The agenda of most NGOs in our country is women’s rights and health-related issues. Different organisations emphasise on proper health facilities for women and children. Since a large number of people cannot afford private (and orderly) hospitals, they are left with no option but to seek treatment at government run hospitals. It is commonly believed that these hospitals, despite having the best doctors, fail in delivering good treatment to their patients. However, they do this by no fault of their own; most such institutions are under-budgeted and understaffed.

JPMC (Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre) is one such example which caters to hundreds of patients not only from Karachi and Sindh but all over Pakistan. Despite the broad horizon of these hospitals, many problems have mounted within the foundations of this profit free institution over the years, all of which are directly and indirectly linked to mis-management.

One will come across several incidents of someone lamenting the loss of a loved one at the hands (of what he claims) of these hospitals. The question here is who should be held responsible? Can the people be given retribution for their loss? However, both sides feel the other is to blame: Doctors feel most patients are illiterate and do not cooperate once a diagnosis has been provided; the patients believe that the doctors lack empathy and are not sufficiently specialised in their field. The problem however, seems to lie within the infrastructure of the health centre.

The treatment is provided free of cost here and there is no limit put on the patients coming in. A single doctor has to see more than the amount of patients he can handle. No matter how occupied he/she is or how much work they have to get done, there is no limitation to the influx of patients. The inadequate facilities available at Jinnah only make things worse. " It is obvious we can’t accommodate everyone. Our hands are tied and even if we want to take a step towards improvement the scarce resources make it impossible for us to do so", observes Dr. Syed Minhas at the Orthopaedic department.

However, the fact remains that there is no hierarchy worth the name within the staff, and the chain of command is weak due to the absence of delegation of authority. The worldwide ratio of doctors and nurses in handling emergency cases is four nurses to one doctor, whereas in JPMC in emergency cases you may find doctors, but the absence of para-medical staff makes it difficult to handle them. The facilities should increase with the population and the Health Ministry in Islamabad needs to understand this. "Complaints that have been filed are usually ignored by the administration, as a result of which we have discontinued our efforts to bring about a change", comments Dr Iqbal Afridi of the psychiatric department.

However, the patients don’t know or care about this issues, as for them the doctors are to be blamed for not providing services up to the mark. " I have been coming here since the past week for my motherr’s eye operation and we have to wait hours in this heat before the doctor actually shows up. When he does finally come in, he checks my mother for a minute or two and asks us to visit him again in his clinic", complains a patient Tasneem Munir.

Then there is the issue of the shortage of budget to purchase the required equipment and resources. Many doctors at JPMC have also complained about not being paid for more than three months, which is why they have no incentive to work hard. Although patients need tender love and care; this is rather impossible on a salary of Rs.12,000 salary per month. All rationality would tell you that no qualified doctor can continuously work day and night to be provided with a measly pay cheque at the end of the month. No matter how noble their intentions are at the beginning, every person has a breaking point. Hence, the circle of blame keeps going back and forth without truly identifying that the fault lies within the management.

Hygiene at JMPC is also a crucial issue. We all know that cleanliness is of utmost importance to ensure that there is no further spread of infection. This is not the case here at least, as the whole premises is dirty, with paan stains on the wall and bathrooms which have not been washed in ages. But this is also because the number of sweepers performing the job is way too small for the task. " More sweepers should be hired indeed but then who is going to pay them?" Asks a doctor.

Security issues are also associated with the malfunction of the administration. In case of a patients death, relatives immediately attack the attending doctor, holding him responsible for their loss. A doctor of JPMC (name withheld on his request) shares one such significant security related incident which has petrified the hospital staff and bothers them to date. A policeman was brought in as an emergency case and we were unable to save his life. The SHO came in and physically abused the operating doctor by kicking him. Following this incident the doctors went on a strike for two days but their protests were stifled and ignored. In another incident, the Jamiat and People’s Student Federation (PSF) clashed on the hospitas premises during which a physiotherapy student was killed, doctors were attacked and their cars were smashed.

