Many rural women are taking cattle-fattening medicines for good health
Saturday, 27 October 2007
Laila Noor
RUBY Begum is an unhappy woman. She always worries because she is skinny. Ruby used to think things would change after her marriage, but it did not.
Desperate to gain weight, Ruby of Chandina upazila in Comilla has started taking a cattle- fattening medicine. Let's hear about it from Ruby herself
"I've been uninterruptedly taking the cow-fattening medicine for two years. I saw cows getting fat after they're given the medicine before Eid-ul-Azha. That made me believe that I could also gain weight by taking it. My dose is smaller than that of the cows. This medicine increases my hunger. Besides, taking three meals a day, I eat whatever I find."
Ruby goes on: "This medicine makes me sleep more. I don't feel comfortable like before. I've some other problems too. I've taken the medicine even during my pregnancy. Maybe, that is why, an abnormal cover was found in the womb during delivery. 1 still take the medicine. Though, I'm fat I don't get much energy in working. My baby is also very weak."
She is not alone. Many women living in remote villages of Bangladesh are taking the cattle-fattening medicines to be healthier. In many cases they are having the medicines with the encouragement from their husbands and relatives. Due to dangerous side effects of these medicines, these poor and unaware women have already been victims of different complicated diseases. Pharmacies are selling these medicines without prescriptions.
Visiting different areas in Comilla it was found that the medicines used to fatten cattle prior to Eid-ul-Azha are taken by many women for gaining health. The medicines like steron, oradexon, decason, (dexamethasone group), pariactine (cyproheptadine group) and some vitamin type brands are openly sold in grocery shops of remote villages, apart from pharmacies. Even the medicines, known 'cow's tablets', can be bought from many local women.
Many skinny rural women are getting hefty within a short period of time by taking cattle-fattening medicines at their own initiatives. Those who take the medicines for a longer time become abnormally heftier.
A housewife, who has been taking medicines for the last five years, says, "My dream of being hefty has come true. But, I don't feel well. Most of the time I suffer from many diseases and confined to bed."
Sharing her experience, one young lady says, "As I was skinny I could not get married. With the advice of a neighbour my mum fed me a medicine, steron, for a few days, which increased both my appetite and sleep, and I started gaining weight. I had some other problems, too. Then, I discontinued the medicine. But, many women I know are having this medicine."
After her marriage recently, this lady started living in Chandpur. Giving an account of the situation over there, she says, "Many women are taking the medicines. When asked by pharmacists to name the names of the doctors, they mention big names. But, it's a lie. Actually, no doctor prescribes these medicines without any reason."
"In most pharmacies and shops, these can be bought without any question being asked. Therefore, women can have them quite easily. Wives of many expatriate men start taking these medicines prior to the return of their husbands. And, once one begins she can't give it up easily."
A section of people always want their wives to be bulky. This can be reflected by the statement of Zakir Hossain, the husband of Ruby. He says, "Both sacrificial animals and wives need to be bulky so that they look beautiful. Therefore, I don't forbid my wife to take these medicines. Even, sometimes I myself buy her the medicines."
Shirin Akhter, a worker of a nutrition project of an NGO, says, "Comparatively, poor and unaware women take these medicines without doctors' advice. Those who have little education don't fall into the trap because they understand these medicines actually don't help get fattened, rather bank water in the body. Due to the water, the body looks fat."
"Having been affected by any other diseases caused by these medicines, the women do go to doctors, but keep taking of medicines secret. That's why many women are falling victims to the side effects, which could hardly be detected."
She also says, "Doctors never prescribe those medicines for making their patients fat. Patients buy these from pharmacies without any obstruction. These medicines are sold openly in big medicine stores."
While visiting a few bazars in Chandina, it was found that these medicines are sold in random. On fattening medicines, Chandan, salesman of a pharmacy, says, "If regularly taken it costs an individual Tk 420 per month. Because of the high cost, poor women, instead, buy the cattle-fattening medicines that are comparatively cheaper. Ninety per cent of buyers of these medicines are women. Women of all ages use these medicines. But on average young and middle-aged women use these more."
