Okkar
2003-11-26 03:03:48 UTC
The New light of Myanmar
Wednesday, 26 November, 2003
National Poison Control Centre and Hazards of Poisoning
Myanmar is a developing country based on agriculture. Its industrial
development has gained momentum. Therefore, it may face up to
poisoning by pesticides used in agriculture, industrial chemicals and
abuses of drugs, and biochemical poisoning anytime. Among the
neighbours of Myanmar, a few rich countries have poison control
centres. As a systematic preventive measure, the Head of State has
given guidance to set up a poison control centre of international
standards that can prevent poisoning at the Medical Research
Department (Lower Myanmar) with scholars and technicians from the
related departments.
At the same time with the establishment of the National Poison Control
Centre, Central Committee for National Poison Control chaired by the
Minister for Health was also formed with 33 members from the related
ministries. The central committee takes charge of laying down
policies, drawing plans, and cooperation and communications with other
ministries.
Organizational set-up of NPCC
With the permission of the State Peace and Development Council, the
National Poison Control Centre was established in October 2002.
Pharmaceutical poisoning research section, chemical poisoning research
section, biological poisoning research section, and radiation
poisoning research section, were formed under the centre together with
a poison information room and poison measurement laboratory.
In accord with the guidance of the Head of State stressing the role of
research and development, NPCC was provided with advanced equipment,
computers, software, internet and training of technicians abroad.
Twelve technicians were sent to Asia and Europe to study the advanced
poison control centres and technologies there.
The government spent K 60 million and US$ 600,000 on construction of
laboratories, purchase of equipment, training the staff abroad during
the three years' period of establishing the centre.
While the centre was being set up, prevention and treatment capacity
of departments under the ministry of Health was enhanced. Occupational
Health Division of the Health Department, Food and Drug Administration
Division and National Health Laboratory Division were extended, a
section to conduct surveillance on and prevent poisoning set up, and
laboratories upgraded. At the same time, wards for victims of
poisoning were opened in Yangon, Mandalay and Magway general
hospitals, and mobile units for emergency action were also formed.
Objectives of establishing NPCC
(a) To disseminate knowledge on prevention and danger of poison among
the public.
(b) To educate the public and train staff concerning the methods to be
employed in emergency cases of poisoning.
(c) To keep constant vigilance against the danger of poisoning.
(d) To disseminate effective therapy among the health staff to deal
with cases of poisoning, enabling them to provide effective treatments
to victims of poisoning.
(e) To conduct researches on the danger of poison and to apply the
findings in the practical field.
(f) To share experience and information between the technicians in the
country and abroad.
Services provided by NPCC
(1) Drugs and poisoning information services
Providing answers to questions on drugs, chemicals, poisoning caused
by poisonous plants and animals during office hours by phone.
(2) Services concerning pharmaceutical poisoning
- consultation with doctors and giving advice.
- identification of poisoning, measuring blood level, providing
treatments and information for surveillance of poisoning.
- Monitoring long-term and short-term poisoning caused by chemicals
used in worksites and those in the environs and offering assistance to
take preventive measures against poisoning in future.
(3) Laboratory services
- testing and measuring the content of drugs and poison in flesh and
body liquid.
* exposing of overdose and poisoning caused by chemicals used in
worksites and those in the environs and rendering assistance for
treatment.
* exposition of prohibited drugs.
* finding facts required in researches on prevention and treatment of
poisoning.
- testing minerals and poisonous compounds in body liquid, traditional
medicines and herbal plants.
* testing the content of elements in blood and urine.
* testing hard metals, admixtures and poisonous compounds in
traditional medicines.
* testing the safety level of preservatives used in food.
- testing potency of medicines
* measuring the potency of medicines and reducing the poisoning of
them.
* prescription for dosage of medicine for each individual
* providing assistance for pharmaceutical experiments and
pharmacological identification.
- Monitoring tasks
* Monitoring tasks for side effects of the medicines; making
suggestions regarding tasks for prevention against poisoning through
regular feedback.
