WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY — ANYONE CAN SAVE A LIFE

Thanks to the millions of people who give blood safely and anonymously, thousands of lives are saved every day. But the chances of receiving a safe transfusion — or any transfusion at all — vary enormously from country to country. Some 60% of global blood supplies go to 18% of the world's people, leaving 82% of the global population inadequately covered.

World Blood Donor Day 2005 is a time to thank the world's regular, voluntary blood donors as well as a day for personal reflection. Almost everyone can contribute to saving a life, either by becoming a regular donor or — if health reasons prevent that — by volunteering to help on blood donation days.

"Safe blood is a fundamental need for the health system of any country" said Dr LEE Jong-wook, Director-General, WHO. “WHO's 192 Member States have recently agreed that World Blood Donor Day will be an officially recognized annual event. This will help raise awareness of the continuing need for safe blood and safe donors," added Dr LEE.  WHO and other organizations have advocated clear strategies to increase universal access to safe blood. These are based on promoting regular, voluntary, unpaid donations and on nationally coordinated blood transfusion services.

Experience has shown that the safest donor is one who gives blood at least twice a year without receiving money or goods in exchange, understands the principle of altruism, answers questions for donor selection honestly, and will defer or exclude him/herself from donation if there is any risk to the recipient. Because such donors generally have a sense of responsibility towards their community, they tend to keep themselves healthy so as to be able to keep giving safe blood. However, much more progress is needed globally. So far, only 40 countries have established a 100% voluntary blood donation system. Despite some recent improvements in this important area, fewer than 30% of countries have a nationally coordinated blood transfusion service in place. Too many countries, including emerging economies, still rely on family replacement donors (a member from the patient's family donating his/her blood) or paid donors.

World Blood Donor Day is a celebration of those who are directly responsible for saving or improving the lives of millions of patients by giving their blood regularly and voluntarily. It is also an urgent invitation to countries across the globe to promote safe donors and do all that is possible to safeguard patients by ensuring an adequate, safe supply of blood. World Blood Donor Day 2005 celebrations are planned in most countries with the global event this year taking place in London. The celebration galleries in London and elsewhere in England will feature testimonials from people of all ages — and their families — whose lives have been saved or radically improved by blood transfusions. It is a unique way for recipients to express their gratitude to the strangers who have changed their lives.

WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY – 31 MAY 

Each year, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, a number of eminent people working in the field of tobacco control are given public recognition by the World Health Organization. This year, one of two special awards accorded by the WHO Director-General has gone to an activist from the South-East Asia (SEA) Region.

“Tobacco is the world's single biggest preventable cause of death, claiming five million lives a year globally of which 1.2 million deaths occur in countries of the SEA Region. Countries of the Region are making progress in this area.

Ten of the 11 Member States have signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and nine countries are already Party to the Convention. Speaking on the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region said, “Much more needs to be done to prevent the needless deaths and ill-health which are the outcome of tobacco consumption.” He added that although WHO’s leadership with FCTC had brought tobacco legislation into force, health professionals, and civil society had a vital role to play, particularly in educating  the youth, and making them  aware about the dangers of a lifestyle that promoted and glamorized tobacco.   Dr Samlee added that it was heartening to see the excellent leadership provided by several health professionals and NGOs in the Region, and congratulated the award winners on their noteworthy contribution and success. 

The Director-General’s special award goes to Professor Nurul Islamof Bangladesh, who is a renowned physician of his country. He founded the first anti-tobacco organization, called ADHUNIK (We prevent smoking) and raised awareness against smoking across the country. As a well-known physician and a well-respected person in the country, he counselled his patients to stop smoking and motivated his colleagues and other health professionals to follow his example in providing counsel to their patients to stop smoking. He and his organization also played an important role in creating awareness about WHO FCTC and in encouraging the Government of Bangladesh to sign and ratify the Convention. Earlier this year, he actively joined other anti-tobacco NGOs in the campaign for the enactment of  tobacco control legislation. The second special award has gone to Dr Ginés González García, Minister of Health, Argentina. Of the 29 other awards, there are four from countries in the SEA Region. These are: (1) Professor (Dr) RamaKant, India; (2) Indonesian Heart Foundation, Indonesia; (3) Dr Nyo Nyo Kyaing, Myanmar, and  (4) Mr Sanchai Tulabordee, Thailand

 (Source: WHO Press Releases)

WE HEAR

 …that Dr Chusak Prasittisuk, Scientist (RA-MAL) and Dr Derek A.C. Lobo, Scientist (RA-VBC) have been reassigned to the posts of Scientist (RA-VBC) and Medical Officer (LEP) respectively, with effect from 1 June 2005 in SEARO.  Best of luck Drs C and L!

…that Mr Y.Jacob Dass has been appointed as Driver (ND.02) in WR India office with effect from 1 June 2005.  Congratulations Mr D!

SELF-APPRAISAL

Somebody once said that the closest anyone ever comes to being perfect is when he or she applies for a job.  Therein lies the germ of a good idea.

