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A blind escorting a blind?

 Now let’s face it. There are two sections of people who are vulnerable to these dreadful ‘modern’ diseases – informed and uninformed. The latter group consists of individuals who engage in dangerous lifestyles because they do not understand the ramifications of their actions, but the former engage in such risky activities closing their eyes and ears to the information that they have; all for a momentary pleasure completely blinded. In the end both the group (informed and uninformed) commit fatal blunders. This is how we nullify government’s steady efforts in educating us on the healthy and safe lifestyles.

Does it mean that we lack information or are we just being complacent? How seriously do we take all these campaigns - we as the officials who carry out such health campaigns and those of us who afford to attend them? How meaningful are such awareness activities? If we are provided substantial information on the risks involved, why are we still jeopardizing our lives? And for a momentary pleasure, can we afford to endanger our lives? Every time someone tests HIV positive somewhere, does every strand of hair on our frail bodies stand up? Or is it just a momentary reflex?

We smoke heavy even when we are shown enough evidence of how costly the habit is. Likewise is the case with those who sniff/chew tobacco products. It is same old story with us who drink a lot even when we are amply clear about the harmful effects of alcohol. Some of us never give up our habit of chewing doma even when doctors have warned us enough. But sometimes ironically those who are supposed to advise the mass are themselves unable to give up on the habit – a blind escorting a blind?

Our concerned authorities make every concerted effort to educate our people. But how effective these all initiatives are, is for us to judge going by the increasing number of people who fall victims. There is nothing inherently wrong in these initiatives. It all boils down to how much and what possibly can we make out of them, all of us. 

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