- Health care services in work sites
* Measuring the level of pesticides and organic matter which consist
in water, food, air, and liquid produced from human body.
(4) Research on poisoning and academic matters
* Monitoring, prevention and control of poisoning
* Conducting proficiency course on poisoning and research on poisoning
* Holding educative talks to employees who have to carry out tasks at
work sites with poisonous materials and chemicals for a long time
Under the guidance of the Head of State on prevention against
poisoning in the nation, the Prime Minister opened the National Poison
Control Centre at the Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar)
on 18 October 2003. Among the poisoning cases, common ones are based
on accidental poisoning, sticking to taking the same medicine, and
over dose. In the cases of accidental poisoning, over dose is the most
common. Now, there are a lot of cases of poisoning due to the use of
chemicals. Here, I would like to highlight the poisoning caused by the
use of methanol. Such cases occurred in 1991 and 1998. In 1991,
altogether 208 people were hospitalized due to the case of methanol
poisoning, 22 of whom died. A total of 31 people from Taikkyi and
Hmawby townships were rushed to the hospital and among them, 11 died
in 1998.
In general, methanol is commonly known as methyl alcohol. Methyl
alcohol used in hospitals and clinics consists of 95 per cent of
ethanol and five per cent of methanol. Drinking three to five spoons
of methanol (15 to 30 cc) can lead one to death or complete blindness.
So, even drinking a little amount of methanol is harmful to man's
health. Therefore, all alcoholic drinks must be free from methanol.
Distillers should use no chemicals in producing strong drinks
(ethanol). Knowing that a little amount of methanol can make alcoholic
drinks more effective and more profitable but lacking knowledge of the
danger, bootleggers add one or two drops of methanol to their
alcoholic drinks. If one drinks the mixture, one can suffer from
poisoning in 24 or 72 hours.
Generally, methanol poisoning can be divided into three stages. In the
first stage there will be dizziness, dozing, staggering to one's feet,
stomach-ache and vomiting. After 24 hours is the second stage that
involves having dim eyesight, having eyes sensitive to even gentle
touch and light, having wider pupils of eyes, having senseless eyes
for light and blindness. After three days, the victim will find it
difficult to breathe, followed by suffocation, less frequency of
heartbeat, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness and death.
The result in blindness and death is that methanol changes itself into
fomic acid in the liver because of chemical reaction. When the acid
accumulates to a certain amount, it causes blindness and death.
Methanol can get into the body through the skin or by breathing its
vapour. If the level of methanol in one's blood is more than 20 mg/dl,
one will start to suffer from poisoning and if it is over 100 mg/dl,
one will lose one's life. If a victim experiences such symptoms, he
has to receive medical treatment in time. One can measure the level of
fomic acid in his blood with the use of modern medical equipment at
the National Poison Control Centre.
If one is suffering from methanol poisoning, ten per cent of ethanol
can be administered by injection or 95 per cent of ethanol can be
given orally to the patient. Now, the centre can cure the patients
with the use of the latest antidote "fomepizole".
Recently, there occurred a methanol poisoning case in a suburb of
Yangon. But, respective departmental officials, medical experts and
the centre could give medical treatment to the patients in time. So,
the number of dead was very low. And it indicates the importance of
reporting to the centre in time.
The government has made greater investment in community health care
services in accordance with the guidance of the Head of State. Now,
Myanmar has accomplished in kidney transplant, separating of conjoined
twins and replanting of traumatically amputated crushed distal arm,
meeting international level health care services. Furthermore, Myanmar
managed to eliminate such infectious diseases as leprosy and polio in
the nation. Thus, she can now give priority to dealing with poisoning
cases. The centre will disseminate effective therapies to medical
staff to look after the poisoned patients. Simultaneously, it will
give educative talks on prevention against poisoning to the people.
