Christmas Painting Competition

What can be more memorable than to celebrate Christmas Day with children by organizing a painting and drawing competition! The Ambassador of India H.E.Mr Sanjay Kumar Verma and his wife Mrs Gunjan Verma spent Christmas Day with 52 children from the Indian community. The Indian Ladies Club organized this painting and drawing competition at the Ambassador’s residence. They split the children in three age groups with three different themes. The youngest group was of the age range 5-8 years and were given the subject ‘My Merry Christmas’ with crayons, sketch pens and pencil colours; the age group 9-12 years had the theme ‘Sudan through My Eyes’ in water colours and ‘A Glimpse of the Future World’ was the topic for the age group 13-16. The winners in the youngest group from first to third were Kritika Sharma, Mantasna Sheikh and Palak Sawan Kamdar. The winners in the middle group from first to third were Shakuntala Brahmam, Ronit Roy and M.V. Amalendhu. In the group from 13-16 years the first prize was won by Yasyasvi Murali, second by Divya Sekar and the third prize went to Prateek Samal. All 52 children went home with a certificate and a message that the most important thing is not winning but in taking part.

First Conference of Hypertension in Khartoum

When did you last get your Blood Pressure measured? The same question was asked by Prof. Mohamed Mustafa Kardash to a large group of Registrars of Medicine and found that very few had actually measured their BP in the recent past. Much awareness is needed in this country about Hypertension –the silent killer.

The first conference of Hypertension was held on 20^th & 21^st December at Hotel Grand Holiday Villa in Khartoum. At the inauguration on 19^th December Prof.Siddig Ibrahim Khaleel presented that the changing habits and life style due to urbanization was increasing the prevalence of Hypertension in Sudan. Our eating habits are changing from traditional food to eating out fast foods, diets with refined carbohydrates, high salt content, saturated fats with minimal physical activities, smoking and Diabetes. With these risk factors Hypertension is a major cause for Heart Attacks and Brain Attacks leading to sufferings and death. Prof.Siddig added that the prevalence of hypertension is almost 40% of patients seen in hospitals in Khartoum.

Consultants from different disciplines like Cardiology, Neurology, Radiology and others spoke with various perspectives and findings related to Hypertension. The two day conference was house full with junior doctors. Someone observed that 85% of the attendees were women.

Amna Abdalla Babiker from the department of Biochemistry made an interesting presentation about her study with fresh water melon juice which has the potential of reducing high blood pressure and reducing cholesterol.

Prof. Hassan Abu-Aisha shared that 87% of people in Khartoum are inactive with no physical exercise. His prescription is minimum half an hour physical exercise per day and has registered Sudan Safe Exercise for All (SEFA). In fact he made all attendees in the conference stand up and perform a few exercises. He emphasized the need to strengthen the musculoskeletal system and to potentiate the breathing by utilizing all the air sacs in the lungs. Prof.Abu-Aisha mentioned that regular physical exercises helped in both primary and secondary prevention of all diseases ranging from Hypertension, Diabetes to Cancer.

Everyone congratulated Dr.Ibtisam Ahmed Ali, President of Sudanese Society of Hypertension, for successfully organizing the conference. She encouraged the Young Sudanese Investigators by endorsing their innovation of Sudanese Stress Ring. The only regret was that the two foreign experts Prof.Peter M.Nilsson from Sweden and Prof.Daniel Lemogoum from Cameroon could not make it to the conference.

It takes all sorts…

My faith in humanity is restored everyday by incidents such as these. It takes all sorts to make a world.

Last night when I came back from work, I opened the boot and found that my professional bag had been stolen. But unfortunately for the thief there wasn’t much worth in the bag. Only a few physicians samples, brochures and papers. Not even a few Sudanese pounds.

Early this morning while I was having my first cup of tea, a quiet voice called me on my cell phone and asked whether this was the right number. He said he was Mohamed Fageer and had my bag. We decided to meet at the Shergy Bus Stop. He said he found the bag in his ‘Amjad’ the local van cab. Some men had got in last night. It was only this morning when the regular school children got in they showed him my bag. Luckily my business card was in the bag where he got my contact number. The thief  had left my bag in the transport.

I thanked Mohamed Fageer and gave him a small reward which he accepted reluctantly.

My faith in humanity is restored everyday by incidents such as these. It takes all sorts to make a world.

Indian Scholarships for Sudanese Students

From time immemorial, India has been a centre for learning. India can claim to be one of the leading countries providing quality higher education to its people as well as to students and scholars from countries all over the world. Indian Universities have made significant contribution in the frontiers of science and technology and these centres have been extending their cooperation to students of other developing countries.

Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi helps formulate and implement policies pertaining to India’s external cultural relations, to foster mutual understanding between India and other countries and to promote cultural exchanges with other peoples.