Suppose you are feeling low.  Your confidence has been shaken by some mistake or failure.  Your self-esteem has escaped.  You are deflated.  This is the time to write a letter of application for a job you would love to have.  Whether the job is actually available or not is not important.  The important thing is that you write the letter, putting your best foot forward.  In the letter, emphasize your strengths and stay away from your weaknesses.

Write about your three proudest achievements.  Tell why they were worthy accomplishments.  Were you working in the face of long odds?  If so, say so.  What difficulties did you have to overcome?  How many people did your accomplishments benefit?

Next, talk about how you have grown in your current job.  Compare your skills today against those you had five years ago.  Summarize your salary history.  Chances are, you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Here is the most important part: Tell why you should be hired.  What unique skill, talent, or ideas can you offer to improve your new employer’s business?

This self-appraisal could be just what it takes to regain your self-esteem.  And who knows – it might just give you some good ideas for improving what you are doing where you are.

 (Source: ‘Bits & Pieces’)

IT'S NOT MY FAULT!

A man living in New Jersey, USA, had an operation. Being obese, he had decided to have a ring inserted in his stomach to prevent him from gaining more weight. A couple of days after the operation he was already up and about, checking up and down the hospital corridors for the location of the kitchen. When he   found it he sneaked in, went straight to an immense refrigerator and started eating everything he could find. The ring in his stomach burst, causing an internal haemorrhage. Miraculously he was saved by a quick-thinking intern who rushed him into surgery to stop the bleeding.

But instead of being grateful, the man sued the hospital saying, "It wasn't my fault. The doctors should have put a lock on the fridge!"

If this true story makes us shudder, it may be because it forces us to recognize our weakness: eating the forbidden fruit may be a sin, but so is always seeking excuses and blaming others for our shortcomings. How many times have you heard someone say, "It wasn't my fault! Someone made me do it!" To be happy, you have to learn to accept responsibility for your actions, including your failures. Why? Because having the courage to accept failure also means that your success will really be YOUR success. Wonderful things will start happening to you the moment you decide to accept full responsibility for what goes on in your mind, and what you do with your body.

      Nourish your body with healthy food.

      Keep your mind sharp by always being ready to learn.

      Work on being positive and optimistic about life.

      Ease the pain in your heart by believing that good things will happen if you are courageous and confident.

It's up to you to decide how you are going to fill the agenda of your life!

 (Contributed by Ms Santosh Katyal, RDOC – Source: ‘Internet’)

COOPERATION AT WORK 

When you have a job to do in any organization, it is important to have the authority that goes with it – the power to tell the people who work for you what to do and make it stick.  But using that power, on a daily basis, as the primary means of getting people to do things, is absurd.

Why? Because willing, voluntary cooperation encourages people to be far more productive than obedience to orders.  All management people should do their utmost to deserve and win cooperation.  Issuing orders, telling people what they have to do in no uncertain terms, should be a last resort.  And with the best bosses it is.  They continually take pains to seek cooperation and to deserve it.

How do you win cooperation? First by showing people that you respect them, that you don’t feel any need to push them around just to demonstrate your superiority.  By explaining what you want them to do and why.

By showing them that what you are asking really makes sense, and that you think it is important that they understand, not just follow orders.  And then by simply asking them to do it and assuming that they will.  If they don’t then you have to face the problem.  Why didn’t they? What don’t they understand? Do they disagree about something? Then, if they don’t have any good reasons – or any fears you can allay – you may have to resort to authority.

But that is not the way to start.  Cooperation usually is not hard to get – not if you really seek it.  Bosses who don’t look for cooperation first sometimes don’t really want it.  They don’t want to bother to explain.  They prefer to have people jump when they open their mouths and not ask any questions.  That may be great for their ego, but it won’t win any awards for cooperation and goodwill.

Some bosses talk too much and listen too little.  That is not the key to cooperation, and it is one reason why so many new systems are being tried to encourage workers to speak up and say what they think.

 (Source: ‘Bits & Pieces’)

PUBLICATIONS CORNER

WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations – Thirty-eighth Report

[ISBN 92 4 120917 8; Sw.fr. 25.-/US$22.50; In developing countries: Sw.fr. 17.50]

This report presents the recommendations of an international group of experts convened by the World Health Organization to consider matters concerning the quality assurance of pharmaceuticals and specifications for drug substances and dosage forms.  Of particular relevance to drug regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical manufacturers, this report discusses the latest volume of the International Pharmacopoeia and quality specifications for pharmaceutical substances and dosage forms, as well as quality control of reference materials, good manufacturing practices (GMP), inspection, distribution and trade and other aspects of quality assurance of pharmaceuticals, and regulatory issues.  The report is complemented by a number of annexes, including recommendations on good trade and distribution practices for pharmaceutical starting materials, guidelines on the WHO scheme for the certification of pharmaceutical materials moving in international commerce, draft procedures for assessing quality control laboratories and procurement agencies for use by the United Nations agencies, and guidelines for preparing a laboratory information file and a procurement agency information file.

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