Hepatitis B and its prevention

There are at least 5 types of Viruses commonly causing liver diseases named alphabetically as Hepatitis A,B,C,D and E.The A and E viruses are acquired from contaminated food water,whilst B,C and D have different modes of transmissions,either through blood or blood products or directly from person to person via sexual contact,or from the mother to the baby at the time of delivery.

Hepatitis B virus can be cleared effectively by the body's own defence mechanism without any specific treatment in a majority of adults who are exposed to it.However,in children especially newborn and infants,the body's defence mechanism may not be capable of clearing the virus.

Persistence of the virus can cause irreparable damage to the liver in around 20%(Cirrhosis)and lead to the liver Cancer in around 2%.Although treatment against Hepatitis B is available in the form of injections (Interferous) and tablet (Lamivudine) it helps in stopping the viral multiplication only up to a maximum of 50%.

The best way to tackle the problem would therefore be prevention of transmission of the virus by strict implementation of mandatory testing of blood for Hepatitis B in blood banks,Proper sterilisation of needles,Syringes,surgical instruments and use of condom's during risky sexual behaviour.

Vaccination against Hepatitis B is safe and effective in over 95% of those who have taken the full three doses.   This vaccination is specific and gives protection only against Hepatitis B and not against the other viruses or all causes of Jaundice,as is some times wrongly perceived by the general public.

The World Health Organisation(WHO) has advocated that all children in countries with prevalence of Hepatitis B carrier rate more than 2% of the population should be vaccinated.So far 90 countries have included it in the respective immunisation programmes. In India the vaccination programme needs careful monitoring by medical personnel to ensure that  the full course of three doses is completed.All adults need not to be vaccinated,since 90% of those exposed clear the virus spontaneously.

On the basis of the available data,it is estimated that 4.7% if India's population carries the Hepatitis B virus.Whilst it is difficult to be accurate about the exact figure,considering the population of India even a small percentage becomes a health burden.

Hepatitis B has recently been under focus in India due to widespread media publicity,because of undue anxiety and false alarms in the minds of general public,leading to a large scale of vaccination camps.Such camps are ineffective if all the three doses are not given at proper time interval and the target group is the general adult population which is not at a high risk of exposure to Hepatitis B.

Among the risk factors that help to decide who should receive Hepatitis B vaccinations are the possibilities of exposure to the virus and becoming a chronic carrier due to inability to clear the virus and the funds available. Those adults and children who are at a high risk of exposure to the Hepatitis B are however a priority for vaccination .These groups include:

1.Health Care Personnel (Ward boys,Ayahs,Technicians,Nurses,Doctors,etc.)
2. Children born to mothers with Hepatitis B virus infection.
3. Recpients of large or multiple transfusion of blood and blood products.
4.Commercial Sex workers and sexual partners of Hepatitis B positives.
5.Patients with chronic renal failure.
6.Inmates and staff of institutions caring for the physically or mentally challenged.

In India, with limited resources available for health care,at least the high-risk groups should be protected before universal immunisation is set as a goal.

Categories: food habits Good Health Good Thoughts health Human Organs

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December 25th Is The Real Date Of Birth Of Jesus Christ?

God speak to people in many different ways.In very early times God spoke to his people through special messengers called"Prophets".But there were no prophets for many years.Some times God also chose to speak through Angels.The angel came to Mary and said her"God's special blessings on you"
Mary could not understand what the angel said.She was very much worried.The angel said to her,"Don't be afraid,Mary.You will have a son.You will call him Jesus.He will known as the Son of God.God will make him a great ruler like his ancestor,King David.He will rule over God's people for ever".

Mary said to the angel,"I am not yet married.How can I have a son?"The angel answered,"The power of God's Spirit will come upon you.so your child will be called the son of God(Emmanuel).
"I am God's servant,"said Mary ."May God do with me as you have said."

Moreover, the birth of our Lord was foretold. The time was also fixed. Jesus was not born suddenly. When was it? It is really a big question. How did the Magi come to Jerusalem to worship the infant Jesus? Indeed, they were wise men, and had the prophecy in their tradition that the King of the Jews, whose Kingdom will last forever, will be born in the holy land. It is also important to observe that the chief priests of Jerusalem were able to tell where he was born

Do we really know the exact day when Jesus was born on earth ? We do not know.

It is believed that the ancient Greeks and the Romans celebrated December,25th as the birthday of the son of god. It is also believed that December.25th was the birthday of a very powerful and notorious ruler of Mesopotamia, Nimrod, who rebelled against God and constructed the tower of Babel. On the day Jesus was born, the shepherds were sleeping outside on the field when angels appeared and declared that the Messiah was born with their celestial voice. If He was born in the month of December, the shepherds could not have slept outside due to severe cold. Therefore, the probability of Jesus being born on December, 25th is a question to to be answered. I am not inviting a controversy here. What matters is the birth of JESUS and not the date of His birth.Byzantine churches observe His birth on 7th of January.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church officially celebrates Christmas on January 7. That is because it follows a different calendar system. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Armenian Orthodox Church, and others also celebrate their Christmas on this day.

Only one thing we can say that God of heaven did not want us to know this historic date of the birth of Jesus. God may have a definite reason for not revealing the date. But He has given other proof about this historic events.

Historical, Archaeological and Geographical Proof.

