Recall the celebration of Sachin Tendulkar scoring the 100th century, ruing that fraction of a second delay by PT Usha denying her an Olympic medal or watching with anticipation if Sindhu would win a gold medal in the Olympics. The whole country associates with the success of these individuals. It enhances pride and brings satisfaction and gives strength to lead their lives in whatever domains they are or even those who stay home and manage homes. Sport is a great equalizer, bring the people in the community together. The pride associated with doing well brings discipline to the individual. Sport and physical activity are essential to staying fit and healthy, including mental health. Participating in sports helps to beat negative thoughts, lowers stress and depression. 6 April is observed as “International Day of Sport for Development and Peace”, creating a historical link to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. It is being celebrated since 2014. Sports is an “important enabler” of sustainable development, which is reflected in its inclusion in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The pursuit of human beings is focused on achieving growth and, through it attaining peace. Participation, practicing, cheering of events associated with sports is a crucial way to achieve the same. The joy and happiness one gets seeing the success of the sportsperson achieving success reflects that we are all connected. Let us resolve to play, exercise, and ensure wellbeing.
The world woke up to the news that “evergreen” a large merchant ship stuck in the Suez Canal blocking ships’ passage and creating the worlds heaviest traffic jam. Maritime history dates back to millennia. People of the Indus Valley had maritime trade with Mesopotamia and Roman Empire. To commemorate the day, the National Maritime Day is being celebrated on April 5 and started in 1964. With its vast peninsula jutting a thousand kilometers into the heart of the Indian Ocean, India needs to leverage its enviable maritime geography to ensure and assure the economic, material, and societal well-being of its people. The heroic role is being played by Indian merchant mariners the world over. It is time to salute all those dedicated seafarers, brave parents, wives, children, and family members. They endure protracted separation in the national cause. It is time to salute all those who are in the service of the world. Connecting different destinations and exchanging goods and making the world a well-connected place.
One landmine can wreck a community: kill a father, a mother, and all too often a child. International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance is observed on April 4 each year and aims at raising awareness about landmines and progress toward their elimination. It aims to enhance capabilities to diffuse the mines and explosive remnants of war, especially in those counties torn in wars for long. A land mine is an explosive concealed just under the surface of the ground and is designed to be detonated by pressure or proximity of a vehicle or person. According to one estimate, there are currently about 100 million active land mines located in 70 countries. As time passes, the location of landmines is often forgotten, even by those who planted them. There is a need to focus on the health and psychosocial well-being of mine victims through medical rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration. Despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID pandemic, in the year passed by, people steadfastly continued their efforts in clearing and destroying hundreds of thousands of explosives and landmines. Kudos to all those who made it happen and for their commitment. Humans, what you have done to yourselves, using all the intelligence to cause destruction and that too innocent people. It is time to wake up and Complete the work, Rid of the world of deadly landmines. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 is a reminder to humanity, if it has to survive, a concerted effort is required to be together, pool all the resources to bring cheer and survive.
April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Reference to the word Autism dates back to 1911. Autism has several variations and put together, are referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The most worrying factor is that the number of children with Autism is increasing the world over. Researchers found recently that many genetic mutations can be associated with Autism. It develops from a combination of genetic and environmental factors playing a role. Interestingly some gene changes associated with Autism can also be found in people who do not have the disorder. Typical cycle, the parents’ ging through delayed growth, mentally subnormal, trying out various medications and finally accept the child with ASD. People with ASD have the same health problems that affect the general population. Besides, they may have specific healthcare needs related to ASD. People with Autism have an average life span, and many will require considerable support after their parents’ death. There is also an immediate need to plan for these children’s centres when they become adults. One of the essential traits each species in nature possess is reproducing to ensure sustaining the species. A fascinating combination of factors happens so naturally and without anyone attempting to make these happen to lead to reproduction. Diseases like Autism raises the question, whether the creation process getting into fatigue mode. How much ever efforts have been put in by brilliant minds, there are still many unanswered and health issues without finding a cure are a daunting humanity.
Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences that includes atmospheric chemistry and physics, focusing on weather forecasting. The advances made in the domain of weather forecasting has saved many lives. Cyclones of different magnitude batter the coasts of the world several times a year. While the destruction of resources and damage depends on the intensity of cyclones, the enhanced capability to predict the possibilities has helped the authorities minimise the loss of lives. While it is a cyclone that affects the Indian Ocean region, it is typhoons/hurricanes for the Pacific or the Atlantic Ocean. The fury of nature is a reminder for humanity to become humble. How much ever advancements S&T makes, there is much more to understand. Upanishads contain mentions of clouds and seasons. There is evidence of weather observation in Varāhamihira‘s Brihatsamhita, written about 500 AD. In 350 BC, Aristotle wrote Meteorology. When it comes to the weather and climate, it is happening in the atmosphere and the ocean, which plays an important role. Connecting the ocean, climate, and weather is an important aspect.
