Anger and it's Management

Anger is an emotional state of reaction, and every human being very often experiences it and its effects inevitably. Uncontrolled Anger can result in multiple somatic(physical), psychological disturbances and acute and chronic diseases as well. It can have severe and debilitating side effects on your loved ones, relationships and atmosphere of both home and workplace. There are many causes triggering anger. Some are due to physical stimulations such as external loud noises, tingling, heart palpitations or tightening of the chest, increased blood pressure, headaches, pressure in the head or sinus cavities and fatigue.  Mental factors such as insomnia, anxiety, depression etc.  Other factors include financial and relationship instabilities, over burden of responsibilities, unmet expectations and how an individual was raised as a child.  Research have shown the direct effects on the behaviour of a child and later as an adult of his/her parents' relationship between themselves and the child.

Anger will explode regardless of how hard we try to tamp it down. The true goal of anger management is not to suppress feelings of anger, but rather to understand the cause behind the emotion and express it in a healthy way without letting it get out of control.

Daily issues and continuous stress factors are not limited to our people, Rohingya. Therefore, it is important to understand anger, recognize the triggering factors and how to cope and manage them.

There are many strategic approaches to control one's anger.  Behavioural techniques and cognitive restructuring techniques are found to be effective methods in controlling anger reaction if practiced properly and systematically. Learning to control your anger and express it appropriately will help you build better relationships, achieve your goals; and lead a healthier and more satisfying life.

World Tuberculosis Day 2021

Tuberculosis is a completely curable and preventable disease. Not only a good patients and caregivers’ education is necessary for good patients’ compliance and reduction in the incidence of Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis cases but equally important is the involvement of the community through awareness programmes to remove the stigma related to the disease. Join Rohingya Medics Organisation to hear what you need to know about Tuberculosis.

                                                         World Sleep Day 2021

Our physical and mental health are directly dependent on the quality and quantity of sleep that we get every day. The importance of this fact is underestimated leading to many preventable health conditions and diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Sleep deprivation can lead to Alzheimer´s disease in many people. Humans have not yet evolved to compensate for the chronic sleep deprivation many of us face.

Not only having less sleep hours can be dangerous for our health but even the change in sleep routine can increase the risk of cancers. Shift work involving disruption of normal sleep routines is currently classified as carcinogen by World Health Organisation.

On world sleep day, Rohingya Medics Organisation sheds light on the importance of sleep and few tips on sleep hygiene for healthy sleep.

The World Kidney Day 2021

On 11.03.2021, Rohingya Medics Organisation increases awareness on kidney/renal health to the Rohingya population worldwide.

Due to prolong persecution, the Rohingya in Myanmar and as refugees worldwide are confronted with many barriers in receiving treatments for chronic renal failure. Being unable to afford expensive treatments and facing severe movement restrictions many Rohingya end up with premature deaths in Myanmar. Even the Rohingya refugee population does not have fair access to the treatments of end stage renal failure in countries they seek refuge.

Rohingya Medics Organisation advocates for innovative campaigns on preventive strategies on renal diseases worldwide and recommends international donors and governments hosting refugees to invest in facilities to provide better access to renal care for this unique patient population with equity and solidarity.

Parenting Behaviour On Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. 

 An Overview on Child Sexual Abuse, its trauma on children's brain development and how parents can play a pivotal role in prevention of child sexual abuse.

PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Child abuse is a serious psychological and social concern and is common worldwide. Child abuse occurs in all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment and merciless exploitation resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health (psychological, emotional, and mental), safety, survival, development, and dignity in context of the relationship of responsibility to oneself and others, inter-relationships, social norms, trust, and commitment.

Sexual abuse in children is a hideous criminal offence and this form of child abuse includes sexual relationship with a minor. Sexual abuse in children does not need to include physical contact between a perpetrator and a child. Sexual abuse among children is not always easy to identify or establish as fear is instilled in the victims of grave consequences. The perpetrator could be someone you have known a long time and trust, which may make it even harder to come into notice. As many as 93 % of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser. Physical signs can be bleeding or swelling in genital/perineal areas; bloody, torn, or stained undergarments and difficulty walking or sitting. Urinary incontinence, painful urination and defecation are among other most common presenting complaints. Frequent urinary infections are mostly diagnosed in the victims. Behavioural signs can be developing phobias and exhibiting signs of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, expressions of suicidal thoughts, especially in adolescents. The victims have trouble in school, such as lack of concentration, absences, drops in grades and inability to build lasting friendships. They also suffer from nightmares or bed-wetting. The children return to regressive behaviours such as thumb sucking, self-harm, overly protective for their siblings and assume a caretaker role. They also shrink away or seem threatened by physical contact. Inappropriate sexual knowledge adds more stress to their abuse. The abuse has been linked to changes in the victims’ mental and behavioural development throughout their lives, putting them at risk of engaging in potentially dangerous behaviour in the future.

