#motivation #quotes #success #attitude #selfhelp #business #opportunity #confidence #decisions #brand #risk #risktaking #change #leaders #wisdom #strength #awareness #empowerment #fail #growth #courage #Veritadyne #Lakshira
Monday, September 4, 2023
Saturday, May 20, 2023
World Bee Day 2023
The world's pollinators, including the irreplaceable bees are under threat of extinction! Imagine a world without natural pollination leading to extinction of many crops and lower production of food which is vital for human survival.
What can we do?
- encourage sustainable agricultural products & buying from local farmers
- avoiding pesticides and other chemicals in gardens
- encouraging growth of native plants including weeds which will flower in different seasons
- protecting bee colonies
- provide water for many animals including bees
- leaving forests alone
- raising awareness about bees and other pollinators.
Save the bees, save the world. Consume only sustainably-produced natural honey.
Watch this video of a reading of the book "The Bee Master" which does an excellent job of educating people about bees and on handling beehives in residential areas.
Monday, May 15, 2023
International Day of Families 2023
"A happy family is but an earlier heaven." G.B. Shaw
On International Day of Families, we commemorate 'Family' - the foundational unit of a happy, productive and prosperous society. If you have one, cherish it.
#InternationalFamilyDay #familyday #family #familytime #familyfun #FamilyFirst #familylove #prosperity #happy #happiness #society #cherish #heaven #veritadyne
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Happy Mother's Day 2023
A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world - Agatha Christie
Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers, whether you are a biological mom, foster mom, adoptive mom, a pet mom or any other kind! ❤️
#Mothersday2023 #mothersday #mother #motherhood #motherlove #mothersdaygift
Friday, May 12, 2023
International Nurses Day 2023
Today marks International Nurses Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale.
Beyond her stellar contributions during the Crimean war, leading to the emergence of her now-famous persona “The Lady with the Lamp”, her most important contribution was creating the first secular nursing school! Florence Nightingale thus laid the foundation of professional nursing at the St Thomas hospital which is now part of King’s College London. She was also a mentor to many women, who went on to become the first trained nurses in various countries, including the United States.
Healthcare professionals, medical personnel and caregivers need good educators and a supportive education system to not just perfect critical skills but also engender the warmth of caregiving, which goes beyond the clinical practice of Medicine.
As an educator myself and having taught pre-med and nursing students for many years in core clinical subjects, I too have had the privilege of learning from close quarters the import of this vital profession.
India too has a rich contemporary history of producing not only a great number of nurses but also highly capable, adaptable and conscientious individuals who have proved their mettle in some of the toughest situations including World War II.
So, here’s to our Nurses! May the light of Florence Nightingale’s lamp be a beacon for holistic education and the warmth needed for caregiving! Our Nurses. Our Future.
🎨Henrietta Rae (1881/91) courtesy Wellcome Library, London.
#nurse #InternationalNursesDay #nurses #nursesday #nursing #health #healthcare #medicine #medical #education #FlorenceNightingale #publichealth #hygiene #sanitation #hospital #veritadyne
Monday, May 1, 2023
Labour Day 2023
"It is only through labour and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things." - Theodore Roosevelt
#Veritadyne #Labourday #labourday2023 #laborday #Laborday2023 #workersday #workers #work #working #mayday
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Friday, April 7, 2023
Thursday, March 30, 2023
Appaka - A Story of Love & Friendship for Children!
Join Little Dragon Reader to read about Nonnu and her pet goat Appaka! What will you do if one day your best friend goes missing?
The bright & quirky illustrations capture everyday life, colours and the bond between Nonnu & Appaka in a beautiful way. Enjoy!
Thank you for watching!
Like it, Share it, and Subscribe to the channel
#LittleDragonReader #reading #kids #kidsbooks
Thursday, March 23, 2023
Monday, March 20, 2023
March 20th - International Day of Happiness/World Sparrow day!
Today, March 20th, marks the UN International day of Happiness as well as the World Sparrow day!
The purpose of the International day of happiness is to recognize the value of happiness in our lives, acknowledge the privilege that it is to be happy and create awareness.
Since for me, happiness and sparrows have a strong connection since childhood, it is a delightful coincidence that both these days are celebrated on the same day every year!
We grew up watching sparrows fly in and out of our homes, build nests in roof corners and crevices, feed their young and relish the rice grains that we gave them to eat. They are active birds who spread a lot of joy with their sweet chirping and of course keep our house free from pests & insects. So many of our childhood stories had the presence of the humble sparrow, making our evenings beautiful and our imagination soar!
