Himmafushi and drugs: The link May 8, 2008

Any one thought of this? A big chunk of people involved as jail keepers or guards are from the island of K. Himmafushi. When the jail was based in Himmafushi, the Himmafushians saw an opportunity to earn extra money and that came in the form of drug trade to the inmates and later to the people in the rehabilitation centre. I wonder how may of these keepers are now working as penitentiary officers. A source has notified me that there is a strong link between the Himmafushian gurads working in the jail and as penitentiary officers and the drug trade happening in the jails.  I don’t know the truth behind this. Perhaps this is something the journalists can probe more in to.

Swiss scientists say condoms not needed for HIV +ve people April 3, 2008

I was alerted by a friend co worker to this very study done by a team of Swiss scientists. The report, published in the January issue of the Bulletin of Swiss Medicine, states that after review of the medical literature and extensive discussion with experts an HIV-infected person on anti retro viral therapy, cannot transmit HIV through sexual contact. What created all this confusion is due to the the fact that this study was done by the very top pundits on HIV from Switzerland. I mean, the experts on HIV and AIDS telling us something which discourages people to use condoms?

It seems that the findings from the study are valid only with strict conditions attached to it. And they are :

• They must be undergoing antiretroviral therapy
• The virus must have been suppressed for at least six months and viral load levels regularly monitored
• They must be free of any other sexually transmitted disease.
  The Commission states that although available medical and biological evidence does not rule out the possibility of HIV transmission they feel that there is nonetheless enough information to support its statement (1).

Understandably, all major health organizations reacted to this vehemently stating that…

UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation said in a joint statement that they “strongly recommend a comprehensive package of HIV prevention approaches, including correct and consistent use of condoms.”

And other position statementf from various concerned groups.

We encourage HIV-positive people, whether receiving treatment or not, to continue to engage in safe sex and condom use with HIV-negative individuals and individuals of unknown HIV status.  Neither HIV treatment or safe sex practices alone have been shown to be 100% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV infection.  But in combination with one another, the two strategies provide a strong means of preventing the further spread of HIV in our communities.

So people, its still not safe without a condom. I hope i have done my part informing the public.

Psychiatric Drug Facts March 26, 2008

Anti psychotic? Meet Dr. Peter Breggin.

Any significant curtailment in the prescription of psychiatric drugs will have to come as a result of actions taken outside the medical profession and outside the pharmaceutical industry. Ultimately, it’s up to individuals to decide that there are better ways of overcoming emotional problems than impairing their brain and mind with drugs.

He also warns that When trying to withdraw from many psychiatric drugs, patients can develop serious and even life-threatening emotional and physical reactions. In short, it is dangerous not only to start taking psychiatric drugs but also can be hazardous to stop taking them. Therefore, withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done under clinical supervision.

 

Note: My very own limited personal experience with individual psychiatric patients tell me that while for some individuals psych drugs work , for others it makes the individual worse.

An Election year: What do we need to ask ourselves and the candidates on health care March 8, 2008

This is an election year. So it seems like to be anyway.

Many candidates are giving us the impression that they are the saviors of us. The one who can bring us the prosperity and democracy and freedom which we all are craving for. One thing many of us are rather blindly neglecting are the policies they have put forward. Policies on housing, education, social security etc…

Among the most rather accomplished and privileged people who are contesting had not put forward a robust health policy which is very concerning for me. How are they going to achieve universal health care for all of us Maldivians?

The problems faced by IGMH is evident on the Maldives Medical Watch blog. To be very honest, i don’t think that there is much they could do to avoid such deaths from happening. There are certain things which they could do but what if there is no political will to do it?

As a voter it will be wise to ask this question among yourselves. Who among these candidates really understand my needs as a patient, a care giver or in many cases as a health provider such as IGMH? Who among these candidates really understands the pain a drug addict goes through? Who among these understands what the families of disabled children has to go through? How hard it is for them? Who among these had ever mentioned such and such so far?