We all have an instrumental role to protect our innocent children from these perpetrators and preventing further harm to the abused children. Provision of further ongoing support and education to their individual families must not be forgotten.

Rohingya Medics Organisation

All you need to know about Eczema in Rohingya language.

Eczema is a non- contagious skin condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, cracked, and of rough texture.

Certain foods and environmental triggers can cause or even worsen episodes of Eczema flare.

Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of Eczema usually develops in early childhood and is more common in people who have a family history of suffering from the same condition.

Eczema cases among Rohingya refugees are high due to the environmental hostility, living conditions and lack of emollients. Many Rohingya refugees face difficulty in receiving health care. Secondary skin infections as a result of frequent itching, undiagnosed skin ailments, allergies, lack of proper nutrition and poor living conditions and hygiene are common among Rohingya refugees.

Here, Rohingya Medics Organisation talks in detail about Eczema with the hope of reducing cases and complications related to the debilitating skin condition.

“Rising number of fungal skin infection cases among Rohingya refugee population in Cox Bazar,Bangladesh”

Following reports of recent increase in the prevalence of fungal skin infections among Rohingya refugees in Cox Bazar, Rohingya Medics Organisation as promised has come up with a detailed discussion with Rohingya Medics Organisation´s Dermatologist Dr. Ruksana on this infectious and contagious disease. Overcrowded camps, inadequate supplies of clean water and lack of sanitary conditions play a crucially important role in spreading of the disease as it is transmittable in nature.

Untreated and long-standing chronic conditions as well as chronic malnutrition along with certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies also add to the decreased immunity making them extremely vulnerable to this particular infectious skin condition.

Rohingya Medics Organisation makes their best attempt considering the skin diseases and infections suffered by the Rohingya refugees to provide from basic to advance information as part of our preventive public health education project. We strongly believe that Rohingya people suffering from fungal infections affecting different parts of the body will benefit enormously. The probability is extremely high that skin infections like Ringworm/Tinea and many other skin conditions caused by dermatophytes will continue to be a massive problem in these Rohingya refugees taking shelter in the largest and most crowded refugee camp in the world. We recommend that Bangladesh`s Health Ministry and international medical NGOs and other affiliated partners involved in providing health care to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh take this very matter seriously and find an immediate solution. Screening programs might be one quick approach for an early detection and control of this condition among Rohingya refugees in such camps.

Disclaimer: Rohingya Medics Organisation has used some relevant photographs/videos from the camps with patients' informed consent.

Q&A with Dr. A.H Kamal on Covid-19 Vaccination(reproduced from VOA Rohingya lifeline radio)  

Covid-19 Pandemic has come through an extremely dangerous path across the world, infecting more than 100 million and killing more than 2 million people worldwide. The notorious virus is showing no sign of slowing down. The only option to overcome the pandemic is through the vaccination. On the 1st of January 2021, our RMO member Dr A.H Kamal had a Q&A interview with VOA Rohingya lifeline about Covid-19 vaccination. He covered how the vaccine is made and how it works in the body including possible side effects, type.  of vaccines, accessibility, and possibility of vaccination for Rohingya refugees in Burma and Bangladesh. We hope through this very important Q & A session, Rohingya audience will be cleared of any misinformation circulating in different social media platforms and benefit from the correct information provided here.

Viral conjunctivitis

Viral conjunctivitis is one of the most common causes of conjunctivitis which is highly contagious and can be easily treated. It can spread from person to person living in a crowded place, sharing towels, using contaminated water. The virus can be easily found in nasal and eye secretion hence can easily infect another person after shaking hand.

Patient usually gives a history of contact with an infected patient and complains of mild to high-grade fever, sore throat, flu, eyelid oedema , preauricular lymphadenopathy, conjunctival hyperemea. In case of excessive rubbing of eye, the patient can present with conjunctival haemorrhage and chemosis. If the disease process is uncontrolled at this stage then it can lead to keratitis.

Since it is a viral disease, the sign and symptoms usually subside within 7 to 14 days. Therefore there is no specific treatment but the patient can be given symptomatic relief with the help of warm compresses to the eye, saltwater gargles for sore throat and paracetamol for fever.

The patient should be advised to avoid eye rubbing, towel sharing and to wash hands regularly. The disease can be easily treated at home and prevented from progression if the above-mentioned precautions and measures are taken.

PEPTIC ULCER | Dr. Ambia Perveen in Rohingya Language

Dr. Ambia Perveen from Rohingya Medics Organisation (RMO) discusses Peptic Ulcer in details from causes, diagnosis to prevention and treatment.

This series is a collaboration between Rohingya Medics Organisation and RVision TV.