The sparrow is a lesson in itself in thriving in the face of adversity and having very successful rates of survival in new continents and countries where they were introduced by man. They were masters at coexisting with humans, while also keeping their 'wild animals' status intact. Sparrows are known to travel hundreds of kilometers in a year and have been seen as high as the observation deck of the Empire State building!
Although ranked as 'least concern' in the International Union of Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) red list, their population has been declining at an alarming rate throughout the world. This is very much related to high levels of pollution, climate change, water/food scarcity and extreme increase in human population. It has now become very hard to spot sparrows in cities in India.
Luckily, we still observe them on a daily basis, coming to drink water and eat the grains that we put out for them, along with other birds. It takes very little for us humans to include animals around us in our everyday life by providing few basic necessities. These all add up in helping maintain the delicate ecosystem, food web and ecological balance, which is very important. Every living being has a role in the ecosystem and the more we destroy natural habitats and ignore the order of nature, the more repercussions we will need to face.
Happy World Sparrow day and International day of Happiness. May we derive our happiness from helping other living beings and just letting them live!
#Internationaldayofhappiness #worldsparrowday #happiness #happy #world #earth #sparrow #birds #society #cities #urban #animals #ecosystem #balance #saveanimals #savebirds #adaptability #thrive
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Saturday, March 4, 2023
World Obesity Day 2023
Prevention is best & genetics can be managed! Obesity can be prevented or managed with mindfulness, diet, physical activity & medication in some cases. Hence the theme for the World Obesity Day 2023, "Changing perspectives - Let's talk about obesity" is precisely the need of the hour!
Simple steps like getting good nutrition, plenty of physical activity, sufficient sleep and consciously reducing stress will all help in weight management, which in turn helps maintain a healthy BMI.
It is vital that there is awareness of conditions that obesity can cause including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, dyslipidemia and other diseases including mental illnesses.
World Obesity Day also puts a spotlight on the need for increased research and investment in R&D to understand the causes and potential solutions to this epidemic better.
By developing new potential solutions, increasing public awareness, and promoting healthy lifestyle choices, let's progress towards a healthier world.
#worldobesityday #obesity #prevention #diet #nutrition #genetics #mindfulness #exercise #physicalactivity #stress #research #researchanddevelopment #stressmanagement #lifestyle #health #physicalhealth #Veritadyne
Friday, March 3, 2023
Jamshedji Tata - an inspiration!
Commemorating the life & legacy of Jamshedji Nusserwanji Tata - a man of extraordinary vision, prodigious fortitude, and unyielding industriousness - at 184.
In the words of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, who called him a 'One Man Planning Commission' - "When you have to give the lead in action, in ideas – a lead which does not fit in with the very climate of opinion – that is true courage, physical or mental or spiritual, call it what you like, and it is this type of courage and vision that Jamshedji Tata showed. It is right that we should honour his memory and remember him as one of the big founders of modern India."
In the words of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, who called him a 'One Man Planning Commission' - "When you have to give the lead in action, in ideas – a lead which does not fit in with the very climate of opinion – that is true courage, physical or mental or spiritual, call it what you like, and it is this type of courage and vision that Jamshedji Tata showed. It is right that we should honour his memory and remember him as one of the big founders of modern India."
#JamshedjiTata#JamdetjiTata #JNTata #tata #Jamshedpur #India #Industry #Steel #tatasteel #founders #planning
World Wildlife Day 2023
World Wildlife Day 2023
Theme: Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation
Every 3rd of March, wildlife is celebrated all over the world for the UN World Wildlife Day.
As the theme rightly indicates, UN agencies, private sector, charities, NGOs and every individual have to work together for conservation, sustainability and in the fight against illegal trade of wildlife.
Wildlife is not a resource but the very core of life on Earth. For meaningful & effective conservation, think beyond alliances of commercial profit, self-serving influence & coercive propaganda to forge a true partnership with Nature at an individual level.
Don't be just a wildlife enthusiast; be a committed conservationist!
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Fun at the Fair (Peppa pig) - Little Dragon Reader
Who doesn't like Peppa and who doesn't like fairs? Put those together and you have a fun story with Peppa & her family, where you learn more about each of them again! Enjoy the reading by Little Dragon Reader with Baby Dragon joining in for special effects!
#reading #story #kidsbooks #kidsreading #books #book #reading #readingtokids #peppapig #fair #funfair #fun #win #kids #Littledragonreader
Monday, February 20, 2023
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
This year marks the Indian presidency of the G20. India plans to use this to create a unified global health accelerator whereby the world is united in its health preparedness to tackle global emergencies efficiently.
