturer
Dept, of Politics and Public
Administration, A.U. Waitair
Theme I and Objectives
According to my recent findings and ex
periences, in some of the areas of India, I
have seen that the problems of Health and
Hospital Administration are becoming more
and more complicated on account of many
reasons like enormous growth of population,
increase of unhygienic conditions, lack of
hospital facilities, etc. Hence changes in the
functional values and in social structure, and
keeping the patients out of hospitals by
reducing the rush and demand for in-patient
treatment must be essentially made by the
introduction of new process in health and
hospital administration.
The following are given as main themes
for the study of health and hospital adminis
tration in India.1
1.
To discover the responsibilities of
Urban and Rural Local Governments
in providing the basic and bare ameni
ties to the public.
2.
To analyse the organizational structure
of Health and Hospital Departments
in their historical context.
3.
To analyse the performance of the
departments with special reference to
their existing organisations, their per
sonnel policy, their finances, their
inter-relationship, and public relations
July 1983
in providing social welfare services ;
and
4.
To trace out the role and responsibili
ties of people in urban and rural areas
in social, hygienic, cultural and eco
nomic conditions for providing welfare
services by the local government.
Unless studies are made in the above
areas it is not possible to suggest or offer or
introduce new methods for administrative
change, because, in India there has been a
complex administrative system (known as (1)
politico-bureaucratic system, and (2) struct
ural separation of Health and Hospital Organi
sations) has caused distortions in the
assumption of role and responsibilities as well
as administration. Unless certain administra
tive changes are brought about in structural
and functional fields of the two 'Health' and
'Hospital' organisations by providing valuable
policy guidelines, India may not be able to
solve the problems. Of course, our country
may build and operate hospitals. But their
initial cost may go on mounting higher and
higher every year for their maintenance. The
economy may be affected. Hence the amount
set apart for it in the budget should not im
poverish the other essential services. But it
should be the reasonable investment for the
reduction of sickness, incraease of industrial
production, and national income.2
9
Suggestions
For the achievement of certain objectives,
like economy in investment or expenditure,
standard in medical care and efficiency in the
administration, the role and functions of
hospitals have to be changed in such a way
that.3
1.
there must be a system of compre
hensive medicine operating through
out the community, including environ
mental hygiene, occupational and
health services ;
2.
there must be a provision of home
care service for the sick and injured
to be nursed at home, with merely
supporting help from the hospital;
3.
the hospital must be changed into a
health centre for imparting education
to all types of health workers known
as—doctors, nurses, midwives, tech
nicians and public;
Theme II and Objectives
This is another concept or model that is
offered basing on 'Regional Planning of
Hospital services within health services of a
wide area which, I may presume, cannot
only eliminate, to some extent, the problems
of health and hospital organisations in India,
but it can also improve equal opportunity to
all, maximum utilisation of resources, and
maintenance of efficiency and economy with
out structural and functional duplication and
overlapping in both the organisations.
In this concept or plan, there will be three
kinds of hospitals such as (1) Regional
Hospital, (2) District or General Hospital, and
(3) Rural Hospital. The degree and range
of the hospitals may be structurally and func
tionally fissible ; but they will be fusible in
services.3
The Structural-Functional Change
7.
4.
the hospital must be a centre for
research.
If a hospital is assigned more than the
above functions, it cannot be administered by
any efficient authority and it may also fail to
secure impression and image of public about
hospital as a place for treatment of the sick.
But, it is also a fact that, today, in our
country, medical needs are great and becom
ing greater; but financial resources are
meagre and scarce. Hence organisational
change is necessary in lavishly spending upon
hospital buildings with their high cost of
maintenance. The Government can spend
money on hospitals for the development of
environmental, preventive, and domiciliary
medicine. However, the health and hospital
programmes will have to be carefully obser
ved, adopted and changed according to the
diverse conditions of an individual region and
social structure.4
10
Regional Hospital
It is a kind of hospital that should be
designed and assigned the work to provide
a complete range of treatment, including
such specialities like Radio-Theraphy, NeuroSurgery, Thorasic Surgery, Cardiac-Surgery,
Plastic-surgery, etc., with graduate and post
graduate teaching facilities and research.
This hospital should be objectively and
favourably placed in the region to cover the
area consisting of three to five million popu
lation, so that the patients in need of its
highly specialised services could be readily
referred to it. Secondly, with such a limited
function, the administration will definitely go
on efficiently. But around it, there must be
a number of major district hospitals and easy
lines of communications.
2.
District or General Hospital
It is a secondary hospital wherein several
hundreds of beds with a high standard of
Medical Service
medical, surgical, obstetrical and other general
treatment should be provided, so that it can
be more useful for developing countries like
India, because it concentrates only on general
treatment rather than specialized treatment.
But the problem in it is that it requires sys
tematic planning for in-patient accommodati
on, for diagnosis, and short-term treatment.
purpose. It is, therefore, justified in all
respects, the existence of rural hospitals in
rural areas.