There have also been instances where rangers have come in to threaten the operating doctor whether male or female and have disregarded the basic ICU Protocol regulations. " It is the administration which should provide us with security, medicines and machines. We doctors, suffer and live in a state of fear from the powerful sources related to the patients", stresses Dr. Syed Minhas.

Nobody wants to work in an insecure environment and it is understandable why they leave as soon as they are provided with either better jobs in the private sector or an opportunity to open up their own clinic.

Unfortunately the problems of JMPC do not end with the budget and security issues, since internal problems created by political influences are also a big factor in the poor state of affairs. Recently Seemi Jamali, head of emergency, was transferred and her designated position was handed to a relative of the one who currently walks the corridors of power. The problem is that Seemi Jamali was doing her job well by providing polio vaccination injections, whereas according to a source in the hospital staff the new head has not been able to successfully perform his duties. Dr. Seemi’s departure has also led to a scarcity in the injections and medications, while the staff complaints to the administration still await redress.

" We are poor that is why we do not get immediate attention and are asked to wait, whereas the rich or politically influential patients are facilitated instantly. Many of my relatives have expired while waiting and most of the time we are asked to sit till the doctor gets over with the patients with a powerful background", complains Dur Bibi.

It was a delightful evening for the fashionistas in the true sense of the word as they witnessed state-of-the art creations by renowned designers at the Ensemble show held recently in Karachi. It showcased winter 2008 collections by Sana Safinaz, Rizwan Beyg, Bunto Kazmi, Tarun Tahiliani and Adnan Pardesy. The show was memorable as it was the first time ever that the couture designer Bunto Kazmi, known for her picturesque costumes, showed her collection on the ramp.

The show started with Sana and Safinaz colourful and modern collection. Their well-cut dresses in vibrant hues like green, orange, blue and deep red echoed femininity. Adnan Pardesy, an upcoming Indian designer, reflected his creativity in shades of black and white as he chose to stay to the basics. The ace designer Rizwan Beyg once again proved that he is the best. His classic black and white collection celebrating womanhood and vigour - was highly praised by the attendees. The models, exhibited his ensembles, symbolised fineness, delicacy and sophistication. However, Tarun Tahiliani, another Indian designer did not impress us much with his current collection. It was insipid, to say the least. The best part of the show remained Bunto Kazmi’s debut collection on the ramp. Her intricate embroidered costumes spoke eloquently about her creativity. Her collection comprised classy eveving wear and elegant saris.

All the top models including Iraj, Vaneeza, Nadya Hussain, Faiza, Rabab, Tooba, Fauzia and Sanam flaunted designers clothes with poise and aplomb. It was also a refreshing sight to catch other brilliant designers like Maheen Khan, Maheen Karim, Amir Adnan, Nomi Ansari and Sadaf Malaterre who were there to appreciate their contemporaries’ work.

The show, sponsored by Ponds, was well organised and it was done tastefully. Zeba Hussain of Ensembles deserves kudos for not only launching a designer outlet featuring Indian and Pakistani designers but also for starting shows at time. It’s a good start and hopefully the rest will also follow!

Depression is a condition that can take many forms, from the short lived feelings of sadness that most of us suffer in response to everyday life disappointments, right up to severe depressive disorders which require treatment.

There are moments of happiness that we never want to give up, but there are also days when everything seems wrong and nothing can please you. People of all ages at one point or another; find themselves trapped in depressed situations.

Depression is a severe form of stress and anxiety, and if steps are not taken to cure it, the consequences may turn out to be lethal to one’s health. It is a mental state which may begin due to the loss of a dear friend or close relative. Alcohol, drug abuse, a bad childhood or negligence by dear ones are also some of the reasons of depression. Depression may also be the outcome of some medical disorder such as hypothyroidism, cancer or hepatitis. Depression can be inherited too.

Symptoms of depression are:

* Fatigue and lack of energy

resulting in inactiveness. * Suffering from excessive

sleep or lack of sleep. * Dramatic change in the

appetite. Some patients tend to lose weight whereas others might gain weight due to overeating.

* Feeling useless, worthless, hopeless and hating yourself.