1. Jesus was born in a geographical area known as Bethlehem. Thousand years before the birth of Jesus, God has selected this place and promised King David that Jesus will be born through His lineage. Bethlehem was the birthplace of David.
2. This was revealed through the prophecy of Micah, hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus. (Micah 5:2 )
3. It took place during the time of the rule of Herod the Great as the ruler of the Jews under the Roman empire.
4. This was the time the Romans were at the zenith of their glory.
5. Pontius Pilate was the Roman Governor appointed for the governance of Jerusalem.
6. Looking at the magnificent Jerusalem Temple, Jesus said that this will be destroyed and not a single stone will be left on another stone.( Matt.24:2 )
7. In AD 70, the Roman army under the leadership of General Titus destroyed this magnificent temple and they removed each stone to pick up the gold from cracks and crevices of the rocks. Even the foundation stones were removed by ploughing with the help of elephants.
8. Archaeologists have located the garden of Gethsemane, the palace of Pontius Pilate, the courtyard where the trial of Jesus took place, the place of crucifixion, the tomb where Jesus was buried etc.
9. Geographical locations associated with the life of Jesus is still known as the same.The Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Cana, Samaria, Bethlehem and Jerusalem have still its importance in the world map as a center of importance due to the historical birth of Jesus Christ.
10. This very clearly shows that God didn't want to reveal the date of birth of Jesus to humanity. If we know, we will start worshiping that day. God has already given a day in the Garden of Eden for worship and reminded us about it by writing it on rock tablets with God's own fingers.
11. The four gospels are the eyewitness accounts of the disciples who walked with Jesus about three and a half years. They traveled together, ate together and ministered together.
12. We have no doubt in believing the the life and conquest of Alexander the Great of Macedonia who lived hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus as a historical figure. Then why we cannot believe the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, with the eye witness reports of the gospel writers.?
13. Except, St.John, the writer of the 4th gospel who was thrown into boiling oil and yet he came out unharmed to die a natural death later, all other disciples went through torture and accepted martyrdom. If Jesus was fake, why should they die for an imaginary hero ?
14. Peter denied Jesus three times because he was afraid of the Jews. The same Peter was empowered and gave his own life for Jesus and requested the authorities to crucify him upside down to symbolically kiss the feet of Jesus. Would Peter, once so afraid of the Jews, become ready to sacrifice his life for a fake hero ?
15. What made the doubting Thomas to travel all the way to Malabar, the coast of Kerala,India to spread the eternal gospel ? What changed the doubting Thomas to become a believing Thomas? One touch of the resurrected Jesus made Thoas to take a U-turn in His life. If Jesus was false, why would Thomas come to India.?

I am convinced that December 25th is not the real date of birth of Jesus Christ. But that does not mean that the birth of the Divine Child is an imaginary story. The few examples I have cited from the historical, archaeological and geographical factors reveal the historicity of the birth of Jesus. Some people ask me why Christians celebrate December,25th as the birthday of Jesus ? Some of them are really spiritual people.some are hard-core fanatics. But my answers to both are the same.

A Powerful Statement by -Peter Larson;"The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: A Virgin's womb an Empty Tomb.Jesus entered our world through a door marked 'No Entrance' and left through a door marked 'No Exit'.

JESUS MUST BE AN EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE AND EVERY ONCE LIFE. NOW JESUS SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING FOR AN INN OR AN INSIGNIFICANT CATTLE SHED GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS,LET THE DIVINE CHILD BE BORN THERE.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Good Thoughts jesus Our God

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Lost and Found

Jesus told a story to make people think or to answer a question.He told these stories to people who did not follow God's ways.He wanted them to know that God loves and cares for them.He wanted them to come back to God.That would make God always happy Indeed.

The term “lost” usually is disturbing when describing a lost purse, wallet, glasses, keys or pet. It’s even more so when referring to a lost child or adult. Intense joy or relief is experienced when you physically find anything that has been lost.

Jesus talked about a shepherd who had a sheep that strayed and how he rejoiced when he found it. He also talked about a woman who lost a piece of silver and after searching and finding it she rejoiced with her friends and neighbors. In neither of the above situations was the item lost on purpose. At the end of each of these incidents Jesus said that there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. Jesus spoke of a son who purposefully left his father’s house and wasted his substance with riotous living. He finally came to himself, returned to his father’s house, confessed his sins and admitted he was not worthy to be called a son. He said "Father,I have sinned against God and against you". Take me as one of your daily servant". Whereas his older brother was not happy, the father was joyful because that which was lost was found (Luke 15:3-32). Whether a person strays carelessly or on purpose there is hope!

It is a sad thing when a person is lost physically but it is much worse to be lost spiritually. To be lost spiritually means a future destination in the lake of fire forever."Even so It is not  the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish"  (Mt 18:14). “For the Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some  count slackness; but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

What is a Christian’s duty concerning the lost? Paul wrote “But even if our gospel is veiled.It is veiled to those who are perishing.” (2 Cor 4:3). Jesus told us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"(Mt 28:19), “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:16), and be witnesses …"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witness to Me in Jerusalem,and in all Judea and Samaria,and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). May the Lord help us to reach the lost.

God is like the father in this story.He welcomes people as his children,even when they have gone wrong.The older brother of him was angry when his brother returned home.But his behavior showed that he was no better than his foolish brother.

Categories: Bible Thoughts Devotional jesus Motivation Our God Perfection

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