Merits of this Change
1.
The new concept brings combination
of two separate functional services
(i.e. hospital and health services) into
one which provides a better and fairer
distribution of services, particularly in
less prosperous areas, wherein the
need is often greatest.
2.
It makes the hospital truly a centre of
preventive as well as curative medic
ine, including ambulatory and domici
liary treatment.
3.
It enables a measure of control to
secure reasonably a uniform standard
of medical care throughout the region.
4.
It promotes economy in centralisation
of such functions like accounting,
statistics, the bulk purchase of drugs,
equipment, hospital supplies, esta
blishment charges, etc.
5.
It avoids gaps of equipment and over
lapping of functions, and
6.
It brings the staff of hospital and
health organisations within the region
into a closer rapport and facilitates
interchange and exchange of health
and medical opinions among them.
3.
Rural Hospital
It is almost a small and local hospital
system consisting of a few beds in it. The
nature of its structure and function may pro
bably be undifferentiated, because (some
times) it may perform medical, surgical and
maternity care functions. Though some of
the experts have offered different opinions
and arguments, about this organisation, the
very purpose of the rural hospital is that it is
a preventive health clinic essentially local in
its . functions (i.e. the treatment of minor
diseases ,* supervision of health of nursing
mothers and young children ; imparting health
education in the homes of the people ; pro
viding protective inoculations, sanitation and
control of insects and infections ; and the
care of health of school children. For these
services, easy access to the people is
necessary.
Arguments
Of course, it may be economical, if rural
hospital is not established in a Rural Area.
But the entire folk of the rural areas for every
kind of disease may approach to the District
or Regional Hospitals. They may not be able
to meet the demands of over-crowded com
munity. As a result, the big hospitals, which
possess efficient doctors and costly equip
ment, may be considered as inefficient on
account of insufficient time. In a similar way,
the waiting time of the patients may be more
and more in these hospitals and their image
about these hospitals may be bad or still
worse. Then the investment or the expendi
ture on them has no value, no object, and no
July 1983
Important Suggestions :
The combination or amalgamation of
health and hospital administration on regional
basis, further, requires that,
1.
Quite a number of small teams either
mainly or entirely medical men with
high standing and wide experience,
should be constituted in order to
make up-to-date survey of existing
11
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
facilities of the whole health and
hospital services in the region, as
certain the range of patients, draw
attention of gaps and overlapping,
and recommend appropriate changes
and developments in health and
hospital organisation ;
Committees, selecting senior members
of the staff among the Regional,
District and Rural Hospitals with a
health officer should be constituted in
order to make periodic visits of the
hospital and health organisations, to
find out the nature of health and
treatment of sick, and to suggest
ways and means for the welfare of
the community;
Regular arrangements should be made
for the transmission of records among
the three types of hospitals ;
Such cases or diseases which require
additional skill and special equipment
like 'Radio-Theraphy, etc., and not
available in the lower hospitals should
be referred to the higher hospitals ;
The senior staff members of the Re
gional Hospital should hold consult
ant sessions at District and Rural
Hospitals ;
The regional authority can, and, should
where desirable, encourage a district
hospital for the development of a
particular service ;
There should not be any rigid rule that
highly specialised services should be
available only at Regional Hospital
and not at District Hospitals ;
The Regional Hospital should be given
power to some extent, in matters re
lating to the establishment of new
services, the role of hospitals, the
direction of over-all policy, and the
day-to-day administration of each
hospital;
The Regional Hospital should foster
Post-graduate education and Rese-
July 1983
10.
arch throughout the hospitals of th
region by offering local doctors in
part-time clinical assistant appoint
ments and by inviting them to use
medical library and common room of
Regional Hospital staff; and
The office of the medical officer on
preventive medicine should be esta
blished in the Regional Hospital in
order to advise hospital staff on
matters of hygiene and out-breaks of
infection. It would be desirable to
place his quarters nearer to the out
patients department, so that he can
demonstrate the exhibits that bring
about changes in occupational health
education and administration.
Conclusion
Thus, the concept or model or planning
with the above measures and suggestions
will not only help foster a good standard of
health and medical services, economy in esta
blishing and maintaining hospitals, but it will
also develop efficiency in the administration
of health and hospital organisation under the
unified system. But for effective implement
ation of this Regional Planning, the senior
staff must be prepared to support the juniors
in giving their advice and consultations
whenever and wherever necessary. Simil
arly, the juniors should also follow the advice
and directives of the Chief Medical and Health
Officers in attending certain hospitals out
patient clinics and domestic health services
of the area. Then only, the concept has some
meaning and the problems of health and
hospital organisation in India can be solved,
to a large extent, under this Administrative
Change.
REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dr. Usha Banerjee, Health Administration in
a Metropolis, 1976, p. 2.
Gunnar Myrdal : Asian Drama-An inquiry into
the Poverty of Nations—Health chapter 23, p.
307—1971.
H. M. C. Macaulay, Hospital Planning and
Administration. 1966, p. 14.
