Battle for life: Baby's yet to cry

Dubai: Aastha Shetty was born on May 12. A month and a half down the line, she is yet to cry.

Worse, her tiny frame is connected to several tubes and pipes as she remains inactive, has no visual following and is unable to feed by mouth.

As she battles for life in an incubator at Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, her distraught mother, Ashwini Shetty, is appealing for help to treat the little one.

"I know my child is in a very critical condition, but as a parent I want to do the best I can till she is in my care," she said.

Ashwini said the trauma began when she was in her seventh month of pregnancy and the baby in her womb began to gasp for breath due to loss of fluid in the uterus. It came as a rude shock to her as she had conceived after nine long years since the birth of her first child.

"Everything was going well and I don't understand how the fluid loss could go undetected during my regular check-ups," said Ashwini who was consulting a private clinic in Sharjah.

She said she was forced to undergo an emergency C-section at a private hospital in Sharjah where Aastha was born at 36 weeks and three days. She was not breathing initially but subsequently began to respond although there was considerable damage to her brain.

The medical report has diagnosed Aastha with "severe perinatal birth asphyxia with intra-ventricular bleeds and neo-natal convulsions". She is also afflicted with a severe brain injury with fluid collection but a shunt operation to remove the fluid cannot be done until her condition improves.

"The neurosurgeons have recommended periodic ventricular taps until her condition stabilises when a VP shunt will be performed," she said.

But all of this costs money, which the family can ill afford. "We have already spent Dh25,000 on her treatment in Sharjah," said Ashwini who works as an export coordinator with a private food company at Jebel Ali.

She said her husband works with a realty company and they do not have any insurance.

"We have no clue how long the treatment will take or how many surgeries have to be performed. All the treatments are sensitive and very expensive," she said, worried about how the family will foot the mounting bills.

She said taking Aastha to her home country, India, is also not an option given her present condition. "Besides, the arrangements and cost of shifting her are too much.

"We will be grateful for any help we can get," she added.

View the original article here

Manhole on Ajman street poses a danger

I would like to bring to the notice of Ajman Municipality that a manhole in Abu Baker Al Seddiq Street has been left open for many days now.

It was temporarily covered with a broken drum, but this has not helped. Heavy vehicles and cars pass through this service road and even the general public uses this area regularly. I have also seen children play near this hazardous spot.

In order to avoid any major accident or fatality, I request the Ajman Municipality to properly cover up the exposed manhole immediately.

— The reader is based in Ajman

Be a citizen reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Write to us and send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com.

View the original article here

Scientists need exposure

Sharjah: Scientists need more media exposure if youths are to take up studies and subsequently careers in science and engineering to curb the shortage of those opting into science professions.

Professor Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) spoke at the Belief in Dialogue conference hosted by AUS last week. The conference was held in conjunction with the British Council.

"If we want people to pursue science we need to give the scientists more importance by at least some exposure," said Guessoum. "There is not enough regional interest in science and this is a societal issue that chooses to give some professions either big or small importance."

Societal issue

Guessoum added the emphasis the media and society places on celebrities and sports stars is what gears the aspirations of the majority of youths towards those professions.

"If I ask a class of students to name famous scientists the numbers don't compare to if I ask them to name footballers or entertainers," he said. "This is because they [footballer and entertainers] are constantly on TV and make big money and live the good life."

Scientists, in comparison, are not privy to any of these career perks.

"Scientists have none of this, they are never on TV, they don't live the good life and they don't get big salaries," said Guessoum. "So people think who wants to be like that." However science is and has always been central to a society and its people as it is the root of all of its developments.

"Science is central in the life and minds of societies and this has been the case forever," he said. "People need to realise that science is absolutely crucial for modern societies just as they were for old and past ones."

Teaching science in Muslim world

Contrary to scientific teaching principles in the West, Guessoum believes science and religion cannot be separated or segregated in university classrooms in the Muslim world.

"When I teach, especially astronomy, I will invariably have students bring in their religious knowledge and relate it to scientific principles," he said. "We find ourselves always having to deal with these things in this part of the world or the non-Western world, where long ago they established some sort of separation."

He added his students always seem to address the relation to what science says and what they have been told from their religious backgrounds and therefore establishing a direct relation between the two.

