Food crisis and population growth

Dhiraj Kumar Nath

The global increase of prices of food has already threatened millions of Asians of severe malnutrition and deprivation of population below poverty line from two square meals a day. In Bangladesh, the government has taken immediate steps in the procurement and distribution of rice and other essential items to maintain the price level within the reach of the people. In spite of these initiatives, public by and large are not happy with the soaring prices, sometimes calling it silent famine or hidden hunger.
   Global problem: This short-term crisis management is not an answer to a colossal global problem posing greater challenges to the nation when population is increasing faster in comparison with the production of food grains. On the other hand, some rice producing countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand are planning to form a syndicate like OPEC to have their control on prices and marketing of rice round the world.
   When USA is misusing the food of US$48.3 billion annually according to World Bank, Ms. Condi Rice has identified India and China responsible for taking too much of food. Some economists however, pinpointed the negligence and inefficiency of FAO, WTO and ill intentions of few international agencies conspiring with miseries and economies of third world countries. President Bush has declared the emergency assistance of US$770 million to overcome food crisis when his country is being blamed for converting the corn into fuel.
   Preparation of Bangladesh: The Economic Intelligence Unit of a London based international research organization has, by this time, issued a serious warning for Bangladesh. To them, if the situation remains unattended now, it may go beyond the capacity to control leading to consequent unrest in the country.
   Population, a threat: The population of the country is around 142 millions and this size will reach to 180 millions by 2020 AD even the growth is continued at the rate of 1.48 per cent as at present. Every year 3 millions population is being added to the existing size and there are about 30 millions youth within age group of 12-24 with reproductive capability.
   According to demographic estimates, by 2050 the total population of Bangladesh will reach 280 million with the density of population as at present. It will simply be impossible to cater to the demand of food and essential items of such a huge population, if intensive population control activities are not initiated as a state policy to attain optimum size of population in the country.
   It may be observed that there were only 14.50 million population in this area of land in 1801 now comprising Bangladesh and the growth rate was 0.67 percent. In 1901, after 100 years later, the size of the population arrived at 28.89 millions which increased to 41.19 millions in 1951 after 50 years. In 1981, it reached to 89.90 millions, that is, doubled within 30 years with the growth rate being 2.61 percent. This indicates the growth of population, will pose a positive threat to acute food crisis unless controlled to be stationary within the target time.
   Urbanisation: In this capital city of Dhaka, even in 1983 the total population was hardly 3.5 millions which increased to 11 millions by now. The result of such enormous growth is that about 36 per cent of the city dwellers live in slums, which means one in every three persons of Dhaka city resides in slums.
   It is estimates that out of 5 densely populated cities of the world Dhaka will emerge as one of them by 2015 AD. Besides, the growth of urban population is so alarming that 50 per cent of the total population will start living in cities and municipalities within next 25 years. It indicates a huge demand of electricity, gas, sewerage, water supply, waste management, and above all, demand of health services and other requirements in addition to food supplies.
   Family planning: Thus, there is no alternative except strengthening the family planning program with massive investment and extensive program activities in this sector. The family planning program in Bangladesh is a success story receiving international acclamations for attaining demographic transition under a challenging environment. The prevalence rate of contraceptive among eligible couples has increased to 56 per cent in 2007 from 7.7 per cent in 1975 and total fertility rate declined to 2.7 per woman from 6.2 in the same period.
   Unfortunately, we could not make significant achievement in reducing the maternal and infant mortality as expected. Even now, about 85 per cent of delivery takes place at home without care of trained birth attendants, which is responsible for maternal mortality and morbidity. About 70 per cent of pregnant mothers suffer from anemia making scope to the birth of weak and stunted babies. Surprisingly, around 93 per cent of the women are not aware of sexually transmitted diseases and environmental health and implications thereof.
   The Family Planning Association of Bangladesh in 1952 started this campaign of contraceptive use for small family norm under the initiative late Dr Humairaya Huq which government adopted with the establishment of Family Planning Board in 1964. Later in 1976, population control program got a momentum with the establishment of Population Control and Family Planning Division. The contributions of late Dr. M A Satter as Secretary of the PCFP Division was remarkable.
   
   No recruitment since '85
   At present, field level workers of family planning department became old with no infusion of new blood through recruitment since 1985. They have lost their initiatives to provide door to door field level services under a changed strategy of clinical approach. The extensive behavior changed communications programs like courtyard meetings, delayed marriage and breast feeding campaign, satellite sessions, school health programme, community involvement, participation of local government and peer groups etc should be strengthened as before. The population control programme must be strengthened with massive support from government and cooperation of NGOs and private sector to achieve NRR-1 by 2010 AD.
   The Population Policy of 2004 should also be revisited with re-fixation of demographic goals, addressing the low performing and hard to reach areas and formulation of target based strategies keeping in view the food problem, the country might confront in near future.

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Antibiotics are losing efficacy

Dr. Turin Chowdhury

In medical treatment antibiotics have a great role among all the other medicines. It has revolutionised medical treatment in terms of efficiency and success to treat infections. The term antibiotic originally referred to any agent with biological activity against living organisms; however, antibiotic now refers to substances with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, or anti-parasitical activity. Thus in the treatment of most of the infectious diseases antibiotic is an essential component. Developing countries like Bangladesh, struggling under the burden of infectious diseases, are in need of antibiotics. But we need to be aware of one fact that the antibiotics are loosing their effectiveness. Several factors are contributing to this unwanted fact.
   