Author : Prof Dr Paing Soe (Director-General)
Medical Research Department (Lower Myanmar)
----------------------
www.myanmar.com/nlm/
Wednesday, 26 November, 2003
National Poison Control Centre and Hazards of Poisoning
Myanmar is a developing country based on agriculture. Its industrial
development has gained momentum. Therefore, it may face up to
poisoning by pesticides used in agriculture, industrial chemicals and
abuses of drugs, and biochemical poisoning anytime. Among the
neighbours of Myanmar, a few rich countries have poison control
centres. As a systematic preventive measure, the Head of State has
given guidance to set up a poison control centre of international
standards that can prevent poisoning at the Medical Research
Department (Lower Myanmar) with scholars and technicians from the
related departments.
At the same time with the establishment of the National Poison Control
Centre, Central Committee for National Poison Control chaired by the
Minister for Health was also formed with 33 members from the related
ministries. The central committee takes charge of laying down
policies, drawing plans, and cooperation and communications with other
ministries.
Organizational set-up of NPCC
With the permission of the State Peace and Development Council, the
National Poison Control Centre was established in October 2002.
Pharmaceutical poisoning research section, chemical poisoning research
section, biological poisoning research section, and radiation
poisoning research section, were formed under the centre together with
a poison information room and poison measurement laboratory.
In accord with the guidance of the Head of State stressing the role of
research and development, NPCC was provided with advanced equipment,
computers, software, internet and training of technicians abroad.
Twelve technicians were sent to Asia and Europe to study the advanced
poison control centres and technologies there.
The government spent K 60 million and US$ 600,000 on construction of
laboratories, purchase of equipment, training the staff abroad during
the three years' period of establishing the centre.
While the centre was being set up, prevention and treatment capacity
of departments under the ministry of Health was enhanced. Occupational
Health Division of the Health Department, Food and Drug Administration
Division and National Health Laboratory Division were extended, a
section to conduct surveillance on and prevent poisoning set up, and
laboratories upgraded. At the same time, wards for victims of
poisoning were opened in Yangon, Mandalay and Magway general
hospitals, and mobile units for emergency action were also formed.
Objectives of establishing NPCC
(a) To disseminate knowledge on prevention and danger of poison among
the public.
(b) To educate the public and train staff concerning the methods to be
employed in emergency cases of poisoning.
(c) To keep constant vigilance against the danger of poisoning.
(d) To disseminate effective therapy among the health staff to deal
with cases of poisoning, enabling them to provide effective treatments
to victims of poisoning.
(e) To conduct researches on the danger of poison and to apply the
findings in the practical field.
(f) To share experience and information between the technicians in the
country and abroad.
Services provided by NPCC
(1) Drugs and poisoning information services
Providing answers to questions on drugs, chemicals, poisoning caused
by poisonous plants and animals during office hours by phone.
(2) Services concerning pharmaceutical poisoning
- consultation with doctors and giving advice.
- identification of poisoning, measuring blood level, providing
treatments and information for surveillance of poisoning.
- Monitoring long-term and short-term poisoning caused by chemicals
used in worksites and those in the environs and offering assistance to
take preventive measures against poisoning in future.
(3) Laboratory services
- testing and measuring the content of drugs and poison in flesh and
body liquid.
* exposing of overdose and poisoning caused by chemicals used in
worksites and those in the environs and rendering assistance for
treatment.
* exposition of prohibited drugs.
* finding facts required in researches on prevention and treatment of
poisoning.
- testing minerals and poisonous compounds in body liquid, traditional
medicines and herbal plants.
* testing the content of elements in blood and urine.
* testing hard metals, admixtures and poisonous compounds in
traditional medicines.
* testing the safety level of preservatives used in food.
- testing potency of medicines
* measuring the potency of medicines and reducing the poisoning of
them.
* prescription for dosage of medicine for each individual
* providing assistance for pharmaceutical experiments and
pharmacological identification.
- Monitoring tasks
* Monitoring tasks for side effects of the medicines; making
suggestions regarding tasks for prevention against poisoning through
regular feedback.