Respiratory infections have been haunting humanity for a long time, and Tuberculosis is one such major infections. The world woke up to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic indicating how deadly respiratory illness can be. TB has been present in humans since ancient times. Skeletal remains show some prehistoric humans had TB. TB decay was found in the spines of Egyptian mummies dating from 3000 to 2400 BC. World Tuberculosis Day is commemorated on March 24. It was on this day back in 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced the discovery of the bacterium that causes TB. The words latent, consumption, and DOTS may evoke diverse responses, but they are all connected to TB. Most TB infections show no symptoms (latent TB), result in loss of appetite leading to weight loss (referred to as consumption). Nearly 4000 lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people fall ill, every day. Most TB cases occur in the regions of South-East Asia, Africa, and the Western Pacific. It is estimated that about 40% of the Indian population is infected with TB bacteria, the vast majority of whom have latent TB rather than TB disease. Poverty deprived of nutritious food and lack of adequate health infrastructure, making it difficult to deal with TB. The incidence of TB in wealthier nations is reducing, and so is the focus of the research. The governments of developing countries need to wake up to reality and enhance funding and support research in finding cures to diseases affecting their people. Stigma is attached to TB. While one sees people narrating their problems with situations of dealing with Depression or alcoholism, many vivid accounts are shared on social media. It is rarely seen any such social media activity when it comes to TB.
Every year on March 22, World Water Day is observed to highlight the importance of freshwater. It aims at bringing awareness about saving water and the consequences of not managing the resource well. It is about what water means to people. When you ask someone, what does water mean to them, you get different answers. It could be: about staying hydrated during a workout, the beauty of the water falling from heights, or the joy of getting drenched in the pouring rain. Unfortunately for many, it is a daily challenge is not only of having access to clean water. Despite all the emphasis in the scripture’s world over, humans, in the name of progress, traversing a path where basic amenities like having safe and adequate drinking water is becoming a challenge. The advancement in Science and Technology gives us hope. People are going back in time and start canvassing for water harvesting. Hope it is too little too late! Preservation would enhance success when realised that natural resources are not unlimited if one does not take care.
Of all chromosomal disorders, Down Syndrome is the most prevalent in human beings. Down Syndrome is not an illness, and it is a genetic condition (or Syndrome). Since 2012, World Down Syndrome Day is being observed as one of the UN observation days. March 21 was chosen as Down Syndrome Day, as it occurs when there is a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21, three copies of chromosome 21 translate to 3/21, or March 21. India has the highest number of people who have Down Syndrome in the world. The numbers are alarming and frightening as fatalities are high due to negligence, lack of awareness, and access to medical facilities. Down Syndrome is an equaliser, and it does not discriminate, affects people across the world, is not specific to any community, or any reason for the Syndrome’s onset is known. As there is no cure for Down Syndrome, education and proper care have been shown to improve quality of life. People have abilities of different nature and to a different extent. Down Syndrome is to be taken as one such condition. We need to look at their skills and possibilities.
In 2012 the UN passed a resolution proclaiming March 20 to be observed as the International Day of Happiness (UNIDOHappiness). The resolution was initiated by Bhutan, a country that recognized the value of national happiness over national income and adopted the goal of Gross National Happiness over Gross National Product. March 20 is chosen as March Equinox falls on this day. The March Equinox marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. The theme for this year’s observation is “Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind”. Keeping calm is the essential thing to find solutions to the problems one encounters. It is crucial to focus on what is important and matters to equip to respond constructively. Staying wise for making choices that help everyone and support well-being. Being kind is more important, perhaps the beginning of finding the solution. It is a message to those who are suffering that we are all together. If you are happy, finding solutions becomes easier, enable one to endure the solutions to the problems of the same are yet to be found. Happy people make a happy place. Togetherness in a crisis is key to happiness. We need a more inclusive, equitable and balanced world—introspecting and finding out how we can help each other.
The world has seen many health challenges: Zika, Ebola, H1N1(Swine flu), AIDS, Asian Flu, Spanish Flu, Polio. Some of them found solutions, found vaccines, and got contained or almost eradicated like Polio. COVID19 pandemic, perhaps the first in recent history, has affected people across the globe. The quest to find a vaccine and the determination and dedication with which the scientific communities worked the world over are lessons to be learnt. With the vaccine administration in India, Europe, and the US, it appears that it is the beginning of the pandemic’s end. The fact that the world can come out with a solution to the COVID pandemic in such a short period gives hope to the world. It is a work in progress; the scientific community needs to contemplate why the world is yet to find solutions to the problems being faced by poorer nations with diseases like TB. The confusion and doubts created by certain sections of people in India about getting vaccinated for COVID demonstrate that communicating and reaching out to the people is paramount. There is a need to raise awareness, exchange information, scientific knowledge, and best practices, ensure quality education, and run advocacy programs on the importance of the vaccine. India observes National Vaccination Day on 16h March every year. Observations like National Vaccination Day is an opportunity to bring awareness.