* Not being able to concentrate on one particular thing for too long.

* Restlessness, stress and agitation.

* Disturbing thoughts.

Treatment for depression

One should always remember that even in depression you are not alone. It’s hard to think of help at that time but nevertheless it is always out there. There are ways out, provided that one has the desire to work against it. It is hard to stand firm against the stress and anxiety and to not let it take over you. Depression is definitely a difficult and slow procedure but coming out of this state is not impossible. There are several paths one can choose to get rid of the sadness and moodiness. First you can try to cope with it yourself, only if you feel you are strong and persistent enough to drive it away. Do the things you love and enjoy. No doubt it is easier said than done, but again, don’t let it come over you as once you have lost yourself into the iron wall called depression it will be hard to stand against it.

Look ahead and think about your goal which is: GETTING RID OF DEPRESSION. Make it your target to have a good and healthy life. Take it slow; try to make one change after the other. Don’t ever rush through it otherwise you will be back to square one. The pace should be slow but productive. Try to understand all the challenges and difficulties life presents you with, cope with them in a healthy manner, and continuously control your emotions. Always look at the aims achieved, and don’t stress on the ones you yet have to get your hands on. Be patient and tolerant.

Another very important factor that depressed people toss aside is sharing their feelings. The support and encouragement of freinds or relatives through your blue days are a great help. However, it is not easy for everyone to confide in others as many find it hard to understand what the depressed individual is going through, but it would be easier to compromise a little by showing sympathy and care.

However, if depression has started to take control of your life and you lack interest in things that you previously loved then the time has come for you to seek professional help but only if you don’t feel comfortable in talking to your dear ones. Professional help usually helps a lot of patients, once depression has been confirmed. Some feel at ease when confiding in a psychiatrist maybe because they feel it is safe to trust a professional as they are neutral and do not pass any kind of judgments. On the other hand some people are scared of seeing a psychiatrist because they fear the questions they will ask. However these small questions may be the cause of bringing about a change in one’s life.

Dear Nadine

I am a 19 years old student who is the only child of his parents. I always wanted to have a sister. I used to see other people who had loads of fun with their brothers and sisters, and honestly speaking, I used to envy them. Many a time in my life I have felt lonely and have wanted to share my feelings and little secrets with someone I could trust. Not surprisingly, I did not find anyone. All the friends that I had at one point or another proved they were enemies in disguise - people always wanted to be friends for their own selfish purposes. In the end, I was so heartbroken that I refused to accept anyone else in my life. My extended family (my cousins) are also involved in family politics and nobody is sincere anyone.

Amidst all this, almost a year back, I met this girl, X, who is 10 years older than I am. She is the youngest child of her parents and has lost her mother. X had always wanted a younger brother, and I, in my opinion, found an elder sister in X. Since the time I met her, she has always thought the best for me and I care about her too. We both have been knit together in the true relationship between a brother and his elder sister. The problem arises not between us, but from our families. The immediate family of X, her brothers and sisters, know about me and do not feel bad about me in any way. However, X is scared of her cousins who are very close to her and she doesn’t want to mention me to them. She feels that her cousins would not accept our relationship to be what it actually is. On the other hand, my mother and father have problems with my relationship with X. They know that I refer to X as "Aapi". I have assured them that X is nothing more than an elder sister to me, but they still do not seem to understand. They think that X will lead me astray.

Please Nadine, help me out. X and I are sincere with each other. What should I do about my family? I cannot lose X now. She has always supported me, and has always made sure that I am never alone. I have shared my secrets with her and she also trusts me with her life.

Heartbroken

Dear Heartbroken,

Since you are the only child of your parents, it’s not surprising that you always wanted a sister. However, now you are nineteen: not nine. You have to accept the fact that God has not given you a sibling. Further, please understand that however pure your relationship is with X, it will always appear suspicious to some people.

It is a very positive thing that X’s own parents and siblings trust her. If she doesn’t want to introduce you to her cousin as her ‘moun bola bhai’, you should not have a problem.

