KILL PILL

In blatant disregard forthe law, medical stores in the city are selling life-threatening abortion pillsto minors without seeking their age proof, doc’s prescription and an approvalletter by the guardian

Girls aged 10-19 years account for 11 per cent of all births worldwide and 23 per cent of the overall burden of disease (disability- adjusted life years) due to pregnancy and childbirth, according to World Health Organisation. Fourteen percent of all unsafe abortions in low-and middle-income countries are among girls aged 15–19 years. About 2.5 million adolescents have unsafe abortions every year, and they are more seriously affected by complications than are older women.

Masking Reality

Swine flu is not new to Gujarat, yet its death toll has gone menacingly out of control. The state has registered 1,392 cases this season, the highest since the deadly disease struck Gujarat in 2009. Despite this, public city hospitals that receive the maximum number of swine flu patients are being careless with the health and safety of their employees and visitors. Mirror visited Civil Hospital, Shardaben Hospital, VS Hospital, and LG Hospital only to find that the hospitals have violated safety guidelines issued by the Union health ministry.

The guidelines mention that people near wards containing patients with infectious diseases should wear masks and protective gear. Children and pregnant women without masks were seen walking past these wards. Forget family members, even hospital staff do not wear masks and gloves. Doctors who are supposed to use N95 respirators wear simple masks while attending to patients. The respirators are not the same as loosely fitted