Asked why do you sell medicines without prescriptions? He says, "Rural people usually don't buy medicines with prescriptions. We'll have to close our business if we only sell medicines on prescriptions. And, why will the doctors want to get into trouble by prescribing these medicines. "
Dr Ratan Sarker, a local doctor, says, "Rural people, especially women, take steron, (Dexamethasone group), pariactine (Cyproheptadine group) and vitamin type medicines for gaining weight. Dexamethasone is prescribed at a particular dose for treating some diseases. Excessive doses are harmful. Long-term use or wrong use of dexamethasone causes blister, water in lung and kidney and liver dysfunction. These organs may be permanently damaged."
Asked if anyone from Public Health Department looks into the matter, Dr Ratan annoyingly says, "Come on, don't be silly. The drug inspector visits the bazar once in two-four years. The issue of illegal pharmacies and trading of contaminated medicines is not addressed. Who'll bother to inquire about the health of poor village women?"
Officially, they are certain rights the country's people are entitled to, such as, the right to know information about health. Everybody knows how much of the rights are enjoyed by people. Let alone the right to know, the people particularly living in villages even do not get the minimum healthcare from the government. So, it can be assumed that the poor and ignorant women having cattle-fattening medicines will not get any help from the state.
The theme of this year's World Health Day was 'Invest for Good Health: Build a Safer Future.' There is food for thought as to how much secure the future is when health-threatening medicines taken for having a good health. "In case of receiving healthcare, the poor populace of the country always falls prey to a cruel reality," says a doctor in Comilla. "Their investment in health service is like to buy punishment with money. Poor village women, to stay healthy, are buying cattle-fattening medicines with the money they get from selling vegetables. As a result, they are suffering from various diseases and many of them are dying without treatment. And, the state seems to be unmoved."
They also say there is a fear of huge damage to public health due to the intake of such medicines. To reverse this suicidal tendency, it is necessary to take initiatives to create awareness. Alongside, the activities of the institutes responsible for public health and supervision of drugs marketing should be strengthened. It is imperative to take effective measures at government and non-government levels to inform people of the bad effects of these medicines.
NewsNetwork
RUBY Begum is an unhappy woman. She always worries because she is skinny. Ruby used to think things would change after her marriage, but it did not.
Desperate to gain weight, Ruby of Chandina upazila in Comilla has started taking a cattle- fattening medicine. Let's hear about it from Ruby herself
"I've been uninterruptedly taking the cow-fattening medicine for two years. I saw cows getting fat after they're given the medicine before Eid-ul-Azha. That made me believe that I could also gain weight by taking it. My dose is smaller than that of the cows. This medicine increases my hunger. Besides, taking three meals a day, I eat whatever I find."
Ruby goes on: "This medicine makes me sleep more. I don't feel comfortable like before. I've some other problems too. I've taken the medicine even during my pregnancy. Maybe, that is why, an abnormal cover was found in the womb during delivery. 1 still take the medicine. Though, I'm fat I don't get much energy in working. My baby is also very weak."
She is not alone. Many women living in remote villages of Bangladesh are taking the cattle-fattening medicines to be healthier. In many cases they are having the medicines with the encouragement from their husbands and relatives. Due to dangerous side effects of these medicines, these poor and unaware women have already been victims of different complicated diseases. Pharmacies are selling these medicines without prescriptions.
Visiting different areas in Comilla it was found that the medicines used to fatten cattle prior to Eid-ul-Azha are taken by many women for gaining health. The medicines like steron, oradexon, decason, (dexamethasone group), pariactine (cyproheptadine group) and some vitamin type brands are openly sold in grocery shops of remote villages, apart from pharmacies. Even the medicines, known 'cow's tablets', can be bought from many local women.
Many skinny rural women are getting hefty within a short period of time by taking cattle-fattening medicines at their own initiatives. Those who take the medicines for a longer time become abnormally heftier.
A housewife, who has been taking medicines for the last five years, says, "My dream of being hefty has come true. But, I don't feel well. Most of the time I suffer from many diseases and confined to bed."