R. F. Bridgman, The Rural Hospital—Its Struc
tures and Functions 1955. p. 7.
World Health Organisation Technical Report,
Services No. 122, 1957, p. 17,
13
Case for Breastfeeding
— Ian Steele
There is no substitute for breastfeeding. Forty years of research by scientists
and technicians has yielded no equal formula for breast milk. The mother's
milk provides the infant with a variety of nutrients, which with regular
feeding, are sufficient for the normal growth for first four to six months. A
child which is properly breastfed should need no other nutrients during this
period.
At birth, the newborn infant passes from
the warmth and safety of its mother's womb
into a germladen world which demands rapid
adaptation for survival. With its first gasp
of life the infant is exposed to chills and in
fections which its body is not yet mature
enough to fight: it is immediately vulnerable
to forces which can benefit or prejudice its
development in later life.
The mother's milk provides the infant
with a variety of immunities and nutrients
which, with regular feeding, are sufficient to
sustain healthy, normal growth for the first
four to six months. Medical opinion is una
nimous that more than nine of every ten
women are capable of breastfeeding and
that a child which is properly breastfed
should need no other nutrients during that
period.
For more than 40 years, scientists and
technicians in the industrialized world have
attempted to produce a substitute for those
first critical months. Their efforts have
yielded more than 200 varieties of "infant
formulas'' and a $2 billion market for them
in more than 100 countries.
Although they have failed to discover an
equal for breastfeeding, baby food manufac
July 1983
turers have managed to penetrate the
marketplace in societies where breastmilk is
often the only protection a mother can afford
to give her child against disease, infection
and poor nutrition.
For ten years now, the World Health
Organization and the United Nations Child
ren's Fund have been warning against marke
ting methods for infant formula which could
induce mothers to abandon traditional safeg
uards for more expensive modes of bottlefe
eding; but the response of manufacturers and
distributors to their appeals for understand
ing of the possible consequences, has been
mixed at best.
Despite growing scientific and technolo
gical sophistication, breastfeeding remains
an integral part of the reproductive cycle and
provides a unique biological and emotional
basis for a child's development.
WHY Breastfeeding ?
Mounting evidence is available in favour
of breastfeeding, including the following:
* Breastmilk contains antibodies which
protect the child against disease and
15
infection while its own
developing.
immunities are
* Breastfed babies have been found to be
less vulnerable to allergies, more respo
nsive to stimulus and less likely to be
overweight in later life than those who
are artificially fed,
* Mothers who breastfeed are said to
experience an especially close bonding
with their children during the formative
years and in later life.
* Breastfeeding has a
contraceptive
effect which helps with child spacing.
* Mothers who have nursed have been
found to be significantly less suscepti
ble to breast cancer.
* Uterine contractions induced by suckl
ing, accelerate the return of the uterus
to normal pre-pregnancy dimensions.
* Women who breastfeed regain normal
pre-pregnancy weight more rapidly
than those who bottlefeed.
* And, for most mothers, breastmilk
remains cheaper and more convenient
than any artifical product.
Develops Resistance
Breastfed infants have been found to be
more resistant to diseases like malaria and
cholera and viruses such as poliomyelitis.
They are less prone to intestinal & respiratory
infections and are less likely to suffer from
rickets, anaemia and other vitamin deficien
cies than are those who are artificially fed.
More than a dozen studies have shown that
the vast majority of babies hospitalized with
severe diarrhoea and dehydration—a major
cause of infant mortality in developing coun
tries—are bottlefed.
16
The American Academy of Paediatrics
reports that babies who are exclusively brea
stfed for the first six months of life have
been found to be less susceptible to allergies
such as eczema, rhinitis and asthma, and that
bottlefed infants suffer -more from allergies,
"presumably because of the early exposure
to cow's milk and other food antigens".
The sudden Infant Death Syndrome or
"Cot Death", which in industrialized countries
is a cause of death among infants between
one and 12 months of age, has also been
reported as occurring less frequently in brea
stfed infants.
There are indications that breastfeeding
has a positive impact on health in adult life.
A study in the Boston area of the United
States showed that 30-year-old adults who
were exclusively breastfed for at least two
months had significantly less cholesterol
in their blood than those who had been
breastfed for less than two months, even if
their adult diet was high in animal fat.
Formula Feeding is "Force Feeding"
The American Academy of Paediatrics re
ports "concern about the fat composition or
i nfant formulas". It observes that while the
relationship between infant feeding and
obesity is not fully understood, a number of
studies indicate a higher prevalence of obesity
i n formulated infants and suggest that over
weight infants are more likely to become
overweight adults.
Some doctors liken formula feeding to
'force feeding'.
The Academy of Paediatrics reports: 'Milk
intake by the breast-fed infant is determined
primarily by the amount needed to satisfy
the infant. The mother of the formula-fed
Medical Service
infant may see some formula left in the bottle
and induce the infant to consume more.