However, for science and religion to co-exist in the classroom, science clearly needs to be outlined and defined as a mere methodology of achieving results and not a belief system.

"Teaching science is to teach the methods by which we reach certain results so therefore by definition it is separate to religious studies," he said. "It is not necessary to reject one or the other but just distinguish the methodologies."

View the original article here

Poetry library and research centre opened

Dubai: The Emirati classical Arabic and Nabati poetry library and research centre was inaugurated at the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage Saturday.

There are 800 titles in the library that goes by the name Bait Al Qaseed, or the house of poetry.

Juma Al Majid, Chairman of the Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage, opened the library along with Sultan Bin Saqr Al Suwaidi, Federal National Council member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Culture and Scientific Association, and Saeed Al Nabouda, CEO of Dubai Culture.

Exhibition

Al Majid and his guests also visited the Palm library that was opened recently which includes more than 100 studies related to palm trees.

An exhibition titled ‘Poets on the mail wing', was also opened by Al Majid, which was prepared in cooperation with the Emirates Association of Stamp Collectors and the Al Sarkal Cultural Establishment.

The stamp collection included seven prominent Emirati poets such as Al Majidi Bin Daher, Rashid Al Khudur, Rashid Bin Tannaf, Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, Salim Bin Ali Al Owais and Hamad Bu Shihab.

The guests were briefed about the poets and their stamps by Shaikha Al Mutairi, head of the heritage section in the centre.

View the original article here

Dubai foils 44 attempts to smuggle in drugs

Dubai: Dubai Customs foiled 44 attempts to smuggle drugs in the first quarter of this year.

The announcement comes as Dubai Customs observes International Day against Drug Abuse Sunday.

As part of the Dubai Customs Department's strategy, the security and safety of the community is a priority, hence all the entry points into the emirate are protected to prevent the inflow of illicit substances, such as drugs and narcotics.

Ahmad Butti, Director General of Dubai Customs and CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), said celebrating the day represents a chance to stress the graveness and dangers of illicit drug abuse, and the necessity of international cooperation to combat this problem which casts its shadows on people's health, the community structure, and the economic fate of countries all around the globe.

Trade hub

He added that the emirate has a strategic geographic location and is considered an important trade and finance hub in the region. Hence it is targeted by smugglers who falsely believe that the heavy trade traffic in the emirate will make it easier for them to smuggle in illicit substances through Dubai's airports and other entry checkpoints.

He said the Customs Department was successful in foiling 414 smuggling attempts in 2010 at the 19 air, sea and land entry points.

The narcotics seized included heroin, cocaine, marijuana, crystal, hashish and opium.

View the original article here

Abdullah's India visit to cement ties

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, will pay an official visit to India on June 27 along with a high-level delegation, UAE government sources and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi told Gulf News Wednesday.

The high-profile visit may result in the conclusion of some agreements in important areas of cooperation, the UAE sources said.

Shaikh Abdullah will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials, as well as several business leaders and CEOs of key companies in the areas of shipping, aviation, telecommunication and energy.

He will hold discussions with the Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna as well as senior Indian leaders including the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on bilateral and international issues, M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said. India and the UAE have close relations based on historic foundations, he said.

Currently, the two countries are its largest trading partners with bilateral trade amounting to around $44 billion (Dh161.48 billion) in 2009-2010. Investments are growing substantially from both sides, the ambassador said.

In addition, the UAE is an important supplier of crude oil to India. Both countries share common perceptions on major global issues in the security, economic and environmental fields, Lokesh said.

Partnership

"Both sides have expressed their desire to take their partnership to strategic levels. The visit comes at a time when new global challenges are emerging and both the countries have common interests in their early resolution," the ambassador said.

India recognises and appreciates the growing role of the UAE in regional and global affairs and its initiatives in maritime security, peace-keeping operations and regional peace initiatives as well as in other areas like global governance, environment, and renewable energy sectors, Lokesh said.

The visit will provide a valuable opportunity to further cement the warm and friendly relations that exist between the two countries, he said.

View the original article here

Woman dies in road accident

Dubai: Driving against traffic caused one woman's death and injured three others in a horrific collision Wednesday morning.

