It has been three decades and the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy, world’s worst industrial catastrophe, are still struggling to come to terms with the maimed life they are forced to live.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the disaster children born to women survivors of the gas tragedy with congenital disabilities held a candlelight vigil to remember those who perished in the disaster.
They also staged a play highlighting the plight and pain of those affected by the gas disaster. Children with different types of congenital disabilities like cerebral palsy, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, impaired hearing took part in the candlelight vigil and the play.
The Chingari Trust, an organization looking after the survivors, had organized an exhibition highlighting their activities and the plight of the survivors.
The Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing factory had spewed 40 metric tons of poisonous Methyl Iso-cyanate gas on the night of Dec. 2-3, 1984 killing 3,000 people instantly. Some 25,000 died over the years. Over half a million are still suffering from the side effects of the poisonous gas and several thousands have been maimed for life.
According to Ms Rashida Bee & Ms Champa Devi Shukla, Co-Founders and Managing Trustees, the Chingari Trust has worked for seven years for the rehabilitation of 2nd and 3rd generation children born to parents and grandparents affected by the 1984 gas tragedy and the ongoing water contamination. The Trust has undertaken care of the children born with congenital disorders such as deformed body, cut lips, under developed or without fingers and with mental retardation.
Meanwhile, representatives of five organizations working for the welfare of the survivors have presented their list of demands.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster held the two US corporations, Union Carbide and Dow Chemical, primarily responsible for the ongoing disasters in Bhopal. They demanded that Union Carbide and Dow Chemical answer criminal charges and obey Bhopal court’s summons, pay additional compensation, and arrange for clean up of the toxic contamination in Bhopal.
The organizations demanded that the US government acknowledge and express regret for financing the hazardously designed Union Carbide plant in Bhopal through the EXIM bank. They demanded that the US government also express regret for refusing to extradite prime accused Warren Anderson who died about a month back while absconding from Indian courts.
The organizations called upon the Indian government to move on extradition of John McDonald, secretary of Union Carbide, and not allow Dow Chemical to make any investment in the country until it accepted Union Carbide’s liabilities in Bhopal.
The organizations also demanded that the Indian government set up a commission on Bhopal for effective medical care and economic rehabilitation and social support and create a special prosecution cell for speedy prosecution of the accused Indian corporate officials including Keshub Mahindra.
Bhopal gas tragedy survivors observe anniversary
Bhopal gas tragedy survivors observe anniversary
94 million need cataract surgery, but access lacking: WHO
- Of the 94 million affected, fewer than 20 percent are blind, while the rest suffer from impaired vision
GENEVA: More than 94 million people suffer from cataracts, but half of them do not have access to the surgery needed to fix it, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Cataracts — the clouding of the eye’s lens that causes blurred vision and can lead to blindness — are on the rise as populations get older, with age being the main risk factor.
“Cataract surgery — a simple, 15-minute procedure — is one of the most cost-effective medical procedures, providing immediate and lasting restoration of sight,” the WHO said.
It is one of the most frequently performed surgeries undertaken in high-income countries.
However, “half of the world’s population in need of cataract surgery don’t have access to it,” said Stuart Keel, the UN health agency’s technical lead for eye care.
The situation is worst in the WHO’s Africa region, where three in four people needing cataract surgery remain untreated.
In Kenya, at the current rate, 77 percent of people needing cataract surgery are likely to die with their cataract blindness or vision impairment, said Keel.
Across all regions, women consistently experience lower access to care than men.
Of the 94 million affected, fewer than 20 percent are blind, while the rest suffer from impaired vision.
- 2030 vision -
The WHO said that over the past two decades, global cataract surgery coverage had increased by 15 percent.
In 2021, WHO member states set a target of a 30-percent increase by 2030.
However, current modelling predicts that cataract surgery coverage will rise by only about 8.4 percent this decade.
To close the gap, the WHO urged countries to integrate eye examinations into primary health care and invest in the required surgical equipment.
States should also expand the eye-care workforce, training surgeons in a standardised manner and then distributing them throughout the country, notably outside major cities.
The WHO was on Wednesday launching new guidance for countries on how to provide quality cataract surgery services.
It will also issue guidance to help support workforce development.
Keel said the main issue was capacity and financing.
“We do need money invested to get rid of this backlog, which is nearly 100 million people,” he told a press conference.
While age is the primary risk factor for cataracts, others include prolonged UV-B light exposure, tobacco use, prolonged corticosteroid use and diabetes.
Keel urged people to keep up regular eye checks as they get older, with most problems able to be either prevented or diagnosed and treated.
The cost of the new lens that goes inside the eye can be under $100.
However, out-of-pocket costs can be higher when not covered by health insurance.
“Cataract surgery is one of the most powerful tools we have to restore vision and transform lives,” said Devora Kestel, head of the WHO’s noncommunicable diseases and mental health department.
“When people regain their sight, they regain independence, dignity, and opportunity.”
