Editor,
Money is the root of all evils. It can be used to buy lethal weapons as easily we buy bread and butter from a store. Countless such violent incidents have happened in a couple of years and they have instantly extinguished the lives of numerous innocent people. From Mississippi, Newtown, Texas, Las Vegas, and then France, Kuwait, Manchester, Landon Bridge, Lahore…! In each case, if we go deeper, the big boss America is directly or indirectly responsible.
Well, as to the rise of gun culture in the USA, I totally blame its Government. The recent mass shooting tragedy in Las Vegas shocked the entire the world. How can the US Government allow Tom, Dick, and Harry to purchase weapons? The police have found a stockpile of arsenal from the possession of perpetrator Stephen Paddock who killed 59 people, leaving 527 wounded. How did he procure all these deadly weapons? And what had stopped the government from totally banning sale of guns in the wake of the cruel instances of shootings at various spots? Small kids are shooting themselves, schoolboys shoot their classmates for fun, sons gun down fathers and mothers in a rage and wives shoot their husbands over petty issues.
This is how the most advanced country in the world is now virtually reeling from a stream of horrific tragedies. Are not the leaders and business houses insanely stupid to resist the gun control legislation? They have not yet realized that “evil” also roars from gun barrels. Bluntly speaking, can these leaders give sharp daggers to their own kids? It is exactly like that. People may have grown but their minds are cluttered with gory thoughts and sadism. And, the results are now here to make the world shudder with fear and anguish.
One wonders, how many more such dangerous tragedies should strike the mankind before the leaders come to their senses and act sensibly? No one should gamble with the lives of the innocent. Explosive America can no longer hit the jackpot for humanity.
Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2
Absurd and baseless allegations
Editor,
Apropos the news item captioned “Hospitalized due to food poisoning,”19th (ST September 2017), on the unfortunate experience of some people at Nongjngi village, it is disturbing to note that the report made baseless allegations at Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital, Jowai. As stated in the news item, an unfortunate incident of food poisoning happened at Moolephaw, Nongjngi West Jaintia Hills, leading to 15 people being taken ill. Surprisingly, instead of reporting facts there seems to be an attempt at defamation. As narrated by the headman and others in the paper, the next day, after the naming ceremony in the family, fourteen people were taken to the hospital. It is understood that they initially sought admission at Jowai District Civil Hospital, Ialong. However, they were told to go to Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital in Jowai. This is the crux of the problem.
Dr Norman Tunnel Hospital throughout its existence ensures that it is accessible to all health problems of the people. Never has it rejected any patient on grounds of gender, religion, class, or background. In the long journey of its service there are countless stories of people recovering due to timely help from this hospital. The hospital authority has clarified on the baseless allegations of the headman and others. Regarding the inclusion of qualified physicians in the fraternity, there is no reason for not welcoming a trained individual to be part of the team. The management has carefully scrutinized the qualification of any person before appointing them in the hospital. The procedure is strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Medical Council of India (MCI). Therefore, the charge that unqualified doctors are employed by the Hospital is unwarranted and highly condemnable.
Coming to the problem in the story, there are a few things that need to be taken care. Firstly, the narrator has no authority to generalize his statement by stating, ‘The people of Jaintia Hills do not trust Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital.’ All the patients who were admitted in the hospital are people from both the districts, i.e. West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills. If they no longer have faith in the hospital they would have not occupied those wards.
Secondly, the cases of food poisoning was not brought directly to this hospital but referred by some other hospital. Therefore, the question should not be directed at doctors of this hospital. Perhaps the headman and others on reaching the hospital find themselves treated at par withb all others. To the best of any knowledge, the hospital empathized and tried its level best to save the lives of those affected people.
Thirdly, these people were not abandoned at Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital. They were not admitted in the Jowai District Civil Hospital, Ialong which raises question, “Why” The concern authorities must have their grounds for doing so. The common view is that there are some loopholes in the hospital. The headman should take up the matter with the higher authorities. Is the problem that of insufficient beds, less doctors, less nurses or non availability of medicines etc. These should be logically brought forward. Instead of doing that, the headman points his fingers elsewhere.
Lest we forget, at times when people arrive in the hospital they always expect the doctors and nurses to rush and perform miracles in the twinkling of an eye. Languages exchanged, attitude of the relatives, behaviour and even the support of the family is very important. It can be rightly understood that under some circumstances the family will be helpless and frustrated. But that doesn’t mean that the practitioners don’t really care and are incapable. As much as the patients, family and others feel the pain so do the doctors and those people who help. For that reason they are there!
Hence, the statements and allegations from the headman seems to be influenced by some vested interest. This should not be allowed in a community life. Such an attempts should not be encouraged. A proper investigation and evaluation to prevent further hurdles and unwanted happenings in the future is required.
There is always a tendency to rail against any hospital with a hyper-critical eye. As responsible citizens of the society, let us learn the basic manners of being grateful to those who have sacrificed and toiled to help, serve and assure us a healthy life. It is never an easy task to be in the medical field. Certainly, some may not consider it a responsibility to be accountable. For someone, it may be a mere employment opportunity. Yet, we cannot ignore the fact that there still exists a pure heart of care. Any criticism should be constructive to benefit the social web of the community.
Removing the spirit of differences on caste, creed and class will help build a better space to survive. With the plurality of faith tradition and practices, we need to keep the spirit of love, care and togetherness higher than ever. It is not for political, economic, cultural, social, historical reasons that we start raising irrelevant and untimely questions. This letter is not to counter the issue being raised. It should not be treated as an official response to the news report above. The writer is not siding with or against any individual, group or institution. Everything in this letter is purely a personal observation and opinion.
Yours etc.,
Spyser Dkhar
Jowai