The three-car collision, which happened at 3am at the exit of Shindagha Tunnel in the Bur Dubai direction, was caused by the driver of a Nissan Patrol, a 27-year-old GCC citizen identified as AY who was driving against traffic, said Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Khadim, Director of Naif Police Station.

The driver collided with a taxi, which then hit a Toyota car due to the impact.

The taxi driver, a 29-year-old Asian and the Toyota driver, a 27-year-old Arab, both sustained severe injuries and were trapped inside their cars, while a passenger in the Toyota, a 26-year-old Asian woman was killed.

View the original article here

Four men arrested for staging fake crime scene encounter

Abu Dhabi: Four men in the capital, who staged a fake crime scene encounter on the roof of a building, were recently arrested, a statement sent by Abu Dhabi Police said Saturday.

The men, all of whom are of Asian origin, were dressed in army uniform similar to the actual one and bullet-proof vests for the filming of a supposed crime scene on the roof of their building. They were also carrying props shaped like weapons and engaged in acting out a robbery or hijacking.

Three of them work as engineers. A concerned neighbour who believed the scene was for real, spotted them and called the police.

The names, ages and specific nationalities of the men were not revealed. Colonel Ebrahim Sultan Al Za'abi, Director of Al Sha'abiya police station, said a special police task force had been deployed to the scene.

"The report was about an area adjoining an important official building as well as residential complex and this seemed to be a serious operation for the police," Colonel Al Za'abi said.

"We surrounded the building and the residential complex, and when we reached the roof, we found the men acting out the scene, " he added.

"They claimed that they were acting out a scene from a video game and that it was sort of a hobby for them, as they also film it. Due to the serious nature of the incident, the men were arrested," Colonel Al Za'abi said.

View the original article here

Man caught selling pills is charged

Dubai: An Arab man was arrested selling a banned pain killer in Ghusais on June 10, Dubai Police have said.

Upon receiving a tip-off from a source, a team from the Anti-Narcotics Department set up a trap for the man in a car park.

Police arrested the 28-year-old, identified as A.A.A., and searched his car and home in Sharjah, where over 4,000 Tramadol pills were found.

The drug is a strong pain killer sometimes used recreationally and prohibited in the UAE.

The suspect confessed that the pills were his, adding that he takes and sells them.

He was charged with owning, using and promoting narcotics and referred to the public prosecution.

View the original article here

Traffic snags expected as Khalidiya Bridge partly closed for repairs

Sharjah: The partial closure of Khalidiya Bridge for repairs is expected to cause major traffic diversions on Al Arouba Street. The bridge is a vital link for people commuting between Rolla, Ajman and Dubai.

The Sharjah Public Works Department announced yesterday that it would partially close the Khalidiya and Sharjah bridges to carry out renovation work beginning in the first week of July.

Dh8 million plans

The work on the two bridges, located close to Al Jazeera Park, will cost around Dh8 million.

Eng Amal Al Khamis, Acting Director of the road maintenance department for the General Directorate of Infrastructure in the Public Works Department, said that the work is part of a comprehensive plan to complete correctional and preventive renovation work on roads and squares in Sharjah.

Eng Sulaiman Al Hajiri, Director-General of Road Projects, said the two bridges were built in the late 1970s. The Public Works Department called on motorists to exercise caution.

View the original article here

Dubai parents, schools urged to report drug abuse

Dubai: Schools can play a major role in spreading awareness against drug abuse among school children and youth, a Dubai Police officer has said.

"We expect schools to cooperate by reporting any suspected cases of drug abuse among students or if anyone is attempting to promote narcotics among them by calling toll-free number 800400400," said Major General Abdul Jalil Mahdi, Head of Dubai Police's Anti-Narcotics Department.

"Our main concern right now is narcotic pills which a school child may receive for free once or twice, and once he becomes addicted he would have to pay for them," Maj. Gen. Mahdi said, adding that sometimes these pills are passed on from one student to the other, or given to them by drug dealers.

"We always stress that we need the cooperation of families and we ask parents to monitor their children and report any suspicious change in behaviour or habits, which may indicate that the child is using a prohibited drug," he said.

Target

"When a family reports that their child is taking drugs, we take care of the youngster and treat them, but we also go after the dealer who sold him the drugs, which is our main target," he said.