In keeping with the objectives, ICCR has Scholarship Scheme for Africa in the Academic Session 2014-15. The Embassy of India, Khartoum has announced twenty seven (27) Scholarships for Under Graduate/ Post Graduate Courses for Sudanese nationals resident in Sudan. Subjects of study encompass science,  engineering, technology, humanities, arts, music, dance and performing arts.

 Application form along with guidelines meant for the students are available on the website of the Embassy (www.indembsdn.com).Fluency in English is a pre-requisite. Students are required to pass an English Proficiency Test conducted by the Embassy during evaluation of their applications. Embassy of India will provide return economy class airfares to selected students to the airport closest to the place of study in India. The last date for receipt of applications is January 16, 2014.

Buying Capacity in Khartoum

The press has reported that in Sudan the current rate of inflation is 42%. Wheat is in short supply. Sugar is a commodity with a very high consumption and yet only a smaller pack is now in supply. Ironically going by the buying capacity of the people in Khartoum one does not get the real picture of the economy. This picture below was clicked at 11:30 pm in front of a popular super market in Khartoum.

Hamara Bajaj

Auto Rickshaws or Tuk Tuks are a major mode of transportation in Sudan. They are locally called ‘Raksha’ but in Ethiopia ,Uganda and Tanzania they are called ‘Bajaj’ or ‘Bajaji’ after the  Indian company which manufactures them. This is one product available in Sudan which is solely imported from India. Hamara Bajaj

Congratulations Tahani Attia

My friend Dr. Anwar Ahmed Osman introduced me to her in her office. I think it was on the 16^th floor of the tallest building in Sudan. The Telecom building on Nile Street . Tahani Abdalla Attia  was the State Minister of Science and Communication then. I took a picture of the Blue Nile and Manshiya Bridge from her window. I found her to be a very simple and intelligent lady. She was in the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture at the University of Khartoum before her Ministerial post. Today I read the news about her promotion as Federal Minister of Science & Communication and sent her a Congratulatory message through SMS. Prompt came her reply thanking me.I wish her all the best.

Nile Plast Expo 2013

There has been an increasing demand for plastic products in Sudan. The 6^th International Exhibition for Plastics Industries and Technology from 2^nd to 5^th December at Khartoum International Fair Grounds is a golden opportunity for cooperation and integration between exhibitors, suppliers and prospective buyers.

Nile Plast Expo 2013 is the only exhibition of its kind in Sudan for plastic & rubber industries and technologies. Products range from Machinery equipment for the plastics & rubber industries, Raw materials, polymers, resins & compositives; Agriculture and irrigation necessities; Sanitary ware, pipes & hoses; Feeding industries & engineering plastics; Household products; Packaging & containers; Film applications; Flexible packaging; Fittings; Recycling Machinery;  Ancillary equipment; Thermo Plastics; Additives; Plastic machinery parts & components; Plastic Recycling Technologies; Plastic Filtering Systems; Plastic Blow Moulds; Pet Bottle Moulds and Injection Moulds.

It is worth mentioning that 16 Indian Plastics Company are showcasing their wide range of products, under Plastics Export Promotion Council (Plexconcil) in association with the Embassy of India, Khartoum.

 

India Sudan Bilateral Relations

 

India Sudan relations have been traced back to almost 5000 years during Nile Valley Civilisation and Indus Valley Civilisation. The pastoral people in North East Sudan known as Bejas claim to have originated from India.

The Black Funj Sultanate with its capital in Sennar traded with India in silk, silver ornaments, leather and gold through Suakin Port way back in 1699.

The first Indian trader from Rajkot arrived in Suakin in 1856.

In the first decade of the last century, two steel suspension bridges which are still in use in Khartoum and Atbara were imported from India.

In 1900 Indian experts started building Sudan’s forestry sector.

After Independence of both nations the bilateral relations strengthened and both the nations have been accommodative of each other’s concerns.

Many Heads of State and Ministers, both of India and Sudan have visited each other’s country from 1955 to recent times.

The India-Sudan Joint Committee, which was formed in January 1995, was upgraded to a Joint Commission at Ministerial level in June 1997. This happened during the visit of Ali Osman Taha who was the Foreign Minister then. The India Sudan Ministerial Commission first met in November 1997 at New Delhi and again in Khartoum in April 2000.

Subsequently, the first India Sudan Foreign Office Consultation between the two countries was held in September 2000 in Khartoum. The second in January 2001 in New Delhi and the third in Khartoum in December2002 and the fourth in New Delhi in February 2005. The fifth round of India Sudan Foreign Office Consultation was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khartoum on November 28, 2013.

