Challenges among Children during Three Phases of COVID-19 in Pakistan

Children are not indifferent to mental health issues in response to COVID-19 and experienced surge of challenges. Therefore, in the current study children of 8 to 16 years were recruited to investigate the challenges and its impact on children mental health during all three phases of COVID-19. The Colaizzi’s phenomenological method for qualitative analysis was used to investigate the student’s response. The reactions of students were summarized into three themes and sixteen sub-themes considering all three phases of COVID-19. The three major themes are religious concerns, mental health issues, and academic concerns. The findings have been discussed in terms of counselling for mental health issues and devising online education policy to meet children needs and carter their fears

PSYCHOLOGICAL AID TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TO CRISES MANAGEMENT

Catastrophic Pandemics have been adversely impacted the globe throughout human history. As a consequence psychiatrist, psychologist and mental health practitioners performed their role to mitigate the adverse impacts through its scientific and clinical lenses. It was observed that due to advance nature of COVI-19 pandemic, more advance approach of psychological aid is required. This work gives an overview of the multi dimensional and trans-disciplinary techniques, which can be helpful to cope up with the crises that emerged from the threat of COVID-19 Outbreak for victims, survivors, health care practitioners and community

Antimicrobial stewardship: need of the hour

Efforts to tackle the global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) have recently taken shape in a number of potentially far-reaching collaborative initiatives. When microbes become resistant to medicines, the options for treating the diseases they cause are reduced. This resistance to antimicrobial medicines is happening in all parts of the world for a broad range of microorganisms with an increasing prevalence that threatens human and animal health. The direct consequences of infection with resistant microorganisms can be severe, including longer illnesses, increased mortality, prolonged hospital stay, loss of protection for patients undergoing operations and other medical procedures, and increased costs. Antimicrobial resistance affects all areas of health, involves many sectors and has an impact on the whole of society. To overcome the threat of antimicrobial resistance, a three-pillar approach has been advocated i.e. Optimize the use of existing antimicrobial agents, prevent the transmission of drug-resistant organisms through infection control and Improve environmental decontamination. Antimicrobial stewardship [AMSP] is one of the key strategies to overcome resistance. It is an inter-professional effort, across the continuum of care, involves timely and optimal selection, dose and duration of an antimicrobial for the best clinical outcome for the treatment or prevention of infection with minimal toxicity to the patient and minimal impact on resistance and other ecological adverse events

Hematological changes in patients of chronic renal failure and the effect of hemodialysis on these parameters

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CRD) is a global public health problem, where slowly progressive deterioration in kidney function lead to numerous hematological and biochemical dysfunction which further make the patients vulnerable to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality if appropriate measures is not taken for their control. The aim of present study was to find out the common hematological dysfunction that may occur in the patients of chronic renal failure (CRF) and in the process of dialysis and suggest appropriate measures for their management.Methods: Forty-two patient with CRF and on regular maintenance dialysis and 40 healthy adults were recruited into the study. Hemoglobin concentration, total red cell count, total white blood cell count and platelet count and ESR were assessed for the subjects and controls. Results were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 version.Results: showed that the RBC count, hemoglobin levels and platelets counts are significantly reduced in the patients of chronic renal failure and the process of hemodialysis further decreases the level of all the above mentioned hematological parameters whereas there is slight increase in total leucocyte count but significant increase in ESR was detected.Conclusions: Chronic renal failure is associated with different degrees of abnormality in hematological parameters that needs careful evaluation and management

THE NEW WORLD 2020: A CRUCIAL PARADIGM FOR MEETING FAST CHANGING WORLD DEMANDS IN PAKISTAN AFTER COVID-19 OUTBREAK

The waves of COVID-19 has shaken the world and bring about many changes in society. The changed environment or new world 2020 after COVID-19 pandemic demand high quality protection in all arena of life. The most important arena that require significant changes have been divided into four categories. First of all, the high mental health issues and low mental health services in Pakistan are not sufficient to control the mental health problem ratio. There is a need to develop more mental health services with trans-formative changes to mitigate the obnoxious post-pandemic effects. Secondly, the implementation of online therapeutic interventions must be available prior or after pandemic situation. Thirdly, as the pharmacy and mental health services in Pakistan are not capable to meet the international standards to provide patient care. Therefore, the advanced researchers are needed to investigate the fractures and gaps in social, economic and health care systems. Fourthly the provision of mental health support for children is a key area that needs considerable attention after pandemic or crises. The study has contemporary significance as disasters, crises and communicable disease has been prevalent throughout human history and may attack the world at any time in the future

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Plantation on Groundwater Availability in Pakistan

Eucalyptus tree was first planted in Pakistan in the 1980s under the project of Pakistan Forest Institute sponsored by United States Agency for International Development. It is not native to Pakistan's environment, so it has become a threat to the ecosystem. A mature Eucalyptus tree shape is like a shrub or tall tree. It is centered by the number of controversies like allelopathy, loss of soil fertility, the substitution of conventional forests and causing various hydro-ecological imbalances of an ecosystem. Eucalyptus tree consumes three times more water in arid and semi-arid environments, because of vapor pressure deficit. About 80% of Pakistan's area is present in the semi-arid and arid climate. Pakistan is facing a serious water shortage and rapid groundwater level depletion in many parts of the country. It is believed that species of Eucalyptus tree are extracting more groundwater than water recharge. Therefore, the present study is conducted to identify the adverse impacts of Eucalyptus plantation on the groundwater level of Lahore. Six parks in Lahore were selected as study sites, i.e., Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Bagh-e-Jinnah, Jillani Park, Nawaz Sharif Park, Jallo Park, and Johar Town Park. A total of 3,484 Eucalyptus trees were identified with different age groups. These trees belong to the species of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus sideroxylone. The study reveals that since 1990, the groundwater level has significantly reduced in study sites. It is recommended that Eucalyptus trees may be replaced with other indigenous species so that the rate of groundwater depletion can be slowed down

Investigation of the Determinants and Consequences of Employee Motivation: PLS Approach

This study examines the mediating influence of employee motivation on the relationships among performance appraisal satisfaction, work performance and employee commitment. To ensure this mediating influence the textile sector of Faisalabad was studied. Participants of this research were 450 employees of different organizations of textile sector who were selected via convenient sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through PLS were used for data analysis. Results of this study indicate that there is positive and significant relationship among studied variables

Financial development, fiscal policy and economic growth: The role of institutional quality in Pakistan

The study examines the influence of financial development, fiscal policy , and institutional quality on Pakistan’s economic growth. We investigate whether financial development and or fiscal policies promote economic growth. We also analyse the effect of institutional quality on economic growth in Pakistan. We use time series data from 1985 - 2016 , and use GDP to proxy economic growth. We use unit - root tests to check for stationary of our sample. We perform a logarithmic transformation on the series to reduce outlier effects and use Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model . The results show that financial development and revenue have a positive impact on growth. Our study results implicate that sound, strategic, and result - oriented policies should be formulated to transform our institutions and financial sectors into the well organized, powerful, and trusted frameworks. These transformations will ensure efficient and productive utilization of savings