Local Environmentalists WarnsThreat To Human Lives And Environment By Using Insecticide "Temephos"

Local Environmentalists warned on a future Threat  to the Human Lives as well as to Environment due to using of Internationally Banned Insecticide "Temephos"  to Drinking Wells in certain areas as a measure of destroying Mosquito Larvae.The National Dengue Control Programme had already used this banned insecticide for more than 9000 Drinking Wells situated in certain areas throughout the Island mainly in Batticloe (In Eastern Province) and Kandy (Central Province) according to a Environmentalist in Batticloe District.

"Temephos" which is an organophospate  larvicide is internationally banned for using in drinking water and food related media due to the harm it causes.

Environmentalist Mr.Mahesh made a written request from Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena in a letter dated 2012-01-01 to conduct an inquiry against the higher officials of National Dengue Control Programme who are behind this act and taken stern action on them.According to him the insecticide "Temephos" imported to Sri Lanka under a certain Trade Name is a insecticide included in the banned list of pesticides published by one of the International Environment Organizations on 25th of February 2011.

The said insecticide proved as harmful for Birds,Fish and Environment friendly insects and in case of human touch it will directly affect the nervous system by causing neuro problems and various symptoms like dizziness,vomiting,diarrhea,Muscle Cramps etc will appear according to the fact sheet issued on "Temephos" .

Meanwhile when contacted a higher official attached to National Dengue Control Programme has stated that the said insecticide "Temephos" is using to destroy local mosquito larvae since years and in previous occasions too the programme used this to wells in certain areas .Ministry of Health too aware on using it he stressed.

However the Public Health Department of Colombo Municipal Council has stated they are only using "Temephos" in drainage system within Colombo City as a method of destroying mosquito larvae.

Meanwhile it has been reported that the Dengue Mosquito Aedis Egypt y" proved as resistant to  "Temephos" in Brazil.The Country it self used this as a method of destroying dengue mosquito larvae since 1967 .

Health Misnistry Has Temporarily Suspended The Using And Selling Of Pakistan Made Cardiac Drug

The Sri Lankan Health Ministry has today(27) temporarily suspended  the selling and using of  Drug imported from Pakistan "Isosorbide Mononitrate" 20mg which used to prevent Angina Attacks after more than 100 Heart Patients in Lahore ,Pakistan were reported as died after administering  the said drug.

This drug reported as imported to Sri Lanka from several  trade names is a widely used drug among cardiac patients.

The Pakistani Health Authorities suspended the "Isosorbide Mononitrate" 20mg Drug which the Lahore Government Hospital was purchased from a small drug supplier there was reported as responsible for deaths of more then 100 Cardiac Patients who received treatment from the hospital.The Drug was issued to the patients free of charge and around 40,000 cardiac patients were received this from Lahore Hospital since last December it has been revealed.

The said drug suspended by authorities was purchased for cheaper price and reported as contaminated faulty drug.The dates of Manufacture and Expiry which are essential to indicate in the drug carton were also not found  in that drug foreign media reports have revealed.

Given below is the BBC World News Report on the suspended drug and related deaths.

Pakistan heart drugs: Lahore death toll reaches 100

P

More than 100 people have now died in Lahore after taking contaminated heart medicine, Pakistan officials have said.

The deaths, which span a three-week period, are linked to a batch of faulty drugs given to up to 40,000 cardiac patients at a government-run hospital.
Another 250 people remain in hospital while an investigation into the situation gets under way.
The owners of three local drugs companies alleged to have supplied the contaminated drugs have been arrested.
Government official Shahbaz Sharif said the victims tended to be poor people who had received the drugs free, the news agency AFP reported. He said action would be taken against anyone found guilty.
Samples of the drugs had been sent to laboratories in Pakistan, London and Paris for testing.
The deaths caused panic in the city less than three months after a dengue fever epidemic.
Officials have warned that the batch of contaminated drugs might have been distributed to nearly 40,000 people since 15 December. They say that patients affected by the substandard drugs suffer a rapid depletion of white cells and blood platelets.
Suffering families The symptoms - first noticed in late December - created an impression that patients were suffering a form of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease common in Pakistan during the monsoon season, officials say.

All patients are suffering from bleeding from the mouth and urinary tracts”

Asim Saeed

 

But patient data soon revealed that all of those affected were heart patients who had been using free cardiovascular drugs from the government-run Punjab Institute of Cardiology.

On Wednesday relatives of the dead and sick told the BBC how their families had suffered.
Parveen Bib showed the BBC her father's death certificate and said: "My father died on 23 December after taking the contaminated medicine. There was bleeding from his mouth and also bleeding from his urinary tract."

Many of those affected are poor patients

Asim Saeed said: "All patients are suffering from bleeding from the mouth and urinary tracts. We have been in the hospital for seven days but no-one came to check on us. They would sneak in quietly - doctors would check patients and go away."
Officials said one or more of at least six drugs - all manufactured by little-known local firms and purchased by the Institute of Cardiology for heart patients - may be responsible.
Officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told a court in Lahore on Wednesday that the drugs did not carry dates of manufacture and expiry.
The court has remanded in custody three people who own pharmaceutical firms which supplied the drugs to the Institute of Cardiology. The owners of two other companies are being sought..
None of the firms has commented on the allegations.
The medicines have been removed from hospitals and stores.

Majority Of Doctors Boycotted The General Meeting Summoned By National Hospital Doctors Yesterday

The General Meeting Summoned by National Hospital Doctors yesterday (26th) noon to decide future action on Problems related to Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) was become  a flop one as majority of National Hospital Doctors boycotted the meeting due to  participation of Higher Officials attached to Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) it has been reported. 

"Around 300 to 400 Hospital Doctors were participated to the General Meeting held last Friday,however yesterday only 20 Doctors were attended" a Senior Doctor attached to National Hospital has said.The meeting was summoned to decide the date of re commencing the suspended Strike action of last Friday over the appointing of two additional members to Sri Lanka Medical Council by Health Minister.A large number of doctors due to participate the event however most of them volantarily boycotted the meeting against participation of higher offficials in GMOA the Doctor has stressed.

Therefore the proposal on re commencing the suspended strike action of doctors in National Hospital now due to be discussed at the GMOA Meeting scheduled to be held on this Sunday according to Doctors sources.