- Health care services in work sites
* Measuring the level of pesticides and organic matter which consist
in water, food, air, and liquid produced from human body.
(4) Research on poisoning and academic matters
* Monitoring, prevention and control of poisoning
* Conducting proficiency course on poisoning and research on poisoning
* Holding educative talks to employees who have to carry out tasks at
work sites with poisonous materials and chemicals for a long time
Under the guidance of the Head of State on prevention against
poisoning in the nation, the Prime Minister opened the National Poison
Control Centre at the Department of Medical Research (Lower Myanmar)
on 18 October 2003. Among the poisoning cases, common ones are based
on accidental poisoning, sticking to taking the same medicine, and
over dose. In the cases of accidental poisoning, over dose is the most
common. Now, there are a lot of cases of poisoning due to the use of
chemicals. Here, I would like to highlight the poisoning caused by the
use of methanol. Such cases occurred in 1991 and 1998. In 1991,
altogether 208 people were hospitalized due to the case of methanol
poisoning, 22 of whom died. A total of 31 people from Taikkyi and
Hmawby townships were rushed to the hospital and among them, 11 died
in 1998.
In general, methanol is commonly known as methyl alcohol. Methyl
alcohol used in hospitals and clinics consists of 95 per cent of
ethanol and five per cent of methanol. Drinking three to five spoons
of methanol (15 to 30 cc) can lead one to death or complete blindness.
So, even drinking a little amount of methanol is harmful to man's
health. Therefore, all alcoholic drinks must be free from methanol.
Distillers should use no chemicals in producing strong drinks
(ethanol). Knowing that a little amount of methanol can make alcoholic
drinks more effective and more profitable but lacking knowledge of the
danger, bootleggers add one or two drops of methanol to their
alcoholic drinks. If one drinks the mixture, one can suffer from
poisoning in 24 or 72 hours.
Generally, methanol poisoning can be divided into three stages. In the
first stage there will be dizziness, dozing, staggering to one's feet,
stomach-ache and vomiting. After 24 hours is the second stage that
involves having dim eyesight, having eyes sensitive to even gentle
touch and light, having wider pupils of eyes, having senseless eyes
for light and blindness. After three days, the victim will find it
difficult to breathe, followed by suffocation, less frequency of
heartbeat, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness and death.
The result in blindness and death is that methanol changes itself into
fomic acid in the liver because of chemical reaction. When the acid
accumulates to a certain amount, it causes blindness and death.
Methanol can get into the body through the skin or by breathing its
vapour. If the level of methanol in one's blood is more than 20 mg/dl,
one will start to suffer from poisoning and if it is over 100 mg/dl,
one will lose one's life. If a victim experiences such symptoms, he
has to receive medical treatment in time. One can measure the level of
fomic acid in his blood with the use of modern medical equipment at
the National Poison Control Centre.
If one is suffering from methanol poisoning, ten per cent of ethanol
can be administered by injection or 95 per cent of ethanol can be
given orally to the patient. Now, the centre can cure the patients
with the use of the latest antidote "fomepizole".
Recently, there occurred a methanol poisoning case in a suburb of
Yangon. But, respective departmental officials, medical experts and
the centre could give medical treatment to the patients in time. So,
the number of dead was very low. And it indicates the importance of
reporting to the centre in time.
The government has made greater investment in community health care
services in accordance with the guidance of the Head of State. Now,
Myanmar has accomplished in kidney transplant, separating of conjoined
twins and replanting of traumatically amputated crushed distal arm,
meeting international level health care services. Furthermore, Myanmar
managed to eliminate such infectious diseases as leprosy and polio in
the nation. Thus, she can now give priority to dealing with poisoning
cases. The centre will disseminate effective therapies to medical
staff to look after the poisoned patients. Simultaneously, it will
give educative talks on prevention against poisoning to the people.
Author : Prof Dr Paing Soe (Director-General)
Medical Research Department (Lower Myanmar)
----------------------
www.myanmar.com/nlm/