The Indian delegation was comprised of the Indian Ambassador to Sudan Mr. Sanjay K Verma, Mr.Sandeep Kumar Joint Secretary (West Asia and North Africa) of Ministry of External Affairs of India, First Secretary Mr.Subhash P.Gupta and Attaché Mr.Brahmam. They met Ambassador Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad (Director General of Bilateral Affairs), Ambassador Addil Ibrahim (Director Asian Affairs), Ambassador Gamal Elsheikh Ahmed (Director Arab Affairs), Dr. Emad Elddin Merghani Altohamy and Mr. Tarig Salih who represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan.

 At this high level meeting, the consultation mechanism reviewed the current structure of bilateral relations in the different categories and issues of mutual concerns and interests both at a regional level and with a global perspective. The future bilateral foreign policy initiatives between the two countries were evaluated in order to further reinforce the existing relationship to its fullest potential. It was agreed upon to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultation at New Delhi in the second half of 2014.

To say the least, this writer found the Ambassador of India a very happy man at the end of the meeting.

Tennis Tournament in Khartoum

 

The 2^nd ONGC Nile Ganga BV Tennis Tournament was held from 28^th November’13 to 30^th November’13 at the excellent tennis court in the ONGC Residential Complex in Omak Street, Riyadh, Khartoum. The tournament was sponsored and hosted by ONGC the giant Oil Company of India. The tournament was organized by the active members of Kerala Cultural Activity Centre (KCA). The Ambassador of India H.E. Sanjay Kumar Verma inaugurated the tournament and gave away the prizes to the winners on the concluding day. The winner of the singles finals was Vijay Thakur of ONGC and Rajeev Karukayil the President of KCA was runner up. In the Doubles the winners were Vijay Thakur and Sudhakar Byrisetty both from ONGC and the runners up were Rajeev Karukayil and Devesh Shankhdar from WFP. There was also a Random Doubles in which the partners were chosen by lots at random. In this category the winners were Vijay Thakur and Shyamal Das again both from ONGC and the runners up were Rajeev Karukayil from Zain and Gagandip Singh from Ericsson. Vijay Thakur emerged victor in every category. A large section of the Indian community was present at the tournament who thanked Mr.Banwari Jha the Country Manager of ONGC for sponsoring and hosting the tennis tournament.

 

World Congress of Echinococcosis in Khartoum

Khartoum is currently hosting an International Meet. It is the 25^th World Congress of Echinococcosis. This is also the 2^nd African Regional Hydatidology Congress. This Congress of International Association of Hydatidology (IAH) is in collaboration with Cystic Echinococcosis Sub-Saharan Africa Research Initiative (CESSARi) and Sudan Hydatid Society (SHS). The tops scientists and researchers of Hydatidology are in the capital city of Sudan. They are from more than 20 countries- Portugal, Germany, China, Australia, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, USA, Iran, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Kenya, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Tunisia, Grenada, Pakistan and South Sudan.

This Congress is being held at Friendship Hall from 23^rd to 27^th November’13. It was inaugurated by the Vice President of the Republic of Sudan H.E. Dr. AlHaj Adam. In his inaugural speech His Excellency welcomed all the International delegates attending the Congress. He reassured them that Sudan is a very safe country, contrary to what they may have thought or heard. He also said that this kind of International Congress in Sudan will not only benefit the people of Sudan but also the whole mankind. He regretted that US sanctions in Sudan were not only economic but also scientific because the researchers in Sudan are deprived of scientific papers but this kind of International Scientific meet breaks open the wall of embargo.

Prof. Mamoun Homeida the Health Minister of Khartoum State also spoke at the opening. Welcoming the delegates he said that the world is united at this conference to fight a disease. We were all busy in fighting against Malaria, HIV and TB and there was a drift from the neglected tropical disease of Echinococcosis. To fight this disease a partnership is required between the doctors of humans and animals as well. He complemented Prof. Mohamed Elamin Ahmed for his work done in the field of Hydatid cyst diseases in Sudan, being a Cardiac surgeon. Prof. Mamoun Homeida also proudly announced the successful elimination of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) and Guinea Worm disease in Sudan.

Two top names in this field attending this Congress are Professor Peter Kern from Germany who is the President of WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (IWGE) who is also the Chairman of the Scientific Committee at the Congress and Professor Antonio Menezes da Silva from Portugal who is the President of International Association of Hydatidology.

The topics which will be discussed in the conference are Immuno-genetics of the disease; population screening; surgery and non-invasive procedures; diagnostics and challenges; prevention and control; and social and economical impact of Echinococcosis.

The term hydatid disease describes infection with the larval stage of Tapeworm –Echinococcus species. Transmission is from eggs found in faeces of dogs and accidentally swallowed, usually by children. The eggs develop over many years to form fluid-filled cysts in various organs, particularly the liver. The term Tapeworm describes a group of parasitic worms that live in the gut of animals, including humans. These infestations are found worldwide. They can be caused when humans consume raw or undercooked animal products that contain the worm larvae. Humans also become infested after close contact with animals like cats and dogs.

