By Hema Ravi
‘While I am talking to you, I have no idea whether I’m infected or not.’ ‘I just want to go back home safely.’
The media reports have been carrying news about the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, with over 3000 people in it, owing to corona virus diagnosed on board. The deadly corona virus has triggered paranoia and psychosis, and moment after moment, people live in constant fear in the lap of death. Catch 22 situation!
Despite timely medical help (even when the doctors are at risk, and also have contracted the virus) passengers hope and pray that they do not contract the virus, and, they would be permitted to disembark after the quarantine period.
My heart goes out to those distressed souls who await clearance to ‘go back home safely.’ The reports also say that the mortality rate of people with a poor immune system is greater. Does this ring a bell? Healthy eating can be fairly simple, but the rise in popular ‘diets’ and ‘dieting trends’ have caused a lot of confusion in the minds of people; more often, they distract and take people away from the basic nutrition principles that are extremely important. While macronutrients such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins are required in substantial quantities, micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential, however, they are beneficial when consumed in smaller doses.
Considering the options that are available aplenty in the market, the choice of the vast majority would be towards the delicious-looking, calorie-rich fast foods that come along with the unlabelled ‘side effects.’ Resisting the urge to opt for healthy, wholesome foods requires conscious effort on the part of individuals. Not just this, exercise and sleep are the other parameters that are decisive in promoting good health of the citizens at large.
No hard feelings, but, such epidemics prove to be eye-openers for the populace world over, more importantly for the avid travellers to remain disease-free and get back to homeland safely every time they they travel…….
About the Author: Hema Ravi is a freelance trainer for IELTS and Communicative English. Her poetic publications include haiku, tanka, free verse and metrical verses. Her write ups have been published in the Hindu, New Indian Express, Femina, Woman’s Era, and several online and print journals; a few haiku and form poems have been prize winners. She has contributed to the ‘Destine Literare’ (Canada). Besides, she is the author of ‘Everyday English,’ ‘Write Right Handwriting Series1,2,3,’ co-author of Sing Along Indian Rhymes’ and ‘Everyday Hindi.’ Her “Everyday English with Hema,” a series of English lessons are broadcast by the Kalpakkam Community Radio. She is the Secretary of the Chennai Poets’ Circle.