Many cases of high fever among young Rohingya children are being reported across Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Young children between six months to 3 years are showing signs of high fever and some with vomiting symptoms.  Some elderly people are also being affected with main complaints of fever and headaches. Long ques in front of already overwhelmed healthcare centres and being returned with few tablets of Paracetamol are the widely observed complaints.

Bangladesh hosts nearly 1.1 million Rohingya people from Myanmar. There are not sufficient healthcare facilities in these squalid camps forcing people to take desperate measures. Due to lack of awareness of health conditions and decrease and disruption in provision of humanitarian services due to ongoing COVID-19 crisis, there is an increase of fear and hopelessness among Rohingya patients falling sick. A proper communication between the doctors and patients with overcoming the language barrier is vital to decrease this rising anxiety among Rohingya refugees. Rohingya Medics Organisation addresses this though detailed explanation in the hope of bridging the existing gap of communication between health care providers and the Rohingya patients in camps across Bangladesh.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from receiving oxygen and nutrients.

Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential.

BE FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm and Speech) when you see someone with early signs of a stroke.

“Time is Brain” meaning the sooner a person gets to the hospital and receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.

Neuro-rehabilitation and family support are equally important besides the early treatment of stroke.

Everyone can reduce their risk of having a stroke by making a few simple lifestyle changes like – keeping blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol levels in the normal ranges; stop smoking, alcohol and drug abuse; treating heart diseases such as Atrial Fibrillation; be active and maintain a healthy weight.

Viral Hepatitis is prevalent among the Rohingya community living in Myanmar and in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Hepatitis B and C are 10 times higher among Rohingya refugees than the general population of Bangladesh.

Both in Myanmar and Bangladesh, Rohingya face premature-death as the results of liver cirrhosis and liver failure as complications of Hepatitis.

Dr. Ambia and Dr. Anita from Rohingya Medics Organisation discuss various types of Hepatitis and their preventions and treatments on RVision TV.

BACK PAIN | By Dr. Anita Schug in Rohingya Language

Back pain is one of the most common complaints for which people visit a doctor or be absent at work for days at a time.  Back pain can terribly disrupt quality and duration of sleep, reduce the quality of life and lead patients to depression.

It is important to know the red flag symptoms associated with the back pain and when to consult a doctor immediately or else patients can have long-lasting disabling neurological deficits such as urinary incontinence and leg weakness. 

Cessation of smoking, avoid lifting more than 5 kg of weights and heavy objects, avoid sitting for long hours in a row, leading active and non-sedentary lifestyle, maintaining correct walking and sleeping postures are simple every day measures one can practise keeping the back pain at bay. 

A detailed explanation on the spine anatomy, causes of back pain and their treatment options are being explained in Rohingya language.

Oral and Dental Hygiene | Dr. Yasmin Haroon in Rohingya Language

Oral cavity and its primary function

The oral cavity is the first part of the digestive passage. It contains the mouth (including lips), teeth, gums, hard and soft palate, the floor of the mouth just under the tongue) and buccal mucosa (cheeks)

Its primary function is to serve as the entrance of the alimentary canal and to initiate and begin with digestion by chewing (physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces), salivation and propulsion of the bolus (a ball of chewed food particles) down the esophagus.

Oral and dental hygiene is an everyday practice of keeping one's mouth, teeth and gums; and tongue clean; and free of diseases and bad breath. Neglect of or poor hygiene leads to chronic bad breath, tooth decay, tooth loss, sensitive teeth, bleeding from gums, gum disease (Gingivitis), ulcers on buccal mucosa, tongue and gums, oral infection, alimentary canal infection, respiratory infection and cardiac infection such as infective endocarditis. It is imperative that oral hygiene be carried out on a regular basis to enable prevention of oral, dental and other associated diseases and infections.

General guidelines:-

- regular brushing of the teeth and cleaning between the teeth. Brushing the teeth removes dental plaques and bacteria from their surfaces which are directly responsible for the erosion of surface enamel. Brushing twice a day: once in the morning before breakfast and once just before bedtime. Ideally, the teeth must be cleaned after every meal and snack. Flossing is important as it helps in removing building up of tiny food debris and plaque.

- gentle brushing of the gum, buccal mucosa, upper palate and just below the tongue.

- gentle scraping or brushing of the tongue. Do not go deep to avoid gagging.

- rinse with mouthwash solution. Available in the pharmacies. Natural mouthwash can readily be prepared at home: Saline (salt water) It is prepared by adding salt to boiling water and to be used after it cools down. and mint with or without salt added to boiling water and to be used after it cools down. The mouthwash solution should be used (kept in the mouth) for 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes. Mouthwash solution should not be swallowed.

- if toothpaste is unavailable, one can use powdered activated charcoal, a cleaning twig or Datun and Miswak.