The Congress Chairman Professor Mohamed Elamin Ahmed has also scheduled a visit for the foreign delegates to the Kingdom of Kush to see Meroe dam, Jebel AlBarkal and the pyramids in the area. They will also taste delicious Sudanese cuisine of Kisra, Tamia and Asida.

Around the World on a Bicycle, now in Khartoum

Somen Debnath comes from the largest Tiger reserve forest in India called Sunderbans, West Bengal. He is away from home for the last nine years, since 27^th May 2004. He was 20 then and had just graduated with a degree in Zoology and an additional degree in Fine Arts. He left home on a bicycle. For the first two years he pedaled across the length and breadth of his own country India and then started his odyssey to travel all over the world with only $17.

When Somen Debnath was 14 years old, he read an article about AIDS being a deadlier disease than cancer. It was about a homeless person suffering from AIDS, who lay down in front of the hospital in Kolkata, abandoned by his village and was left to die alone. This impacted him to dedicate his life to spreading awareness about this destructive disease. What started out as an effort to educate his village of Basanti in Sunderbans of India has now become a world- wide campaign, having already covered 81 countries.

He has so far visited 24 countries in Asia, 10 countries in Middle East, 42 countries in Europe and 4 countries in North Africa. He is presently in Sudan. He now plans to cover 36 countries in Africa.,  Somen Debnath has been received by 17 Presidents, 49 Prime Minister,160 different Ministers and 79 Ambassadors of India.

His time from 2015 to 2017 will be dedicated South Pole, South and North America. In 2018 he plans to pedal to Canada, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia and China. In 2019 he will go to Korea, Japan, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. Somen will pedal to Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh in 2020 and then cycle back to India on 27^th May 2020 to complete his 16 years bicycle odyssey, arguably the longest bicycle journey.

Somen’s goal is to pedal 200,000 km and cover 191 countries till 2020 and reach out to 20 million people. Apart from spreading awareness of HIV/AIDS, Somen also talks of Indian Culture, yoga and carries the message of peace. In all these countries he visited he has met students in schools and universities to communicate his message. During his travels he has had the opportunity to share his experience and knowledge in Davos the World Economic Forum and in Oxford University, which Somen humbly admits is a great achievement for him.

Somen has had some terrible experiences during his travels. In Afghanistan he was kidnapped by armed militants of the Taliban and kept captive for 24 days. He was blind folded, tied up to a chair and beaten up badly. He then survived by cooking Indian curry for them and proving that he was not a spy but only an adventurist with a peaceful mission. He narrowly escaped a bomb blast in Iraq. His bicycle was stolen in Bulgaria, Poland and Germany and was also mugged in other countries.

Despite all the misgivings he smiles to say that he has made good friends in all these countries he has visited. He takes pride in saying that he is giving 16 years of his life to the world aiming to share the happiness.

His dream is to build a ‘Global Village’ after 2020 when he is back home in India. His plan is to build a complex of houses on an area of eight hectares to provide visitors from around the world with an opportunity to live and interact with each other. It will be a self-sustaining and self-sufficient venture where guests will have the opportunity to cultivate their own crops and fruits on a 4-hectare farm. If you want to be part of his dream you can fulfill it by meeting him in Khartoum. He will be here for a week or so. His email address is somenglobe@gmail.com and his mobile number is +249999126405

14th November - World Diabetes Day, Children's Day in India

Today is World Diabetes Day. In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on 14^th November, the birthday of the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He emphasized the importance of giving love and affection to children, whom he saw as the bright future of India. WHO states that Type 2 Diabetes accounts for around 90% of all diabetes worldwide. Reports of type 2 diabetes in children – previously rare- have increased worldwide. In some countries, it accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents. Let us stop junk food and fizzy drinks to prevent diabetes in children.

Reading for Meaning

Prof.Eddie Williams

If you are ‘barking at these prints’ then you are reading it aloud but this also means that you may not understand the meaning. Reading is the process of perceiving and understanding the meaning of written language. The purposes of your reading may be skimming-to get information about the text; scanning-to get information from the text; intensive- learning or using the language; extensive –pleasure or interest . These are the various reading styles presented by Professor Eddie Williams at the British Council English Language Forum. He spoke on ‘Enjoy English Reading –How Teachers Can Help’ to an audience of 250 teachers of English language at Corinthia Hotel, Khartoum. It was an interesting, interactive and learning workshop for the Sudanese teachers.

Prof. Eddie Williams is a retired professor of applied linguistics from the University of Reading and University of Bangor. His research has focused upon the teaching and assessing of reading in English as a second language, and the relationship between language, education and development. He currently works on language-related projects for the British Council, mainly in Africa.

English is now read by about 2 billion people all over the world. There is a need amid the younger people in Sudan to learn English language.