As far as your parents are concerned, try to understand their point of view, too. They are concerned about your relationship with X because they love you and don’t want you to come to harm. Nowadays, it is very difficult to tell about the real motives of people, so their fears about X leading you astray are not without grounds.

My dear, in our religion, there is no concept of the relationship you have described. It’s only your own brother, or your doodh shareek bhai/bhen who can claim the honour of being your sibling. So, don’t expect everyone to understand how you two feel about each other.

You are obviously disappointed with the attitude of your cousins, but family politics play a part in every household. In spite of having jealousies, cousins must not stop meeting. Family ties are important, because they are our real support base. In the same way, don’t be too disappointed with the behaviour of your friends. It is customary to have spats, but that is just a part of this relationship. Please try to understand that there is no relationship that is devoid of flaws and problems. Just learn to live with the imperfections of your cousins and friends, as they do with you!

Don’t make an issue of trying to convince your parents that X is ‘Aapi’ to you. Behave normally and concentrate on your studies. Show your parents that you are not an immature person, but a sensible guy who knows his mind. In time they will lose their apprehension and may accept X as their, well, son’s sister!

Good luck

Dear Nadine

I am a 21-year-old girl. I am a student of final year BDS. My problem is that I am engaged to my cousin who is not a doctor. I am very happy with him as he is a very caring and loving fiance. The problem is that he doesn’t want a working wife and I am very serious about my profession. Sometimes he says that I can work and sometimes he says he will think about it. He always says that he wants a full time housewife who can see him off to work and welcomes him home when he returns from his office. I really love him a lot but can’t think of not practicing after completing my degree. Another thing is that his bhai and bhabi are very problematic for me because both of them are uneducated and are really against my marriage and studies etc. Sometimes I think that he may be saying NO to my job because of them. After all, after marriage, I have to live with them in the joint family system. My mother and father-in-law are very nice, but my brother-in-law and his wife are really pathetic. How can I convince my fiance to let me work after our marriage?

Fragile Dentist

Dear Fragile Dentist,

I totally understand your view point about practicing after completing your degree, as it is not easy to become a dentist. It requires a lot of hard work and commitment. The issue should have been thrashed out by your parents, for it seems that yours is an arranged match. However, no need to fret. Your fiance seems to be a nice person, and as surmised by you, he probably becomes a little negative at the behest of his brother and sister-in-law. Deal with this matter diplomatically. Tell your fiance that you really want to work and it would break your heart if he stops you from doing it. Be nice to him. Instead of fighting and arguing, be diplomatic and I am sure he will not stop you.

Seems like for the past couple of months Islamabad has been going through a lot but finally after a long time the city is coming back on its feet and has begun to return to its normal pace of life; a good sign for everyone around and especially for the fashionists. Karachi sure is loaded with launches of new lines and outlets but Isloo has caught on to the trend as well. Well here is another addition to our successful fashion industry, made by the launch of the store called ‘Melange’.

The opening of this grand multi designer store is a giant step towards strengthening the trend of the mass designer outlets and is guaranteed to create a storm in Isloo; a fashion storm that is. 32 of the leading designers of the country have launched their exquisite and latest designer clothes, jewellery and shoes at the new hub. The spanking new outlet is a multi-label designer house like Ensemble in Karachi and PFDC in Lahore.

The designers on display included the names of Ali Fateh, Sadia Mirza, Rizwan Beyg, Honey Waqar, Malaieaka Khan, Elan, Panic, HSY, Faiza Samee, Slate, Spangles, Deepak Perwani, Sherzad, Jade, House of Maheen, Maheen Khan, Zarmina, Gulabo, Mahin Hussain, Zara Shahjahan, EGO, Simoneel Sidiki, Nadia Mystry, Hajrah Hayat, Labels, Maheen Karim, Rehana Saigol, Jannat and Sadaf. LSA 2008 winners Rizwan Beyg (best couture), Deepak Perwani (best menswear) and Maheen Karim (best pret) are to stock their collections in Melange. Isloos’ leading name in Event management and fashion events, Rezz Aly Shah from Rezz Events was responsible for handling the big launch and seems to have done quite well.