- avoidance of tobacco and smoking

- avoid chewing beetal leaves (paan)

- decreased intake of sugar

- increased intake of herbs, vegetables and vegetables (Vitamin D, calcium and floride); and water (fluoridated) and milk (Vitamin D and calcium)

- exposure to sunlight: natural source of Vitamin D

- strict blood glucose control for diabetics.

- controlling one's hypertension.

- treating acid reflux and vomiting (due to gastritis)

- rinsing the mouth thoroughly after consuming citrus fruits and the citric acid erodes the teeth's enamel. Rinsing after drinking coffee and tea beverges to avoid staining surfaces of the teeth and formation of plaques from bacteria breaking down the sugar and lactose from the milk (if the drinks contain any).

- avoiding intake of cold food items and water after consuming hot food and drinks.

- avoiding dry mouth. One can chew on Cardamom, Mint leaves or simply chew sugar-free chewing gum. They also work as oral refreshing agents.

- inspection of the oral cavity and teeth. Visit to the dentist every 6 months for dental cleaning and scaling; and treating any dental caries (tooth decay)

Oral and dental health is an essential and important component of your overall health and well-being. Good oral and dental hygiene practice should be encouraged from an early age. Oral and dental care is a life-long commitment and its absolutely worth the effort.

Betel chewing is a tradition habitual custom since a long time in our community. It takes part to serve guest in social gatherings and functions. It is prepared by combining betel leaf, areca nut, lime, cutch and tobacco, then it is chewed, spat or swallowed.

Let see what the consequences are. Advantages are that our elders’ belief it makes oral cavity free from bad smell and makes our teeth stronger which is unproven. It also creates a feeling of euphoria.

Disadvantages are poor oral hygiene, betel nut interferes with iron absorption which is vital for haemoglobin in our bodies. Fungus on betel nut and tobacco can damage liver (viral hepatitis is common in our community). Betel chewing is also considered as uncivilized for indiscriminate betel spitting. Betel is a confirm carcinogen by WHO (World Health Organisation).

There have been several drugs dependency since early history such as Opium (morphine/heroine), Ganja /marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, glue-sniffing, Phensedyl and other cough mixtures, and the latest popular methamphetamine known as Yaba.

Yaba is believed to be prevalent in our region.

Yaba is a tablet mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine usually marked as WY . It is commonly known as nickname dana in Rohingya language.

Methamphetamine is CNS (brain and electrical system) stimulant. it was used before as medicine in some conditions but not used anymore.

Another tan tablet form, the methamphetamine is also available as a powder, paste and crystal. The powder is called speed and crystal form is known as ice. The powder is usually swallowed but the other two forms are sniffed or injected.

ကုိ႐ုိနာဗုိင္းရပ္စ္ COVID-19 ကူးစက္မႈမွ ကာကြယ္ရန္ အခ်က္ (၅) ခ်က္ | Five Steps to Combat COVID-19 (Burmese Language)

အခ်က္ (၁)
လက္ကုိ ဆပ္ျပာနဲ႔ စင္ၾကယ္စြာ ေဆးေျကာပါ။

အခ်က္ (၂)
ေခ်ာင္းဆုိးႏွာေခ်လ်င္ တံေတာင္ဆစ္ သုိ႔မဟုတ္ တစ္ရႉးနဲ႔ အုပ္ၿပီး ႏွာေခ်ပါ။ (အသုံးျပဳၿပီးသား တစ္ရႉးကုိ) စနစ္တက် လႊတ္ပစ္ပါ။

အခ်က္ (၃)
လူစုလူေဝး မလုပ္ပါနဲ႔။ လက္ဆြဲႏႈတ္ဆက္ျခင္းကုိ ေရွာင္ၾကဥ္ပါ။

အခ်က္ (၄)
ဖ်ားနာ၊ ေခ်ာင္းဆုိး အသက္ရႉက်ပ္လ်င္ နီးစပ္ရာ ဆရာဝန္နဲ႔ ျပသပါ။

အခ်က္ (၅)
မေၾကာက္ၾကပါနဲ႔။ မစုိးရိမ္ျကပါနဲ႔။ ကုိ႐ုိနာဗုိင္းရပ္စ္ update သတင္းကုိ နားစြင့္ပါ။

Rohingya Medics Organization က သတင္းအခ်က္အလက္ကုိ ႏွစ္သက္တယ္ဆုိရင္ အားလုံးကုိ မ်ွေဝေပးပါ။ ကုိ႐ုိနာဗုိင္းရပ္စ္ အႏၲရာယ္က ကာကြယ္ႏုိင္ေအာင္ လုပ္ပါ။

SHOW LESSHYPERTENSION (High Blood Pressure) and Its Control | Dr. Sarwar Kamal in Rohingya Language  Dr. Sarwar Kamal discusses about high blood pressure, its control and prevention.