Glaucoma awareness low in Chennai, worst among Muslims: Study

By TCN News,

Chennai: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. According to one study conducted in Chennai Muslims awareness level about this disease is very low compared to other communities.

A study conducted by a team of Vision Research Foundation between June 2001 and May 2003 found that Hindus are four times more likely to be aware of glaucoma compared to Muslims.

There are over 65 million people in the world affected by glaucoma. Glaucoma refers to disorders that damage the optic never resulting in vision loss. Though preventable if diagnosed early, it causes irreversible blindness. Late diagnosis is due to lack of awareness about this disease in the population.

The study conducted through questionnaire of 1480 urban and rural residents of Chennai found that only 13% of the study participants were aware of glaucoma. Of those who have heard of the disease 68% could not describe the condition. Women and elderly have more awareness about glaucoma. Education level also affects the glaucoma awareness, study found.

Study concluded that of the entire population under study only 8.7% had knowledge about glaucoma. Only 0.5% can be categorized as having good knowledge about it, 4% had fair knowledge and 4.2% poor knowledge about this disease.

A similar study in 2001 of Urban Hyderabad residents found only 2.4% awareness about glaucoma. Awareness among Chennai urban residents is 13.3%. [Dandona R, Dandona L, John RK, McCarty CA, Rao GN. Awareness of eye diseases in an urban population in southern India. Bull World Health Organ 2001;79:96-102.]

The Chennai study was published in Sept-October 2009 issue of Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.

Study authors Ramesh Ve Sathyamangalam, Pradeep G Paul, George Ronnie, Mani Baskaran, Arvind Hemamalini, Madan Raj V, J Augustian, Raju Prema, and Lingam Vijaya of Glaucoma Project of Vision Research Foundation of Chennai called for urgent health education on glaucoma and initially targeting the population at risk. They suggested regular preventive eye care and setting up patient awareness groups.

Defining knowledge levels of glaucoma:

subject was considered to have good knowledge, if he/she was able to identify the risk factors for glaucoma such as increased IOP, family history, and steroid use and was further able to meaningfully describe the condition and identify therapies for glaucoma such as eye drops, laser peripheral iridectomy, surgery.

Fair knowledge was considered if at least two of the risk factors were identified and a description on at least one treatment option was correctly provided.

Subjects were considered to have poor knowledge, if they were unable to identify even a single risk factor or treatment option for glaucoma. (TCN News)

Complete Shutdown on January 26: War

Srinagar, January 18: An extra-ordinary meeting of think tanks of People’s Political Party was convened at PPP headquarters, Rajbag, Srinagar under the Chairmanship of Engineer Hilal Ahmad War. It was resolved by a vote of consensus that PPP will support the Hartal call given by APHC (G) on January 26, 2010. Mr.War appealed the people of Kashmir to observe a complete shutdown on January 26 in order to remind the Indian leadership and the world community  that the presence of Indian Occupational Forces in Jammu and Kashmir Nation is illegal,illegitimate and unconstitutional in the constitutional eye of Jammu and Kashmir 1939, Constitutional eye of International Law and is clear violation of United Nations Charter as well as U.N. Plebiscite Resolutions passed by U.N.O. Therefore, by no law all over the world or morals can justify their presence in Jammu and Kashmir Nation be justified.

India must not forget the issue of Jammu and Kashmir Nation has assumed the shape of a International Coinflict ,therefore, the intervention of superpower nations like United States of American and China is unavoidable and in accordance with golden principles of United Nations Charter in order to maintain International Peace and Security . These powerful Nations including European Union knew that the gateway to World Peace is the resolution of Kashmir Tangle.

He further said that Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved by any cosmetic treatment on the pattern of Osolo Accord, it can be resolved through direct intervention of common masses by means of a referendum. He reiterates PPP’s stand that the role of India and Pakistan is the role of co-operation only. The role of final adjudication about the political future of J&K State vests in the people of Jammu and Kashmir only.  India and Pakistan have no right or power to do or decide anything behind the back of people of J&K State for resolving Kashmir dispute. For achieving this goal the only feasible, viable, practicable, equitable and honourable way is to adopt the PPP’s Roadmap advocated by “People’s Political Party (PPP) since August 10th 1996 commonly known as HILAL FORMULA. He said, “There are political parties in the entire J&K State with conflicting ideologies and stands regarding Kashmir Issue. Therefore, no person, party or conglomerate of diverse ideologies can be recognized as political attorney of the common man of Jammu and Kashmir  as a whole”. (Writer-South Asia)

PPP Chief asked employees Unions to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement

Srinagar: People’s Political Party ( PPP) Chairman, Engineer Hilal Ahmad War attending the prayers meeting ( Fathah Khawani) of teenager , Inayat Amin Khan of Dalgate who was killed at the hands of CRPF troopers last Friday when he has on his way to buy a laptop. Whiling paying rich tributes, Mr.War demanded that an independent Enquiry Commission should be set-up to probe the death and punish the perpetrators under International Humanitarian law.

War said that Independent Enquiry Commission should be constituted by some retired High Court Judge assisted by Kashmir Bar Association. He lashed out at so-called leaders of pro-freedom fraternity by not taking serious measures in Inayat’s Case and accused the leadership who got miserably failed in pleading the Kashmir case domestically and internationally. PPP Chief, lambasted the employees federation and their Unions for shedding crocodile tears for the martyrs of Kashmir and freedom of Kashmir. Mr.War, said these people are fighting for 6th pay Commission and other perks not for the freedom of Kashmir. He said these employees leaders have made Indian grip stronger in Kashmir by demanding perks. He said, if these employees leaders are sincere they must launch a Civil Disobedience Movement and fight for the Right of Self-determination of Kashmir not for 6th Pay Commissions and other incentives. He reiterated that if the killers cops are left unpunished, Kashmiris will be forced to go for a all-out war against India like Algerian people fought against France. (Writer-South Asia)

War for all-out War

Srinagar : People's Political Party (PPP), Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War visited the house of slain teenager Inayat Khan of Dalgate, Srinagar and strongly condemned his killing at the hands of CRPF personnel. While paying rich tributes to slain Inayat, Mr.War demanded that the perpetrators should be brought to book. He further said that if the killer cops are not punished, the entire population of kashmir will be constrained to go for a all out war with Indian Occupational Forces . The Occupational Forces of India have unleashed a reign of terror in Kashmir valley in particular and have converted whole Kashmir into a human Rights Graveyard. He further said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act ( AFSPA) and other draconian laws has given licence to men in Khaki to kill innocent Kashmiri youth like birds . Mr.War said such tactics will not deter the resolve of oppressed Kashmiris but will give boost the morale of the struggling people of Kashmir to increase the momentum of their struggle for Right to self-determination. PPP Chief pledges to fight for the freedom till the last Child of Kashmir. (Writer-Asia)