Farmers educated on safe use of Paracot
High incidence of farmer deaths due to unsafe, irresponsible use of pesticide:
The Health Ministry which has observed a high incidence of farmer deaths due to unsafe and irresponsible use of the pesticide Paracot has drawn up a programme to educate farmers in agricultural regions about the safe use of the chemical, a ministry release said yesterday.
This follows a directive issued by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena and ministry Additional Secretary Dr Palitha Maheepala.
It has been observed that a large number of farmers in areas such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya extensively use Paracot as an insecticide in their fields.
A large number of farmer fall ill by inhaling the chemical spray as they don't use masks, gloves and other protective gear while spraying it. About 90 percent of those subjected to intense inhalation of the spray, later die in hospital despite efforts by doctors to save their lives. Dr Maheepala said this problem figured prominently during a discussion at the Galgamuwa Hospital regarding development activities recently.
A special strategy is observed in the Nuwara Eliya district at present as regard the sale of Paracot to farmers in the area.
A person purchasing Paracot has to establish his identity to the shop owner and prove that he or she is engaged in farming as a vocation.
This has helped to minimise the sale of Paracot unless in times of extreme need. Another cause of the death was the unsafe storage of the balance pesticide in homes after use within easy reach of those bent on ending their lives for the slightest family dispute.
It is to arrest this trend that the ministry launched an awareness campaign in the safe use of the pesticide in the agricultural areas, the release said.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/03/27/news37.asp
Authorities focus on streamlining ‘Paraquat’ issue
* Increasing deaths due to poisoning
Health authorities are focussed on streamlining the issue of a herbicide, by the trade name ‘Paraquat’, to farmers following the escalation of deaths due to poisoning. Spokesman for the Health Ministry W. D. Wanninayake said yesterday that the lack of precautionary measures during use had led to the situation.
He said that it had been revealed, during discussions between Additional Secretary, Dr. Palitha Mahipala and several officials from the Galgamuwa Hospital, that patients suffering from severe Paraquat poisoning had arrived at the Galgamuwa hospital. Critical poison victims were transferred to the Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Teaching Hospitals. However a majority of them died, he said. The patients who recovered suffer blindness or renal disease.
Hospitals in the North Central and Eastern provinces, with majority agricultural districts, receive four to five patients daily suffering from Paraquat poisoning (N,N?-dimethyl-4,4?-bipyridinium dichloride). Hospitals in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Baticaloa, Trincomallee Vavuniya which are mainly agricultural areas complain of the increasing number of deaths due to Paraquat poisoning. The haphazard use of the lethal herbicide during paddy cultivation, unprotected storage and the number of persons using it to commit suicide has increased tremendously.
Wanninayake said over 90 per cent of the patients who arrive in hospitals die despite medical efforts to save them.
In Nuwara Eliya however health authorities have been able to control the situation by streamlining its use. The person has to establish his identity and his job (whether he is a cultivator or not) to the shop owner. They have also stopped issuing the particular herbicide haphazardly, Wanninayake said.
The Health Ministry too is hoping to bring in such a mechanism, he said. Awareness would be created among farmers regarding safe use, while a proper mechanism for retailing the herbicide would be implemented as soon as possible, he added. (DJ)
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=48393
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