Sharing her experience, one young lady says, "As I was skinny I could not get married. With the advice of a neighbour my mum fed me a medicine, steron, for a few days, which increased both my appetite and sleep, and I started gaining weight. I had some other problems, too. Then, I discontinued the medicine. But, many women I know are having this medicine."
After her marriage recently, this lady started living in Chandpur. Giving an account of the situation over there, she says, "Many women are taking the medicines. When asked by pharmacists to name the names of the doctors, they mention big names. But, it's a lie. Actually, no doctor prescribes these medicines without any reason."
"In most pharmacies and shops, these can be bought without any question being asked. Therefore, women can have them quite easily. Wives of many expatriate men start taking these medicines prior to the return of their husbands. And, once one begins she can't give it up easily."
A section of people always want their wives to be bulky. This can be reflected by the statement of Zakir Hossain, the husband of Ruby. He says, "Both sacrificial animals and wives need to be bulky so that they look beautiful. Therefore, I don't forbid my wife to take these medicines. Even, sometimes I myself buy her the medicines."
Shirin Akhter, a worker of a nutrition project of an NGO, says, "Comparatively, poor and unaware women take these medicines without doctors' advice. Those who have little education don't fall into the trap because they understand these medicines actually don't help get fattened, rather bank water in the body. Due to the water, the body looks fat."
"Having been affected by any other diseases caused by these medicines, the women do go to doctors, but keep taking of medicines secret. That's why many women are falling victims to the side effects, which could hardly be detected."
She also says, "Doctors never prescribe those medicines for making their patients fat. Patients buy these from pharmacies without any obstruction. These medicines are sold openly in big medicine stores."
While visiting a few bazars in Chandina, it was found that these medicines are sold in random. On fattening medicines, Chandan, salesman of a pharmacy, says, "If regularly taken it costs an individual Tk 420 per month. Because of the high cost, poor women, instead, buy the cattle-fattening medicines that are comparatively cheaper. Ninety per cent of buyers of these medicines are women. Women of all ages use these medicines. But on average young and middle-aged women use these more."
Asked why do you sell medicines without prescriptions? He says, "Rural people usually don't buy medicines with prescriptions. We'll have to close our business if we only sell medicines on prescriptions. And, why will the doctors want to get into trouble by prescribing these medicines. "
Dr Ratan Sarker, a local doctor, says, "Rural people, especially women, take steron, (Dexamethasone group), pariactine (Cyproheptadine group) and vitamin type medicines for gaining weight. Dexamethasone is prescribed at a particular dose for treating some diseases. Excessive doses are harmful. Long-term use or wrong use of dexamethasone causes blister, water in lung and kidney and liver dysfunction. These organs may be permanently damaged."
Asked if anyone from Public Health Department looks into the matter, Dr Ratan annoyingly says, "Come on, don't be silly. The drug inspector visits the bazar once in two-four years. The issue of illegal pharmacies and trading of contaminated medicines is not addressed. Who'll bother to inquire about the health of poor village women?"
Officially, they are certain rights the country's people are entitled to, such as, the right to know information about health. Everybody knows how much of the rights are enjoyed by people. Let alone the right to know, the people particularly living in villages even do not get the minimum healthcare from the government. So, it can be assumed that the poor and ignorant women having cattle-fattening medicines will not get any help from the state.
The theme of this year's World Health Day was 'Invest for Good Health: Build a Safer Future.' There is food for thought as to how much secure the future is when health-threatening medicines taken for having a good health. "In case of receiving healthcare, the poor populace of the country always falls prey to a cruel reality," says a doctor in Comilla. "Their investment in health service is like to buy punishment with money. Poor village women, to stay healthy, are buying cattle-fattening medicines with the money they get from selling vegetables. As a result, they are suffering from various diseases and many of them are dying without treatment. And, the state seems to be unmoved."
They also say there is a fear of huge damage to public health due to the intake of such medicines. To reverse this suicidal tendency, it is necessary to take initiatives to create awareness. Alongside, the activities of the institutes responsible for public health and supervision of drugs marketing should be strengthened. It is imperative to take effective measures at government and non-government levels to inform people of the bad effects of these medicines.
NewsNetwork