The British Council in Sudan is working with the Ministry of Education and key organizations to improve access to quality English Language learning for all trainers, teachers and students. British Council has been working with institutions like University of Khartoum, Khartoum State Ministry of Health, Bank of Sudan, Ibn Sina Hospital to provide books and periodicals suited to their needs. It is now easy to order books, periodicals and journals from the UK with the British Council in Sudanese Pounds.

  

Afra Mall partners World Heart Day

On Thursday 7th November there were some unusual activities at the new-look Afra Mall. World Heart Day was being observed by Doctors who volunteered to offer a free health check up. Shoppers got their BP measured, their height, weight and random blood sugar measured and smokers got their breath-gas evaluated and received counselling. These received positive response and was extended till 9^th November. On the 7^th evening the venue was the Green Yard where more than hundred people walked as a pledge to keep their heart healthy. World Heart Day in Khartoum has been an initiative by Cardiac Surgeon Dr.Ahmed Elsayeed for the last several years.
            

New Year’s Celebrations in Omdurman

The Indian community of Omdurman celebrated their New Year's evening on 4^th November at the Indian club in Omdurman. Young brothers and sisters of the community danced to their favourite Hindi film songs with enthusiasm and energy. To greet them on this auspicious day was the Vice Governor of Omdurman Yassein Ahmed Mohamed and the Chief of Omdurman Police Yassir Al Kitiyabi. Charge d’Affairs of the Indian Embassy Subhash P Gupta wished the Gujarati community a Very Happy Diwali and New Year. Dr.Anil Kumar Mithani President of the Indian Community welcomed and congratulated the community members. Vice Governor Yassein made an interesting observation that both the Hijri New Year and Gujarati New Year coincided at the same time. This was only the tip of the ice berg of the similarities of culture between India and Sudan.

                                                                                              

Flying Sikh & Paan Singh Tomar

Milkha Singh and Paan Singh Tomar. Both were Athletes in the Indian Army and donned the Indian colours at International meets including the Olympics.Both broke records and brought glory to the nation. The former in 400 metres and the latter in Steeplechase. While Milkha Singh remains a well sung hero, Paan Singh Tomar an unsung hero. Situation compelled him to be a rebel after leaving the army and died in a police encounter. Thanks to the film 'Paan Singh Tomar', the actor Irfan Khan won the best actor award in the title role and we learnt about many unsung heroes in the field of sports...

Nocturnal Car Assault

Khartoum has always been very safe and secured. People have said that Khartoum is the safest capital city in the Arab and the African world. I have every reason to believe this. However certain stray incidents let us down and we feel frustrated. During the recent protests against petrol price hike some non protesters took the opportunity and destroyed certain property in the streets. My friend happened to be a victim of such a situation. It is very common in Khartoum to park our cars at night outside the house in the streets. When my friend got up in the morning he found his car as in the picture.I think the spare parts must have been recycled in the city. We need to think twice before parking our cars at night in the streets.

Namaste to Sudan through Sudan Vision

Our journey started together eleven years ago in Khartoum. I have been associated with Sudan Vision ever since, both as a reader and as a freelance contributor.

Sudan Vision has always given space to the Indian community in Sudan.

This also reflects the space that Sudanese people have for Indians in their minds and heart. The emotions are reciprocal.

Historians have traced indications of direct contact between India and the Kingdom of Kush - Napata and Meroe (750 BC to 300 AD). Today there are about 2000 persons in the Indian community spread all over Sudan. The first Indian trader from this community arrived in Suakin in 1856. The first Sudanese Parliamentary elections in 1953 were conducted by Sukumar Sen, India’s Chief Election Commissioner (the Sudanese Election Commission, formed in 1957, drew heavily on Indian election literature and laws).

In April 1955 there was a Sudanese delegation at Bandung (Indonesia) to attend the Conference of Africa and Asia. Since Sudan was still not independent and did not have a national flag yet, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote out Sudan on his white handkerchief and created a flag for Sudan.

My Sudanese friends keep telling me that India has made its mark as a major player in global economy, as a nuclear power nation with technological advancements in the IT software and pharmaceutical sectors. Hindi films are very popular and have made its presence felt in the salons of almost every household. Above all, the most respected Indian personality in Sudan is Mahatma Gandhi.

When it comes to leadership studies the only Indian name that stands out internationally is Mahatma Gandhi. In a recent global survey of CEOs, Mahatma Gandhi figures among the top three most admired leaders in the world. There has been enormous research and studies done on the Leadership style of the ‘Great Soul’ and books written on him as CEO. He is considered a supremely practical leader for change.

Mahatma Gandhi is named the Father of the Nation because he stimulated and enabled the re-birth of India. This he could achieve by mastering the elements of leadership and institutional management.