So ask this question among yourselves. What can these people actually do to help me and my family when i and my family get sick? Is 300 dollars and a Flight ticket to India the solution? Really?

All the Hype on the recent Antidepressant study March 1, 2008

If you look at the published headlines of this study, the first impression you will get is that Anti depressants have been found not to be working anymore. Here is an example just for making things clear.

Heading from Washingtonpost reads.

 

Only Severely Depressed Benefit From Antidepressants: Study

While popular antidepressants such as Prozac are widely prescribed for people with varying degrees of depression, the drugs are only effective for those with the most severe depression, a new study suggests.

The actual study published on the PloS Medicine Journal and freely accessible online reveals otherwise. It suggests that most groups of people on SSRIs found it helpful. It never suggested that people on antidepressants should stop taking it or it does not have any effect at all.

Around the globe, health Centers, clinics, GPs and phychiatrists were bombarded by phone calls from their clients after reading or hearing of the findings from the report.

So, When it comes to mental health, never, ever trust what you read in the headlines. If your health (or the health of someone you love) is at stake, take the time to read what’s behind the headlines.

An Idea that has been going on for some time February 27, 2008

Why not make a network among the parents whose children have been disabled due to negligence, from the mistreatment and malpractice. May be the NGOs can lead this initiative. NGOs like Care Society can do this as they claim they are there for the vulnerable and as an advocate for the disabled.

This network can be used as a way to find courage and strength from each other. A way to dig up the injustices that has been done. This network can, as a collective effort, SUE the people and the hospitals who have been responsible and has gotten away so far.When i think of such an initiative, Erin Brockovich comes to my mind.

WHAT IS LACKING IS LEADERSHIP.

It was yesterday that a Cerebral Palsy child was awarded 5.4 million pounds in compensation due to negligence and malpractice.

Maldives about to embrace Scientology as the solution to drug problem February 24, 2008

It is official. Maldives is seeking help from Narconon International. Mid last year, this blog brought up the subject of possibly using Scientology’s principles in taking care of the drug problem faced by the nation. Next we are going to hear billionaire James Packer taking control of all our prisons. All actors like that of Reeko Moosa are going to become ambassadors of the Church of Scientology. My My…What next? Well no harm in giving it a try dho?

Update:

In a recent video leaked in to the internet, Tom Cruise cites Scientology-backed programs and literature as proof of the organization’s benefits, saying, “We are the authorities on getting people off drugs. We are the authorities on the mind. We are the authorities on improving conditions. Criminon: we can rehabilitate criminals. Way to Happiness: we can bring peace and unite cultures. Once you know these tools and you know that they work, it’s not good enough that I’m just doing ok.”

It is a known fact that Scientology is after recruiting criminals. Pedophiles such as Ian Huntley and Roy Whiting and killer Michael stone from Britain are just to name a few. It is also a known fact that they offer “courses” to prisoners. Also it is a known fact that the way they supposedly wean off drugs is by giving them doses of vitamins. They are notoriously known to oppose any form of psychotropic medications and they hate anything to do with psychology.

Latest on MMR vaccine and Autism February 12, 2008

I blogged on this issue of MMR vaccine sometime back. Like i said then, and even now i am not against the MMR vaccine. My whole purpose is to make people aware of whats happening.

A Response to Umar Naseers e mail February 3, 2008

In response to your email.. which is posted below.. as i feel that if you want to continue this conversation i would prefer it to be public.

 

Umar Naseer : “Thanks for your comment on my blog. I believe in a wider approach to rehabilitation and prevention. I want users to be taken to rehabilitation centres with or without consent and they be given first class rehabilitation. Please go through page 5,6 & 7 of my manifesto and give me your comment, if any.”

 

Infact, i have gone through it before i made my first comment. As i said before the only thing i support is capital punishment to drug traffickers. As i said before, I wouldn’t want to see an innocent person being murdered either.

