Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Organic acids & Campylobacteriosis
Poultry is Pakistan’s second largest industry which has established itself as a major high-protein food resource at affordable rates.
However, the sector experiences many challenges including disease outbreaks including various foods borne and zoonoses and decreased productivity due to climatic stress while the eradication and elimination of these pathogens is one of the major challenges for the industry.
Furthermore, public health hazards for consuming high antibiotics residual food will remain a critical issue.
Campylobacteriosis is a common food borne illness caused by Campylobacter spp. It’s a kind of stomach flu that may occur by consuming contaminated food. Chicken is considered as a major human infection source as it’s a highly prevalent global commensal in poultry with little or no symptoms in birds.
Most common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. Infections are generally mild but can be fatal among younger children, elders and immunosuppressed individuals.
Campylobacter infections may lead to more severe conditions namely Guillain-Barré Syndrome, reactive arthritis, post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome and Miller Fisher syndrome.
Interventions at farm level such as vaccines, consumption additives and consistent bio-security, exhibit potential for controlling the pathogen’s colonization and its dissemination within the food chain.
Based on its potential threat as zoonosis, a collaborative research project was carried out aiming to evaluate effect of organic acids administered through drinking water.
The results concluded that the acidification of drinking water through addition of organic acids decreases risk of Campylobacter spp. colonization in broiler flocks. The selected organic acids successfully reduced the microbial load in experimental broilers trials.
Therefore, it’s advised to wash hands before cooking poultry and to cook it properly. Keep uncooked chicken away from other food items using separate utensils and cooking surfaces.
Marinate using organic acid. Poultry farmers or those in close association with animals should always take good hygienic measures.
Moreover, get specific recommendations for eradicating Campylobacter in your flocks through different learning programs to ensure safe eating.
FAIZA GHAZANFAR
Via email
Benefits of tree planting
Plants play a vital role in enhancing the freshness of the environment as they produce oxygen and provide food and shelter.
They also increase the rainfall and weather proportion by pulling rain clouds towards themselves.
Unfortunately, we humans only use them for our own benefits. In addition, they enhance the beauty of nature.
Therefore, it is our responsibility to grow as many plants as possible to benefit ourselves and save the world from global warming.
MEHWISH ELLAHI
Turbat
Poverty eradication formula
Poverty is a deep rooted social problem which hinders people’s pursuit of a better lifestyle by giving rise to other problems.
China, which comprises one fifth of the world population, emerged victorious in the battle against poverty and solved the problem which had been troubling the Chinese nation.
While eradicating poverty, China has gone beyond textbook theories and now provides new formulas and perceptions to eradicate poverty globally.
While fighting poverty, China met the UN agendas for sustainable development a decade ahead of schedule.
In the last eight years, each of China’s 98.99 million impoverished rural residents living under poverty line have been lifted out of poverty.
The winning formula in this victory is the path of positive dialectical thinking and improving the complete pro-poor market mechanism.
China turned its burden of poverty into its potential source while utilising human and natural resources in rural areas for the prosperity, development and eradication of poverty.
By working on local natural resources, areas below poverty line developed various small businesses, subsequently boosted local economic growth and provided employment opportunities.
The key approach towards poverty reduction is to maintain the national common prosperity goal by establishing a “pro-poor market” where all sectors will jointly work to reduce poverty. Countries including Pakistan can learn from China and eradicate poverty.
MUJEEB-UR-RAHMAN
Karachi
Plastic ban
Plastic in general is one of the biggest pollutants in the world, most of which is either dumped in landfills or ends up in the ocean.
Its major impact on the environment is that it takes many years to decompose. Undoubtedly, plastic has transformed our lives.
However, chlorinated plastic releases harmful chemicals in the surrounding soil which seeps into groundwater or surrounding water source/s and the ecosystem, causing a range of potentially harmful effects on the species drinking that water.
On the other hand, chemicals used in the production of plastic are toxic and detrimental to human body which can cause cancer, congenital disabilities, problems in the immune system and child development issues.
Millions of animals are killed by plastic every year and nearly 700 species including those endangered, are known to have been affected by plastic. Therefore, in order to live a pure and healthy life, we need to stop using plastic bags.
NABEELA WAZEER AHMED
Turbat