The only planet in the Solar system known to be hosting life forms in variety and numbers virtually infinite is most appropriately described as mother earth. Apart from walking on such a mother per se, all the bounties starting from air to breathe, water to quench thirst, soil to raise food and plants in abundance to support life seem to have been taken for granted only by the human beings. The land’s scholars of a distant past have appealed to the mother for pardon in the lines scripted in Sanskrit Samudravasane devi… Vishnupathni namsthubhyam Paadasparsham Kshamswamay. The remaining species, in their entire range of flora and fauna, have no cause for feeling guilty even as their future is sliding to the zone of vanishing, thanks to the utter disregard by the human beings to the issues of healthcare of mother earth.

Barring the times during the year and regions across the earth that witness harsh conditions posing threat to life of various living forms, mother earth has withstood the acts of indiscretion by generations of human species which is continuing unabated. The case of mother in her family bears a close imagery, in particular on the count of her healthcare.

A prescription that is being voiced and quoted often in reports published by dailies nowadays that educating the girl in the family paves way to educating the entire family prompts one to another valuable and timely prescription coming from knowledgeable circles. The Co-Founder of a Trust focussed on preventive healthcare for women, in an article published in a daily this week, avers that women are the centre pillars of all families. “The burden of sickness in  the lady can alter the whole equation within a household-physically, emotionally and financially.” Families not fortunate to have a housewife endowed with robust health will bear testimony to this statement.

Given the Country’s current scenario of chronic diseases of the heart, diabetes and cancer taking a heavy toll of lives, including home-makers, the need and importance of understanding the risk factors cannot be sidelined. Addressing the issues of healthcare in preference to those of medicare is mark of prudence for all families.