Recent studies have shown that milk samples
from nursing mothers at the end of the feed
ing contain much higher levels of lipid and
protein than at the beginning of the feeding
and this change in composition may satiate
the infant or in some way signal a cessation
of feeding."
The Academy notes that another signific
ant factor in the overweight question could
be the early introduction of solid foods which
has accompanied the use of infant formulas
and greatly added to calorie intake.
Breastfeeding for low Fertility Level
A relationship has been established bet
ween breastfeeding and low levels of fertility.
Dr. Jamal K Harfouche, Professor of
Maternal and Child Health at the American
University in Beirut Lebanon, has reported
that mothers who breastfed their babies for
six months or more, tended to have their
children about two years apart.
A body of medical research indicates that
the return of menstruation and ovulation
after birth is delayed by the process of lacta
tion. In a study of 500 nursing mothers in
New Mexico, only 46 became pregnant
while breastfeeding their babies, and all but
six of these became pregnant in the last few
months of nursing.
In some countries of North Africa and
Asia, mothers breastfeed their children for
upto three years for reasons associated with
child spacing. The practice and its effective
ness is reinforced by taboos against interco
urse with a nursing mother. There is concern
as to the effect artificial feeding could have
on the population balance in these regions.
July 1983
"Those of us who believe that four mil
lion years of evolution are wiser than two
generations of formula feeding, think the
burden of proof that formula is as good or
better, lies with the formula feeders", says
Dr. Garald Gaull. Professor of Paediatrics at
the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New
York.
Dr. Gaull, who is also a researcher in
mental retardation, believes that mother's
milk has a significant and beneficial effect
on brain development. Having studied the
presence of an amino acid called taurine in
the brain of 16 animal species, he had found
that the brain of the human foetus has more
taurine than any other amino acid and that
levels of the substance are higher at birth
than in adulthood. "This suggests that in
some, as yet undefined way, taurine plays a
role in the development of the immature
brain", he says. Dr Gaull has found that the
concentration of taurine in mother's milk is
40 times greater than in cow's milk.
A British National Health Service Survey
conducted between 1946 and 1978 found
that low intellectual aptitude scores were
frequently associated with artifical feeding.
Dr. W Allan Walker, a leading researcher
of the properties of breast-milk from the
Massachussetts General Hospital, remarked
during a recent interview that he believed
the proven benefits of breastfeeding were
"just the tip of the iceberg".
In industrialized countries there is now a
steady swing back to breastfeeding, but
there is increasing concern about the increase
in formula feeding of children in the develo
ping countries. Breast is no longer automa
tically considered best.
And, as Dr. Walker added: "As research
progresses, I think we'll discover a lot more
factors in human milk that enhance its pros
pective and nutritive value".
— Courtesy : Swasth Hind
17
LEGAL EDUCATION-1
The Law on the Abolition of Untouchability
P. D. Mathew
[Starting with this issue we shall be publishing a series of articles on
various legal matters which will form part of our Community Health Educa
tion Programme. This is by Fr. P.D„ Mathew sj. Director, Legal Aid, Indian
Social Institute, New Delhi. Fr. PD. Mathew is also moving around the
country conducting orientation courses and study circles on various legal
matters protecting the rights of the under privileged. We are grateful for
his contribution.—Editor]
What is 'Untouchability' ?
The term 'Untouchability' is not defined
in the Constitution or any statute. It conveys
a sense of pollution and defilement and is
related to practices of the caste system. It
implies social ostracism and manifests itself
in various forms. It includes customs and
behaviour sanctioned by Indian customs and
by which Scheduled Caste persons are exclu
ded from the use of streets, temples, public
places, conveyance facilities and institutions
etc. Being an evil practice against the dignity^of man, the Constitution of India abo
lished it in 1950.
What is the Constitutional provision
against 'Untouchability' ?
Article 17 of the Constitution abolished
'Untouchability' in all its aspects. It states :
'Untouchability' is abolished and its practice
in any form is forbidden and the enforcement
of any disability arising out of untouchability
shall be an offence punishable in accordance
with Law.' This was the result of conferring
equal citizenship on all Indians irrespective
of caste, creed, colour and race, under Article
5, to bring about equality as a way of every
day life.
July 1983
Which Statute punishes the practice of
'untouchability' and what is its object ?
The Indian Parliament passed the 'Untou
chability (Offences) Act' in 1955 which was
amended in 1976. It is now known as
'Protection of Civil Rights Acts, 1955.' The
object of the Act is to prescribe punishment
for preaching and practice of 'untouchability',
for the enforcement of disabilities arising
therefrom and for matters connected there
with.
What are the rights the Constitution
and the Act confer on the Scheduled.
Castes ?
1.
Nobody is allowed to practise 'un
touchability*
against
Scheduled
Castes in any form.
2.
No one is allowed to call a member
of a Scheduled Caste 'untouchable'
as a matter of community or personal
abuse.
3.
It gives right to every Scheduled
Caste person to have access to, entry
in, and enjoy.