Researchers hold Mahatma Gandhi as the Indian model of ‘Servant Leadership’ in relation to his qualities of service, self-sacrificial love, spirituality, integrity, simplicity, emphasizing follower needs and modeling.

Some studies show that Gandhiji had ‘Situational Leadership’ style. This means he had adjusted his style to fit the development level of the followers he influenced. When Gandhiji was in South Africa, he launched his protests in a suit and a tie. When he came back to India, he thought of home-made Khadi and launched non-violent protests on a greater scale.

As Indians abroad, foreigners identify us as people from the land of Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi has inspired many International leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi , Philippine leader Benigno Aquino Jr., Dalai Lama, Lech Wałęsa and Stephen Biko. Former US Vice- President and environmentalist Al Gore has acknowledged Gandhiji’s influence on him. Beatle John Lennon had said that Mahatma Gandhi influenced his music with his practice of non-violence.

It is interesting that the President of the most powerful nation Barack Obama is inspired by our Father of the Nation. He said, “Throughout my life, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an inspiration, because he embodies the kind of transformational change that can be made when ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things”.

Albert Einstein wrote Gandhi is a role model for the generations to come.

Mahatma Gandhi had stopped over in Port Sudan in 1935 on his way to England. If Gandhi was still alive and had landed in Khartoum, his message would have been “I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before any one even at the cost of your life”.

Educators-led Diabetes Mini Clinics in Sudan

 

“There are 1.7 million diabetic patients in Sudan” said Prof.Mohamed Ali Eltom, “and the number is increasing because of the social life. Consumption of excessive sugar, starch, oil and no exercise is the cause. We need to work on both prevention and care at the primary level”.

Diabetes Care Organization (DCO) was formed three years ago under the Chairmanship of Prof. Mohamed Ali Eltom. DCO is a non-profit organization comprising health professionals, businessmen, social activists spread across 12 states in Sudan who work with Diabetics, provide them with medications, advocacy, tell them about patient rights and carry out awareness campaigns on diabetes. They had a campaign last Thursday in a village called Kabashi in Khartoum North.

Under the leadership of former Ambassador Dr.Mohamed Ali Eltom, DCO has initiated a one year post graduate diploma course for ‘Diabetes Educators’. This is in collaboration with the University of Ahfad and the Federal Ministry of Health. This course will be provided for 100 healthcare professionals. The course will consist of a three-month intensive training at the University of Ahfad that includes lectures, workshops, student presentations, and clinical work. The curriculum of the course is based on the “International Curriculum for Diabetes Health Professional Education” designed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Upon successful completion and examination of the postgraduate course, students will be granted a diploma in diabetes education. The course has been approved by the scientific board of the University of Ahfad, and accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Following the course, diabetes educators will complete a nine month internship at Diabetes Mini Clinics, and sign contracts to work at the DMC for three years after completing the training program. In addition, the diabetes educators will be the focal point of the Diabetes Association and act as diabetes coordinators for the district health authority. The DMCs will be integrated into the existing health care system. The key feature of the DMCs will be self-management and care training delivered by well-informed diabetes educators and medical practitioners. Each DMC will dedicate at least one day per year for community diabetes screening and awareness.

Prof.Mohamed Al Eltom said that the Diabetes Centre in Dongula is the best so far with mobile clinic, awareness programmes and patient monitoring. DCO provides only technical support but no financial assistance.

Life saving medicines donated to Khartoum State Ministry of Health

We are all aware that recent rains and floods have affected thousands of people in Khartoum and other areas. Some of the people have lost their lives and the rest have lost their homes and property. As an aftermath of this crisis the major problem that arises in the affected people are diseases like malaria, gastrointestinal infections and other infections. As a social responsibility to help the affected people, Fast International Company a leading importer of medicines from India, Jordan, Cyprus, Austria, Switzerland and Egypt donated life saving medicines and other medications to the Khartoum State Ministry of Health on 2^nd September’13. Dr.Mamoun Homeida thanked Dr.Tarig Mohy Eldin Algemiabi the Chairman & CEO of the company. The value of the medicines donated was SDG 400 million. Dr.Tarig was happy to extend this help because the State Ministry he said knows where and who are the needy people for these medications.

The Changing Role of Community Pharmacists FROM DRUG DISPENSATION TO MEDICAL INFORMATION

According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy in USA, there are as many as 7000 deaths annually from incorrect prescriptions. These Medication Errors can occur in hospitals or pharmacies and the error may be made by any of the staff involved with choosing or dispensing medication.

 Medication Errors may be of the following types:

Inappropriate medications: the wrong medication given for a disease.

Wrong medication: the patient gets the wrong medication despite the doctor prescribing the correct one.

Drug name mix-ups:  several medications have similar-sounding names and can be mixed up by doctors or pharmacists.

Wrong medication combinations:  there are numerous types of medications that should not be mixed, because of side-effects and cross-reactions when combined.