   Antibiotic resistance
   Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic has lost its ability to effectively control or kill its target bacteria. The antibiotic loses its effectiveness and capacity to fight and kill bacteria; thus the bacteria have developed resistance against the antibiotic. Now this is a result of a natural process called - 'survival'. Bacteria as a natural organism try to survive against the antibiotic by adapting by natural selection to become 'resistant' and continue to multiply despite the presence of antibiotics. This is not unexpected - organisms constantly evolve to find ways to adapt to new circumstances. This is similar to all other living beings in the nature who are constantly trying to survive the adverse situations by adapting to the surrounding environment. Around the world, bacteria are mutating to defend themselves against drugs that once killed them.
   
   Misuse of antibiotic
   In our society "self medication" is common. Even educated people have a habit to take antibiotic blindly for minor problems. People just go to medicine shop and buy antibiotics without consulting any health professional. They just take small inadequate amount of medicine leading towards a situation of resistance. People are also often not aware about the need for completing their course of antibiotics.
   Lots of people just do not understand that improper and underdosed medication are developing the problem of antibiotic resistance. There are a lot of instances when there is no need of any medication apart from total rest and good food. So the recovery from these situations should not be credited to the self medication. Rather they should be aware of the problem they are approaching.
   
   Doctors' fault
   In our country doctors are too quick to prescribe large doses of antibiotics. But the reasonable approach should be to save the latest and stronger antibiotics for use when existing simpler drugs are ineffectual.
   Possibly doctors prescribe them to cure the patient fast, because the patients are also very impatient to get cured. The problem is that the two sides have the same approach: patients who want to get cured fast and will not have faith in doctors who cannot cure fast.
   
   Unregulated drug sales
   In our country, especially in the rural areas, markets are flooded with counterfeits of antibiotics which have very nominal amount of raw materials in comparison with the standards. There is a growing market for cheap generic drugs which are most of the time far below quality standard. These drugs are prescribed or self-medicated and misuse or overuse is very prevalent.
   These factors contribute to half-strong treatment against the bacteria. Some fake versions of common antibiotics are widely sold over the counter in the developing countries. Even counterfeit drugs are being sold to public health institutions. These counterfeits are prescribed to the general public who depends heavily on the government health institutions for their treatment. Drug regulation authorities are also in a sense too ill equipped to test samples regularly.
   
   Restrict use of antibiotics
   The dilemma of antibiotic resistance is not an easy problem to solve. To tackle the issue, we need policy level effort in national and international platform. The people should understand the long-term effect of the problem. The health professionals also need to take the active initiative. Advice should be given to restrict the use of antibiotics so that they are prescribed only when necessary. They should take the initiative to explain these issues as a part of their medical practice.

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Irshad vis-à-vis wisdom, reason
and reform

Saad Quasem

In a world order, where the heinous acts of 9/11 took precedence, Islamophobia has become the predominant mindset across the Western world. Simultaneously, this period could be regarded as a revival of Islamic Renaissance. It might be similar to Al-Andaluz in the 7th century, but not quite. The Islamic school of thought has acquired a bitter name, synonymous with violence. Many in a peaceful, rather scholarly manner have been defying this ill-mindset in order to revitalise the spirit of the religion. I met one such leading author, who literally made me awestruck at her diligent rebellion.
   The New York Times named her as "an extremist's nightmare." Islamic scholars charge her for being the twenty-first century prophet. Oprah Winfrey awarded her for "audacity, nerve, boldness and conviction." At the same time, she receives countless hate mails, from anonymous senders. Death threats have become trite by now as well. The curses that she is showered with are often hilarious; her favourite one involves one's wish that she dies of "bad diarrhea."
   Her name is Irshad Manji, she is of South Asian descent, but Ugandan born and brought up in Canada. Her debut "The Trouble with Islam Today" was first published in 2003; since then she has been under praise or criticism. The book dissects the interpretation of the Quran that has sparked intense conflict today.
   
   Human rights abuses
   The book represents various issues, including human rights abuses, violence against women and children and of course macro-terrorism. Irshad calls for a drastic revitalisation of the Islamic concept of Ijtihaad or reason, to analyse the Quran with a rational approach and not to read the book literally. Mainstream, moderate Muslims are to take responsibility, if "abomination under the name of God" takes place. "You can point four fingers at someone, but you should actually point one finger at yourself."
   Moreover, the book supports that a true reform can only take place in the West, where free speech works as a principle. Of course, the movement will later spread to the Islamic world.
   "The Trouble with Islam" has been banned in several Muslim countries. Irshad translated the book into Arabic, Farsi, Urdu and many other languages and posted it for free on her website. The number of downloads exceed 300,000. Although, she is criticized for expressing wholehearted views, there is enough to sustain her club of aficionados.
   Irshad has been busy promoting the Ijtihaad movement. Her recent documentary "Faith without Fear," was being screened in Philadelphia. I had the opportunity to have a brief conversation with Irshad. Among many questions asked and various topics discussed, I asked if she was scared of death (due to the massive number of threats against her).
   Eloquently, she replied "Saad, I am a human. I am scared of many things. If I keep quiet, then how will I address the issues I detest?" Such courage reminded me of Benazir Bhutto "Should I return, or should I lead a peaceful life in foreign countries and let the terrorists make the agenda?"
   The theme of Irshad's work, surrounds this central question -- If reason is left unused, Islam will remain as it is. Should we let that happen or should we use our wisdom?

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