19
* All religious places, objects of worship,
temples and religious institutions be
longing to the Hindu religion;
* All public places, educational health
institutions, hospitals, hostels, shops,
hotels, places of entertainment, road
passage, transport services, conveyance
and objects which other members of the
general public are allowed to use;
♦ Places used on Trusts created for public
or charitable purposes maintained by
state funds;
4.
It also gives right to the Scheduled
Castes
* For the construction, acquisition or
occupation of any residential premises
in any locality;
* For the practice of any profession or
the carrying on of any occupation,
trade or business, employment or job;
♦ For the observation of any social, reli
gious customs, usage, ceremony and
for taking part in or taking out any
religious, social or cultural procession;
Offences by the Company
If a Company, firm or association, is the
offender, then the person in charge of them
will be held guilty of the offence.
As punishment Government can suspend
the licence of rescind the grant given to
them.
Is Social Boycott against a Sch. Caste
person an offence ?
Yes. Boycott of a Sch. Caste person in
professional or business or social relation
ship is an offence.
Is forcing a Sch. Caste person to do
scavenging or sweeping etc. an
offence ?
Yes. If a person compels any Sch. Caste
person on the ground of 'untouchability' to
do any scavenging or sweeping or to remove
any carcass or to flay any animal or to re
move the umbilical cord or to do any other
job of a similar nature, he is liable to be
punished with imprisonment for a term not
exceeding six months and also with fine not
more than Rs. 500/-.
* For the use of jewellery and finery;
* For selling and buying goods and for
obtaining services from other people.
What is the punishment for enforcing
disabilities ?
20
1.
The practice of untouchability and of
its abetment (by instigation, inten
tional aid or conspiracy) is punishable
with imprisonment which may extend
to 6 months or with fine which may
extend to Rs. 500/- or with both.
2.
When a person is punished for refu
sing to sell goods or to render
service, the court may also cancel or
suspend the licence of the offender
in respect of his profession, trade,
calling or emyloyment.
Is summary trial allowed for
untouchability offence ?
Every offence under the Act is a cogniz
able offence (i.e. a police officer can arrest
the accused person without warrant). Every
offence, except where it is punishable with
imprisonment for a minimum term exceeding
three months, may be tried summarily by a
first class Judicial Magistrate (For summary
trials procedure is simple and so the case
can be disposed of expeditiously).
Burden of Proof
In criminal cases normally the accused is
believed to be innocent until proved guilty,
and the burden of proving the guilt is on the
prosecution.
However, in 'untouchability'
offence cases, the burden of proof of inno
Medical Service
cence lies on the accused. In other words,
when the victim is a member of a Scheduled
Caste, the commission of a forbidden act
shall be prima facie presumed to have been
committed on the ground of 'untouchability'.
What is the duty of the State
Government to ensure the enforcement
of the Act ?
1.
The State Government must take
measures to make the rights available
to the persons subject to any dis
ability.
2.
Such measure must include:
* Identifying 'untouchability prone areas'
and adopting relevant measures to era
dicate such practices.
What should a Sch. Caste person do
when an offence under this Act is
committed against him ?
1.
As in other criminal cases immedia
tely report the matter to the nearest
police station giving the following
information:
* The name and address of the alleged
offender;
* Provision of adequate facilities inclu
ding free Legal aid to avail oneself of
such rights.
* The nature (particulars) of the offence
or the act committed;
* Setting up of special courts.
* The name and address of the witness;
* Appointment of special officers for ini
tiating or exercising supervision over
prosecution;
*The time, date and place of the offence.
* Setting up of Committees to assist the
State Government in formulating or
implementing such measures;
* Provision for periodic survey of the
working of the Act;
For further information on legal
contact:
matters
Director, Legal Aid
Indian Social Institute
Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 003
Tel. 622379, 624760
Gram: INSOCIN
Employments
Wanted two MBBS doctors and one DGO for immediate appointment in a hospital
at Palghat, Kerala.
Please contact:
Fr. T A Paul
Assisi Hospital
Kanjikode PO
Palghat 678621
Kerala.
July 1983
21
Yoga and Old Age—A Holistic Viewpoint
Jayadeva Yogendra
'#Man is a creation of faith. He reaches
to such heights as his faith takes him to. A
man with a poor faith remains a dwarf; one
with great faith scales great heights."—
Bhagwad Gita.
Today, unfortunately, we have a bank
ruptcy of high aspirations and ideals. All
our targets end up at ordinary physical/
material level. We have failed to understand
that the true source of happiness, joy and
compassion lies within us.
With his increasing appetite for material
needs, the modern old man is in a pitiable
position. He has been so brought up that
this whole personality - body, mind and
spirit—is dependent on external help. It is
like Sindabad the sailor and the old man.