Adverse reactions to medications:  some people have allergic or other adverse reactions to certain medications. These are risks and not necessarily avoidable mistakes if the person has no previous history of a particular adverse reaction.

Side Effects of medication:  Almost all medications have some types of side effects. Some are mild and some not so mild. It is almost impossible to know whether a person will have side effects from a medication.

Non-compliance: the failure to follow your medication regimen can be a mistake made usually by the patient.

A survey in the city of Khartoum revealed that the drug mix-ups due to similar sounding drugs may occur between Podoxime and Poxidium; Diaxine and Digoxin; Methycobal and Methyldopa; Yesolon and Yesytion. Each one of these names is a different medicine prescribed for different diseases. The mix- ups happen more when the prescriber’s handwriting is not very clear.

Sometimes a Doctor prescribes Chloramphenicol Eye Drops but by mistake Chloramphenicol Ear Drops is dispensed to the patient due to unclear handwriting of the words Eye and Ear.

Sometimes mistakes are made because the packaging is very similar of different medications. The bottles of Yexoral and Yamidine look similar and when Pharmacists are very busy at the counter such mistakes may occur. The former is a mouth wash and the latter an antiseptic solution.

As a consumer you can avoid these errors by going back to the Physician with the medication dispensed to you for verification.

The best way to minimize Medication Errors is by continuous training and development of Community Pharmacists and by providing Medical Information Services to Pharmacists.

Community Pharmacists are recognized as the expert on medicines , the most accessible healthcare professional, often the first point of contact for patients with health enquiries and for some the only contact. There are Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which assure quality and consistency of the service. This enables the Pharmacist to follow good dispensing procedures which comprises checking the prescription that it is clinically correct for the patient, checking drug interactions, labeling, re-checking accuracy against prescription and delivery to the patient with the appropriate advice about the medication.

Khartoum Medicines Information Centre (KhMIC) was established by the General Directorate of Pharmacy –Khartoum State in the year 2000, aiming at developing the pharmaceutical services provided to citizens and medical care professionals. KhMIC provides many services including responding to all questions and queries related to medicines and received from customers using the latest methods.

For the first time in Sudan, an electronic Patient Medication Record (ePMRx) and Labeling System has been installed at Khartoum Centre for Pharmaceutical Care Practice (KCPCP).

Dr.Abdelrahman Hamid Ahmed B.Pharm, M.Sc, PhD, MAPS of the University of Bath, U.K. keeps visiting Khartoum from time to time to conduct workshops under the Ministry of Health for Pharmacists. He has introduced MiDatabank, a Windows software application that enables Medical Information Pharmacists to answer, record, store and analyse Medical Information Enquiries, Complaints and Adverse Drug Reactions. Dr. Abdelrahman  Hamid Ahmed  has made it his mission to upgrade the professionalism of Community Pharmacists in Sudan and introduce the concept of Medical Information Pharmacists.

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Captions for Photographs:

      Above: Khartoum Centre for Pharmaceutical Care Practice

Below:     Dr.Abderahman Hamid Ahmed

Celebration and Remembrance - Indian Ambassador requests Indian community to observe 2 minutes silence for lives lost in recent floods in Sudan and Northern India amidst celebrations of 66th anniversary of Indian Independence Day

Last Thursday, on 15^th August ’13, India celebrated the 66^th Anniversary of its Independence Day. The Indian community in Sudan assembled in the morning at India House in Khartoum, the official residence of the Ambassador of India to Sudan. His Excellency Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma unfurled the Indian national flag and the national anthem was sung. He then extended his warm welcome to the Indian community on the special occasion and read out the highlights of the President of India’s message to the nation. The message started with homage to Mahatma Gandhi who shaped the liberation of the nation.The Ambassador then requested the community to observe two minutes silence in remembrance of the lives lost in recent floods both in Sudan and Uttarakhand in India. This was followed by a cultural programme in which children and ladies sang patriotic songs to commemorate India’s Independence.

Kerala Cultural Activity Centre (KCA) has been organizing this annual event for the Indian community in Khartoum for the last twelve years. The aim of the event is to celebrate Eid and Onam together which is attended by more than 1000 people from the Indian community residing in Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri and the peripheries.

The core members of KCA are from Kerala, the tiniest state in the Southern tip of India. People from Kerala are very enterprising and comprise the majority of Indian expat community in the Gulf and neighbouring countries. Onam is a harvesting festival celebrated in Kerala and is symbolized by the home coming of King Mahabali. These festivities of Kerala are recreated by KCA in this grand yearly get-together of the community at St.Francis School in Khartoum. This year it was held on Saturday 10^th August in order to celebrate Eid at the same time.