The person behind this entirely new venture of bringing together a variety of ‘fashion’ is the leading Isloo women entrepreneur, Samina Lakhani. "The inspiration for ‘Melange’ came from the world famous inclination towards similar concepts that would provide avenues for leading designers of Pakistan to have their fashion wear on display," she stated. "The retail fashion business is often neglected in our country but this outlet offers a huge retail splash in the heart of the capital," she continued as she shared her motive behind the formation of the project.

According to the designer Maheen the capital city had needed this type of an outlet since long. "This is in fact the very first outlet of this magnitude not only in Islamabad but in the whole country," she said adding that the outlet’s consisted of everything available under one roof. "It even houses a coffee shop to freshen up while shopping at the outlet."

Her collection comprises classic clothes with different styles. "Your clothes are your investment, so they should be used for a longer period of time rather than being changed with every contemporary trend."

From funky casual wear to elegant party wear, trendy semi-formals to traditional bridal wear, everything is available in the grand store that is definitely a treat for the city’s bigwigs. "The store is the most needed place in the capital, which houses a huge diplomatic and business community," said Uzma Sarfraz adding that the excellent collection at ‘Melange’ would definitely cater to the fashion demands of the Islooitess.

Located in the posh F6 of Islamabad, looks like the capital is the next stop for fashion.

‘Melange’ is a French word which means a mixture or assortment and that is exactly what the outlet is all about! So all you fashion lovers be sure to check this one out.

‘Quantum of Solace’ is an actual sequel of Casino Royale with Daniel Craig now firmly establishing ownership of 007 on his second outing...

Opera plots are often far-fetched and illogical. We shouldn’t be surprised that Bond movies are the same. At their best, they provide us with the same excitement and escapism. Bond is the longest-running film franchise (‘Quantum of Solace’ is No. 22). Previously, the Bond films have been a series, but ‘Quantum of Solace’ is an actual sequel - an approach Ian Fleming used in his books, but which was dropped from the movies because the novels were filmed out of order.

Daniel Craig has really settled into the role of Bond, making it completely his own and even bringing a slightly softer side that previous Bonds have lacked. Blue eyes on fire and jaw set to resolute, Daniel Craig clearly owns Bond in Quantum of Solace: but it’s the relentless pace, the quality of art direction and production design - in fact, director Marc Forster’s sheer technical ambition - which raise the bar and make this one of the most remarkable action films ever made.

The story carries on where ‘Casino Royale’ left off. Intelligence surrounding an MI6 traitor who almost kills M (Dench) sends James Bond (Craig) to a bank in Haiti, where a case of mistaken identity introduces him to beautiful Camille (Kurylenko), a woman with her own vendetta. She in turn leads him to ruthless businessman Dominic Greene (Amalric) who is also linked to the mysterious organisation that blackmailed the woman Bond loved. Bond’s mission takes him to Italy, Austria and South America as he discovers Greene is conspiring to take control of one of the world’s most important natural resources and must find a way to stop him.

Frenetic, full of chase sequences and sudden switches in location, the film has a demented energy about it. Bond has been shown racing through gutters, alleyways and over rooftops. We’ve seen him in a motorbike and on a boat. Not much later, he’s in a plane. The breathless antics may be more Jason Bourne than James Bond but that doesn’t prevent 007’s latest excursion from exerting a fierce grip that never really lets go of your senses from the traditional opening car chase - this time in the Italian Alps - to the closing scenes across the arid plains of Bolivia.

In an era marked by franchise bloat, it’s entirely admirable that ‘Quantum of Solace’ is the shortest Bond movie to date - it drops a great many of the long-running series mannerisms (callous quips, expository lectures, travelogue padding, Q and Moneypenny) as it globe-trots urgently from Italy to Haiti to Austria to Italy again to Bolivia to Russia with stopovers in London and other interzones.