One of the first tweets that I have seen from the government rightfully focussed on antimicrobial resistance and creating an awareness about it in the form of a quiz. Since this is such an important topic, I am writing this article to put down some thoughts on AMR, causes and effective ways of dealing with it.
What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?
AMR happens when microbes of any kind (bacterial, viral or fungal) develop mechanisms that help them to evolve, thereby resisting the effects of the antimicrobial medicine used against them. That means they can't be easily destroyed and treating them in a patient becomes very hard or sometimes impossible, leading unfortunately to death!
Main cause of AMR?
Mainly overuse or misuse of antimicrobials by individuals for themselves, in farming and livestock rearing are all causes.
Another major cause is improper disposal of:
- Unused antimicrobials
- Water and waste segregation that does not focus on the leaching of medicines into the environment
Why is AMR a cause for concern?
From data in 2019, about 700,000 people die of infections caused due to resistant pathogens every year world over.
In addition to this, the pollution of our environment and water due to improper disposal of unused antimicrobials is also another big problem, leading to further AMR being developed by all kind of microbes leading to creation of 'superbugs'.
What corrective measures/awareness is required in an individual capacity?
- Antibiotics should only be consumed when absolutely required and prescribed by a doctor. They should also be taken in the right way, the right dosage and completion of a full course, as not doing this could also lead to AMR.
- Disposal of antimicrobial drugs - Please read more about the individual drug and manufacturer's recommendations. Some have take-back policies, some have collection sites to receive drugs back, mail-back programs, or recommended safe options to discard at home.
However, not all countries have these options and many governments do not require pharmaceutical companies to take responsibility for the proper disposal of unused/expired medicines.
Need of the hour?
Humankind now needs governments, with their policies in place and pharma companies, with their moral & ethical responsibility to step up and do the needful.
In India for example, The Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) Rules, 2016 categorises expired drugs rightfully as 'domestic hazardous waste' and mandates that they be segregated, stored in separate bins and disposed in line with the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 that mandate that the drugs be incinerated at high temperatures.
Unfortunately, due to poor enforcement of the MSWM policies, there is poor management of hazardous waste, including unused/expired drugs & antimicrobials in the country. Waste segregation is an important area for the country where there is a lot of improvement, but policies have to be made clear and their implementation tight to bring everything together to fruition.
Shared responsibility:
This responsibility for safe discarding of medicines however cannot begin and end with governments alone. Pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers and distributers of medicines, hospitals and any other relevant industry partners should step up and this should be considered a legal responsibility. Very importantly, this properly defined method/flow of medicines will also prevent illegal secondary trade of controlled use medicines.
Other important government stakeholders like pollution control boards, drug regulation boards and other important groups in society are also going to play a vital role in proper implementation of responsibility on the ground! Transparent and well-defined policies and procedures will be vital if this is to be successful.
The above issues are true of many developed and most developing countries, and one would hope that the efforts of the G20 in unifying healthcare response also tastes success in implementing certain universal policies such as safe disposal of antimicrobials to safeguard our environment.
#G20 #G20health #antimicrobials #antimicrobialresistance #antibiotics #antibioticresistance #AMR #governments #policies #law #legal #responsibility #sustainability #socialresponsibility #India #water #land #environment #pollution #waste #wastesegregation #pharmaceuticals #health #implementation #management
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While there are many expectations for improvements in our world health, due to promises in AI, innovations in omics technologies, materials & nanotechnology etc., the actual realization of excellence in healthcare will boil down to getting some basics right!
Not only excellence in treatment of common ailments, but also on improvement of diagnostic tools and preventive health care/wellness, including:
· Availability of vaccines of all kinds to general public
· Regular, mandatory screening programs for common issues like blood pressure, diabetes as well as cancers & other diseases
· Increase in rehabilitation resources for recovering patients from various illnesses including development of communities where people & families can find the necessary support
· Accessibility & resources promoting inclusivity of people with disabilities
· Quality childcare where children are taken care of and also provided with quality stimulation and excellent nutrition for growth
· Women’s and children’s health - more research and research funding allocation
· Rare diseases research and funding allocation has to increase exponentially
· Organ donation - universal improvements in policies, procedures and their implementation
· Neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases – increased workforce, research and sensitization
· Geriatric population studies
· Health, fitness and wellness education; nutrition & exercise physiology
· Mental health research, improvement in international policies and sensitization
Some of the biggest challenges will be in implementing all of the above in addition to latest trends in treatment & diagnostics equally among all countries. Ensuring such accessibility, equity and ethics would remain the biggest challenge in our future. Unless new tools and technologies are monitored for safety & ethics, and made available equally for every man, woman and child, we can unfortunately never claim healthcare for all!