The Eid & Onam Fest has become popular because KCA has not restricted the event to people from Kerala only but opened it to all Indians irrespective of their region. Thus the variety entertainment programme  staged at this festival truly represents the diversity of India. New talents are discovered every year amongst children, mothers and men who perform dances, sing regional songs and recite poems. The festivities are concluded with a traditional and sumptuous vegetarian meal.  

An additional feature this year was the cooking competition which was held in the morning. There were eight contestants who cooked wonderful dishes. This competition was sponsored by Petrola LPG gas the new name for Gapco.

It is worth mentioning that the Ambassador of India H.E. Mr. Sanjay Kumar Verma and his wife Mrs.Gunjan Verma encouraged the community with their active presence during the cooking competition in the day and at the cultural programme in the evening.

Sudan Bids Farewell to ONGC Chief Dr.Anil Bhandari

The river Nile in Sudan is pronounced as An neel. It sounds similar to Anil. This perhaps is one reason which brought Anil Bhandari to Sudan on 6^th July 2011 as Country Manager and Executive Director of ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL). OVL is India’s largest international oil and gas exploration and production company.

Dr.Anil Bhandari’s contribution in Sudan in these two years has been exemplary. During his tenure as country manager, the GNPOC operating company accreted highest ever reserves of 93.33 MMSTB and initiated Improved Oil Recovery and Enhanced Oil Recovery (IOR/EOR) program in Heglig and Bamboo fields of Sudan. This key highlight of his achievement involved delicate handling of sensitive situation in partitioned Sudan regime while preserving the ONGC/OVL interests intact. 

The Corporate Responsibility Programs in the last 2 years organized by Dr.Bhandari were much appreciated because it benefited the needy people of Sudan in the peripheries of Khartoum. Health Clinics are running in its operational areas. Free Diabetic and medical camps in different hospitals & Medical centers were organized in Khartoum. These camps provided free consultation, and medicines to thousands of under privileged patients. In the area of Education 5000 school kits have been distributed to children in different schools in Khartoum State and West Kordofan. Some schools have been supported with Black Boards and other teaching aids. Assistance was also provided in form of class room tables-chairs and civil repairs of school buildings. The  company also supported the  students at Khartoum  University – Faculty of Mathematics, Science with Licenses for  IT  Library, which  allows  them  to  access  thousand  of  latest IT books.  OVL together with Sudan Football Association has distributed 10,000 footballs to various sports clubs & schools in the different parts of Sudan State. OVL provided assistance in planting, ploughing, seeding and technical services for cultivating sorghum food grain in 6,000 acres of land to cover large segment of community in the Unity and Kordofan states (Debap/ Nama).  Over 11,000 poor family members have benefited in getting   sorghum food grains. OVL along with International Volunteers Women’s Group (IVWG) together funded and built the Branch No.3 of Al Amal Institution for Deaf & Dumb in Omdurman and also completed the building of the classrooms in this school. ONGC also provided the furniture to these class rooms.

Dr. Anil Bhandari is an eminently proficient geologist. His core competence spans the entire spectrum of Exploratory and Developmental aspects of the Indian oil industry. Dr. Bhandari’s scholastic achievements include a number of well-regarded scientific publications (including books), invited lectures and plenary and distinct accolades for his geo-scientific research. His remarkable contributions in the field of Geology brought him national recognition through coveted National Mineral Award-2002 of the Government of India, followed by Prof. S.N Bhalla Gold medal in 2009 by the Paleontological Society of India. Besides contributing to the practical and theoretical landscape of the oil industry, Dr. Bhandari has been propelling career and leadership development at various levels of ONGC Ltd. for past fifteen years. 

As ONGC’s team leader, he lead negotiations with South Sudan Government on Transitional Agreement on ONGC’s operating blocks in Sudan. This includes his prominent role in African Union Negotiations at Addis Ababa between Sudan and South Sudan on oil tariff—a topic that has attracted world attention. 

It is time for us to bid him farewell because he has been promoted as Director- Explorations and will be based at the ONGC headquarters in New Delhi. His selection came out of 15 prominent contenders for the high profile post.

In a recent interview after his selection for the top post, Dr.Bhandari said Oil security of nation is the main concern to ONGC. OVL has set the target to achieve 20 MMT of Oil and Oil Equivalent Gas by 2018 and 60 MMT by 2030.To achieve this target he would focus on balance portfolio by acquiring producing assets and developed assets in focus areas. About the long term goals, Bhandari said “We are an E&P company and should focus on exploration assets that can produce in the next seven or eight years. OVL should buy good conventional exploration assets at nascent stage without paying too much of a premium to hit OVL’s target to produce 60m tones of oil equivalent by 2030”

People in Sudan particularly the Indian community will miss both Dr.Anil Bhandari and his wife Mrs. Anju Bhandari. Both were very social and Mrs.Anju Bhandari has been an excellent hostess and organizer of community functions.

We wish that they visit Khartoum in future both for oil explorations and simply to drink the water of An neel.