As for the Bond girls, Olga Kurylenko is superb as Camille (delivering an impressive Spanish accent) and her hard-edged quest for vengeance leads to one of the best scenes as Bond advises her on how to kill her prey. Gemma Arterton is equally good as Agent Fields (we only find out her first name during the end credits), but she’s given woefully little screen time, to the point where you wonder if some of her scenes were cut out. As a more typical Bond girl, Gemma Arterton dispenses a disarming brand of cool chic.

With Daniel Craig now firmly establishing ownership of 007 on his second outing, the franchise looks safe in his hands for further global domination at the box office. Tightly scripted, it delivers handsomely on spectacular set pieces in exotic locales from the Italian Alps to arid planes of Chile. All in all strong performances, a hard-edged script and terrific action sequences make Quantum of Solace a highly enjoyable Bond movie.

* The film is being shown @ Cineplex and cinemas all over Pakistan.

- Compiled by

Who doesn’t love a fiery meal that can make their mouth water? Well... everyone wants a taste of the spicy side one in a while.

This week You! brings to the readers a spicy Italian dish which is sure to appeal one’s taste buds and leave

you wanting for more...

Ingredients:

Boneless skinless Chicken thighs 10

Hot Italian sausage links 5

Green bell pepper 1 (diced)

Onion 1 (diced)

Tomatoes 3 (diced)

Italian seasoning 1 tbs

Red Pepper powder 1 tsp

Method

Pre-heat the oven at 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C.

Stuff the sausage in places where the bones have been removed from the chicken.

Place the chicken on a 10 by 13 inch ungreased baking pan.

Place bell pepper and onions around the chicken sprinkle Italian seasoning and red pepper on top.

Sindh is a province that is rich in culture and heritage and has one of the biggest and most developed cities of the country Karachi. The artistic and cultural heritage of Sindh, however, is reflected in its superb examples of lacquer ware, mirror embroidery, textile and exquisitely painted tile work. Sindh has a very glorious past and the affluence of its history and culture has always attracted scholars of the country and abroad for the study of all aspects of the Sindhi life and its ethos. Throughout the centuries all the influences that arrived here were incorporated into rich traditions, which are defined as ‘Sindhi Culture’. The people and culture of this province can be thought of as a distinct entity in which almost every aspect eludes simple definition.

However, to see the richness of the Sindhi culture, one has to visit different parts of Sindh to be aware of the diversity and beauty of their human world, their language, literature, arts and crafts, music and social customs and traditions etc. To recreate the true essence of the Sindh heritage, Prime Management services recently celebrated the ‘Sindh Handicraft Exhibition’ at Park Towers, Karachi. The motive of this 5-day exhibition was to celebrate the culture and the aspects related to it; all in one place.

The interior of Park Towers (during the festival) was a replication of the lifestyle of Sindh beginning with the Ajrak decorations to the mithais. At the entrance people dressed in their traditional attire were dancing on Sindhi folk beats being produced from dhols. When stepping inside one would immediately feel that they have entered a different time and place as everything around reflected the true aura of the province. The skill of the craftsmen was presented as the exhibit included different stalls of all the artistic traditions.

The scene was cluttered with stalls of Sindhi chapal making, topi making and bhano handicrafts. A woman was also sitting there surrounded by ralli’s and stitching material as she was making ralli’s on the spot. Other stalls comprised Sindhi cultural books, khajoor from Sukkur, handiworks, hala kashi (vases) as well as susi and khaadi cloth. A craftsman was selling and making pottery then and there; giving curious bystanders a chance if they desired. Sweet lovers who did not attend this event missed out on a lot as delicious Sindhi mithai’s called Mawwa were also being sold.

The decoration pieces being sold included figures made from mud placed inside a glass box. The figures were of villagers and how people in rural areas live by working hard on different crafts, day and night. One of the glass boxes had a model figure of Alal Faqir a renowned Sindhi singer playing the sitar.

Apart from the variety of stalls the event also included performances by the children from ‘The American School’. The presentation of their work began with the recitation of an Ayat from the Holy Quran followed by a Naat recited by a student. A small play based on a comedy skit from a Sindhi book was performed and soon after the students entertained the audience by dancing on Sindhi songs such as Hoo Jamalo.