 

I have much to say regarding your manifesto and specially on your approach in dealing with the drug crisis . As you are saying that you are going to tax us, more than anything else, i have more questions for you which i need answers. There are many such questions but for the time being i will only restrict myself to the very obvious ones.

 

1. from where are you going to establish an independent laboratory to test people on drugs? Are you talking about a foreign laboratory or establishing a local one? From where are you going to get trained professionals who are capable of conducting such tests? Are you going to bring in foreign personnel or train locals? What mechanisms are you going to use to seek that the ones who are conducting these tests maintain their professionalism as corruption can seek in to these very rapidly like fire as in other much more developed countries?

 

2. The suicide rate in Maldives cannot be entirely based on drugs. The mental stress and deterioration of people is evident even if we look in to peoples’ faces. More emphasis need to be given in tackling the real issues behind suicide rates of which one major element lacking in the system is a well functioning mental health system. How many mental health professionals does the country have? What will you do to establish such a system where confidentiality of patients (including that of drug addicts seeking help) is maintained to the strictest of level possible? What is the professional help that will be available?

 

3. The most shocking of your “policies” regarding the treatment of addicts is that of which when you say you will force addicts “with or with out their consent” in to rehabilitation. This clearly suggests that you don’t have a clue of what an addict goes through. If you think that this strategy is going to work, you are not only dreaming but you are one of the biggest fools. Please refer to my posts on my blog regarding drug rehabilitation and treatment. Countries around the world has tested this hard core approach of yours and has failed miserably in the past. “With or with out consent” approach is a violation of basic human right. That right can only become irrelevant when others are in danger or the drug addicts addict themselves are endangering their lives. There are other many points and issues which has to be considered for such an approach. In most developed countries where each and every human being is treated as humanely as possible (no matter in which condition they are in), something called a metal health system is established. Under such a system drug addicts are treated. Not under a “counselling system” or jail sytem as such as which exists in Maldives. There are systems in place where a patient can be considered as an involuntary patient and such. Involuntary treatment orders are given out to enforce such a strategy and each of these are clearly defined so that patients rights are not infringed. Apart from all these , there also should be guidelines in how forensic patients are treated. How do you bring about these changes? I want to know exactly how? In detail?

 

4. Institutionalising those who are “hard core”addicts as you say is not a solution. No where in the world has this approach worked. Infact, nowadays institutionalising is considered as a violation of basic human rights. Are you suggesting that with or with without consent a person should be degraded to a level in such that they be treated like a bunch of animals to be sent to a separate island away from the rest of us? I cant agree with that. Nor will any sane human being. I have a feeling that you are saying this in search of votes. These days the most effective treatment is given infact in the community as it is the community that these drug addicts will return to in the end.

 

There are many more loopholes and weak points in your policies which i demand answers. For the time being i think i have said more than enough for you to digest.

 

Cosmetic solutions is not what is needed for the drug crisis. Don’t try to hoodwink the masses. If you are not , then you obviously don’t know what you are taking about.

Why discard your organs after you die? January 27, 2008

The case i am about to bring to your attention is that of liver plant patient, whose blood type changed to that of the donors. Many are considering it as a world first.

 

During that first nine months, Demi was put on routine anti-rejection drugs after her liver transplant surgery.

Then doctors found that Demi’s body had begun to destroy its own blood cells and, at the same time, the donor’s blood stem cells took over her immune system.

Doctors then halted the anti-rejection drugs, realising her blood type - and immune system - had taken on the characteristics of her organ donor.

Quite amazing huh. You may read about more it here. A more scientific explanation for those medical minds out there can read about this story from here. And those who are probably wondering what blood groups are about, they can find about it from here. It is very important that you know your blood group just in case of an emergency.

 

On a different note. How many of us seriously think about donating our organs. I mean, if there is zero chance of us living, then why not make another human live?

There is a Maldivian blogger who is waiting for a donor.