The old man had a great desire to see places
and enjoy himself. But he did not wish to
exert himself. He waited for someone whom
he could exploit. Young Sindabad was
moved to compassion on seeing the old man
and carried him on his shoulders. What was
the result? The old man refused to get
down 1
A materialistic philosophy leads to a lot
of difficulties in "advancing" old age. Our
civilization creates such pitiable old men
who have not formulated higher aspirations.
Systems like Yoga have a different
philosophy and value system. It speaks of
good health, longevity and happiness.
However, techniques like 'satkarma' for
cleansing of impurities, or 'asanas' for edu
cation of the physical or 'pranayama' for
control of bioenergy, are meaningful only in
the context of higher goals. Otherwise, they
are just mechanical.
July 1983
In fact, disease and old age is a total
process. Health and longevity are also total
and holistic. Many people, young in age,
are old in spirit. Conversely many old people
are young in spirit. Given the right attitudes
and approach, yogic techniques for good
health and longevity become very useful.
The theory of 'hathayoga' centres around
the concept of 'prana'. 'Prana' is life; it is
energy; it is feeling and emotion. A person
whose 'Prana' reserve has fallen is sickly and
ages earlier. Another person who has con
served his 'Prana' is healthy and remains
comparatively young.
The 'hathayogi' tries to understand the
physical in the context of the mental and
spiritual. 'Asanas' are not mere physical
culture and muscle building. 'Asanas' are
anabolic, are not repetitive; they relax and
lead to inwardness, and steadiness of the
mind. A person who accepts introversion,
sedate health and higher awareness, will
take easily to the practice of 'asana'. How
ever, a person who is looking for excite
ment, thrills, display and show, will probably
not favour this scheme. The techniques
remaining the same, the results are better
when the mind is conditioned to such a
mature system.
Just regulating the breathing is good, in
so far as it contributes to better oxygenation
or elimination of carbon dioxide. But the
yogic ideal 'pranayama' is control of bioen
ergy 'prana*. This involves rhythms of brea
thing, harmony between inhalation and
exhalation, synchronization of the mind to
the act of respiration, control over higher
brain centre and respiratory cetre, control
over cerebration of the brain and mastery
over both the body and the mind.
23
A person interested in just increasing his
breathing capacity will benefit by doing
'pranayam' like exercise. In the yogic context,
however, it neither regulates 'prana' nor
does it lead to concentration.
In ancient India the advent of old age
was looked at from a philosophical and
spiritual angle. The old person exchanged
one set of duties and responsibilities for
another. As Yajnavalkya said, "This is your
highest duty in life, to realise the true mean
ing of life".
On accepting higher aspirations, the
householder is willing to give up lesser
desires and material involvements, namely,
money, passion, name, fame, etc. He begins
to reduce his needs and wants. He trains
himself to be self-reliant. In other words,
he practices Yoga. He regulates his beha
viour, his routines, and attends to his per
sonal hygiene. He looks after himself in
this new context. He also controls his mind,
emotions, attitudes, etc. His free time is
spent in altruistic activities.
Now he is not dependent on others. He
exists with lesser needs. He has a purpose
in living—in fact, the very highest—to realise
the truth of his existence. Or, to realise
Gqd. He is no more a pitiable cripple, full
of needs and desires. In fact, not only his
family, but society at large will seek out such
an individual for his experience, perception,
wisdom, etc.
What the modern scientist tries to achieve
through grafting of the glands, resuscitation
of isolated organs by cold-storage process,
the elimination of old age pigments and
such other means, the scientific yogic does
through self-treatment or autotherapy. For
example, first, by thorough-going elimination
of all toxins. Secondly, by concentration
of bioenergy 'prana' on any specific organ of
the body where degeneration has or is apt
to commence—through transfusion from
other parts—with a view to directly regene
rating that organ so that it may resume such
normal activities as are conducive to a
healthy organism. And, thirdly by giving
rest to the entire system through conscious
but suspended animation extending to vary
ing periods from weeks to months. There
are quite a large number of yoga processes
to defer old age and aid rejuvenation.
Yoga meets with the physical possibilities
by strengthening the physiological aspects
and the psychological ones too. Hence
when yogic techniques are used meaning
fully in the context of higher goals—physical
old age is neither a burden to oneself nor to
others. In fact, it becomes a means to realise
the Highest which is latent in all of us.
Courtesy : Bombay Hospital Journal
Dr. P S Rajah, MBBS (Cal) : D.D. & V (Cal)., seeks suitable employment in a city
hospital.
Please contact directly to:
Dr. P S Rajah
Andamans Timber Industries Ltd
Bambooflat
S Andamans 744107.
July 1983
25
CHAI
NOTES
NEWS
World Health Day Theme for 1983
The World Health Day Theme this year
underscores the urgency of initiating action
on several fronts if the goal of Health for All
is to be achieved.
Dr. U Ko Ko, WHO Regional Director for
South-East Asia, in his message on the occa
sion of World health Day on April 7, 1983/
laid emphasis on
(a)
Health is not only a fundamental
human right; it is also an essential
pre-requisite to human development.
next 17 years and will individually
and collectively take right action at
the right time.