"After the treatment is completed, we ask the recovering addict to start a new life and not look back, and to get busy in sports and other activities that occupy their time and absorb their energy," he added.

Maj. Gen. Mahdi highlighted the role of sports clubs which can educate the youth and more importantly, keep them off the roads and away from bad company. "We also benefit from them and their ideas and seek their contribution to develop our work," he said, adding that he was satisfied with the awareness campaigns that helped achieve a positive change among the public.

Maj. Gen. Mahdi was speaking from the anti-drug awareness tent organised by the Anti-Narcotics Department at Mamzar Beach, which hosts a three-day exhibition, cultural and sports activities, as well as free medical tests.

View the original article here

Schools with good leadership produce excellent students

Dubai: The success or failure of a school depends, to a large extent, on the leadership of the school, a school leadership expert said Wednesday.

"Teachers make the biggest difference in the improvement of any school and the leadership of the school is the second biggest factor for improvement," Geoff Southworth, a UK-based school leadership expert told a workshop organised for public school teachers by the Regional Centre for Education Planning (RCEP).

"In the United Kingdom, 20 years of school inspection have shown that [for] every 100 schools with good leadership, about 93 will have a good standard of education. On the contrary, for every 100 schools with poor leadership, only one will have good standard of education," he said.

The workshop, which was held at the University City of Sharjah yesterday, was organised by RCEP in association with Unesco and the UAE Ministry of Education.

Hotly-debated topic

While school leadership is a hotly-debated topic among the teaching fraternity worldwide, there is growing consensus on the nature and practice of effective school leadership, Southworth said.

According to a document published in 2008 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, effective school leadership policies include the clear definition of the role of leaders, the need to encourage and support more leaders, and measures to development of capabilities. It also includes measures highlighting school leadership as an attractive profession and the recruitment of effective leaders.

"If teachers and [the] leadership of a school are improved, then there will be huge improvement, which can further be bettered by engaging parents in the process," Southworth said.

Extensive research

The UK-based expert bases his comments on extensive research and teaching experience, apart from various studies conducted worldwide.

Southworth's findings are synchronous with the findings of school inspections in Dubai by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Earlier this month, while announcing the inspection results of public schools, Jameela Al Muhairi, head of the Dubai School Inspection Bureau at the KHDA, said that the leadership of the school and a desire to improve were the only reasons why many schools overcame hurdles and showed improvement.

View the original article here

Doctor campaigns for more help for smokers

Dubai: The chemicals that cling to a smoker's hair and clothes can still harm a child even if the smoker does not indulge in the habit at home, a doctor has warned.

Dr Sreekumar Sreedharan, a specialist physician at Aster Medical Centre said ‘third-hand smoke' was harmful to children as they hug their smoking parent.

"We get a number of children suffering from various respiratory problems, and a smoker in the family is the big factor," he said.

The toxins in the smoker's clothes is called ‘environmental smoke' and the chemicals are linked to various problems in a child such as poor cognitive performance in school, behavioural problems and other conditions.

No substitute

"Nicotine is unique, there is no substitute for it," said the doctor, explaining how it stimulates the brain and at the same time relaxes the smoker. "That is why we give nicotine patches or gum to reduce the addiction, we do not have anything else which gives this at the same time," he said.

Nicotine enters the blood stream within seconds and within two hours its effects vanish. "That is why you need to smoke again and again," said the doctor.

The doctor said quitting smoking was the hardest thing to do. "You need counselling, you need support from friends and you need to have very strong will power." He suggested people find a smoker who has quit to help them in the fight against tobacco.

Ignorance is amazing

Dr Sreedharan believes media plays a great part in conveying the message that smoking is harmful. He said it was amazing people were still not aware that smoking had such terrible effects.

He called on authorities to spread the message through television adverts. He also called for a counselling group to help smokers quit.

Smokers are fooling themselves by believing smoking fights obesity, and that it helps concentration. "The only thing smoking is good for is that it prevents old age,'" said the doctor. "You die before your time."

Kicking the habit

The Gulf News campaign to help its readers quit smoking started on May 31. It is being supported by DM HealthCare.

Ten readers have been initially chosen to get help to quit smoking. Doctors will counsel and aid them over the next six months and up to a year.

The ‘quitters' have one thing in common — they wish to give up but cannot do it alone.

View the original article here