Seminar on Primary Health Care for
Sri Lanka Parliamentarians
A seminar on Primary Health Care was
held for Members of Parliament in Colombo,
Sri Lanka, on 24th February'83. The dis
cussions were lively and interesting and
focussed on the Primary Health Care Pro
gramme as per objectives and not merely on
deficiencies in administrative and financial
aspects in the Medical Care Programme.
According to global strategy worked
out by Member States and the South
Ninth Session of WHO, South-East Asia
East Asia Regional strategy, in spite
Advisory Committee on Medical Re
of several difficulties and constraints
search
the task of the governments of the
The Ninth Session of the WHO, Southcountries can be made lighter and
East Asia Advisory Committee on Medical
speedier if people understand their
Research, opened in New Delhi on 11th
own responsibility and duties and
articulate their rights with the clear April, 1983 to select those problems which
could hasten the achievement of the goal of
understanding of the social and
Health for All and to ensure that the limited
technological issues involved.
resources of the Organisation and Member
(c) Action for health is not and should countries were utilized for the greatest bene
fit.
not be the prerogative of a few
health
knowing individuals. The
Research Needs for Health for All
wider the understanding of health,
The Regional Director identified mothers
the greater is the possibility of pre
and children as the key group needing atten
venting and controlling ill health.
tion in respect of health programmes, health
(d) Continuing political commitment was services research, diarrhoeal diseases control
needed if health were to receive the
and health behaviour research on which
required attention and resources.
reports were presented at the Session. There
Governments and the people will
were two general underlying principles as
* realise the potential of health impro
now revised which formed the basis for
vement that can be achieved in the
screening all research projects ;
(b)
July 1983
27
(i)
all supported research must have the
widest possible outreach to the popu
lation, particularly the weaker sec
tions, and have potential for produc
ing the greatest impact on the total
health system, and
(ii) the research must yield solutions to
priority national development pro
blems within the shortest possible
time.
WHO's research efforts are thus increa
singly focussed on supporting national,
regional and global strategies to attain the
goal of Health for All by the Year 2000.
Courtesy : HFA 2000
Social Welfare Centre, Indore
Report for 1982
The progress/events/development for the
year 1982 are reported briefly below under
each heading :
Nandanagar'.—This year 145 women
came for learning, earning and work. The
sisters had much to do in the preparation
and supervision of needle-craft work and
many other activities. Nineteen girls joined
the two-year course in the special class. Out
of them 17 passed their first or second Hindi
examination. The sale of*the needle-craft
and . article in the shop was a great help
indeed.
Medical Care :—Brother Henry and the
Sisters are trying their utmost to prevent, care
and rehabilitate leprosy patients as well as
others.
Sant Prakash
28
General patients
treated
..................
8027
Babies treated in
Mother and ChildCare Dept.
..................
4956
Every week a team
of 3 Govt, nurses
came to give Polio
and D.P.T.
Mobile Clinics
1.
Kankriya-Khurda-surrounding villages
...5709 patients
2.
Kotacheri-GoelkheraBargaon
.. 5074
3.
Dewas (Leprosy
patients)
.. 2464
4.
Ujjain Road
,,
.. 4928
5.fc Ujjain Town
„
..4180
6.
Indore
...2640
Ishawaas
The total number of leprosy patients
treated from Ishawaas Pallia-Sanjay NagarPushp Nagar=110048.
The Chapel-cum-Community Hall was
completed and is in use. It is a great boon
for the patients.
Another six (6) living quarters were com
pleted. More handicapped patients can now
be admitted. Several deaths occurred during
the year, but the vacant places were quickly
replaced.
Resam, one of the orphan girls in Isha
waas, married a poiiceman-a non-leper. The
marriage celebration passed off nicely and
the couple now live in Dhamnod. This
means that the next generation of children
from this family will not be bound by colony
ties.
All the leprosy patients, even though
handicapped but can do some work, are
employed. Many got an outside job and
are doing well. This rehabilitation takes a
long time, much patience and love, but in the
end, both they, and the centre are happy.
Medical Service
Pushp Nagar
Many improvements have been effected.
It is wonderful to see how well the leprosy
patients are accepted and how much they
take part in the activities, both social and
religious, in the colony.
Education
The results on the whole were very good.
Many families are being helped in regard to
the education of their children.
Day Schools
342 children
Boarding
72 children
Small Farmers
There was a very poor yield of crops.
Reasons for this were untimely rainfall, dry
spell and excess moisture at flowering times.
The output was really little. The winter rains
did much damage to the standing crops.
Education of farmers through supply of
short duration varieties of crops; mixed
[ cropping; irrigation at critical stages and land
and water management.
Sixty acres have been put under seed
production for wheat, Hybrid Jowar CSH-5,
Cowpea, Urad, Soyabeans, Jute.
There were many difficulties in effective
participation^of the people themselves.
Gobar Gas Plant
One Gobar Gas Plant was constructed
during the year.
The over all picture of 1982 was a good
one. God's Providence was experienced in
many ways. But it also gives some idea of
the difficulties encountered and success met
with, the latter being mainly because of the
help received from so many benefactors,
financially, as well as encouragement and
sympathy, and a right word at the right time.
When things go wrong, it is difficult to take
July 1983
the next step forward, but with people
behind to help in every endeavour and trust
ing in the love and providence of God, the
Social Welfare Centre has the courage to try
again and so in this spirit and hope it moves
into the new Year, 1983.
IM.F.P. Gets Government
Recognition
The Natural Family Planning method
(Billings ovulation method) has been accep
ted officially as part of the Indonesian
National Family Programme, a Catholic lay
leader announced recently. Doctor J Riberu,
Chairman of the Catholic Institute of Family
Welfare in Indonesia (LK31), was referring
to a statement made by Mr. Suwarjono Surjaningrat. Minister of Health, and the National
Chairman of the Family Planning Programme
Organisation (BKKBN), during a meetimg of
the BKKBN in Kupang, capital of Nusa
Tenggara Timor (NTT) province in southeast
Indonesia. The government's decision is in
response to an appeal by the LK31 and the
NTT provincial authorities, who have been
concerned about people's unwillingness to
accept the more common contraceptive
methods such as the "pill," the intra-uterine
device (IUD), vasectomy and tubectomy.
"This decision represents a start for popu
larizing the natural method," says Doctor
Riberu, while Mr. Ben Mboy, Catholic
governor of the predominantly Catholic NTT
province, says that this government decision
is important because it gives natural family
planning a wider acceptance.
Courtesy : The Examiner
Community Health Department of
CHAI
The Community Health Department team
of CHAI had a follow-up planning and orien
tation session at St. John's Medical College,
Bangalore, from 20th to 30th June, 1983.
29
A brief report of the first session was already
published in the April 1983 issue of our
journal Medical Service.
The follow-up
session was to plan more concretely the
action programmes for the department for
the coming years. The following resource
persons helped us during this session :
Fr. D.S. Amalorpavadas, Dr. Dara Amar,
Dr. Ravi Narayan, Dr (Mrs) Thelma Narayan,
Mr. R.T. Rajan, Prof. R.L. Kapur, Mr. SMS
Shetty, Sr. Dolores
Kannampuzha and
Ms. Simone Liegeois. One of the items in
the agenda was a deeper understanding of
various documents both from the part of the
State and the Church dealing with the
question of health to be seen as the integral
well-being of the whole man and all men.
We found in these documents, the basis for
the promotion of community health pro
gramme as a priority for CHAI for the coming
years. The need for a still deeper and thor
ough study of these documents and plan
action programmes accordingly was stressed
very much in the session. At the end of the
session a more detailed plan of action was
drawn up.
With the addition of new members, the
following will form the team for promotion of
Community Health for the time being :
Fr. Thomas Joseph Therakathinkal from
the diocese, of Mananthavady, Kerala, as
Programme Director and Team Leader;
Fr. Chacko Paruvanani from the diocese of
Berhampur, Orissa, Coordinator (Part-time);
Sr. Marina Kalathil RGS; Sr. Jeyaseeli
Dhanaswany, FMM; Sr. Mariamma Antony,
FMM; Ms. Reetha PC; Ms. Lovely Antony;
all coordinators. As Programme Director and
Team Leader, Fr Thomas Joseph will be in
charge of the Department of Community
Health.
—Executive Director, Chai
July 1983
The Editorial Board
Service Meets
of Medical
A meeting of the editorial board was held
at the residence of Dr. Ravi Narayan,
St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, on
June 26, 1983 from 10.00.a.m. Discussions
were held on the various points raised in the
previous meetings. Dr. C.M. Francis explai
ned the need for fixing up certain definite
objectives for the journal. He shared his
views on this and the same was discussed.
The possibility of introducing a ''question
box" for the benefit of the readers in clarify
ing questions and doubts on medical field;
the need for making a readership survey;
possibility of involving all the Catholic
Doctors in CHAI and Medical Service, etc.,
figured out during the discussions. It was
proposed to have another meeting sometime
in October to discuss more about the objec
tives, improvement of the magazine, etc.
—Executive Director
CHAI -To Promote Pro-Life
Movement
The ad hoc committee for•. the promotion
of Pro-Life movement through CHAI met at
St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, on
June 26, 1983. Starting with the panel
discussion during the convention in Coimba
tore last year, till the Convention in Bombay
this year with the theme "Respect-Life",
this whole year is a Year of preparation. The
second phase of this preparation, i.e. organis
ing programmes in the diocesan level, was
discussed during the meeting. These need
to be finished before the proposed national
level meeting, which will be the convention.
The possibility of preparing a short film
(colour) on the theme, in collaboration with
the Film and T.V. Department of Amruthavani,
Secunderabad, was also discussed. Plans
are already on, to work out the various
aspects of the film.
—Executive Director
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