AT 12:51 pm on 28 March 2025, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 on the Richter scale struck Myanmar. As a result of this Mandalay earthquake, the National Disaster Management Committee declared emergency conditions in the affected areas, including Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region, Magway Region, the northeastern part of Shan State, Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory, and Bago Region.
The recent earthquake in affected areas had left deep scars not only on the land and infrastructure but also on the hearts and minds of its people. As rescue operations and rebuilding efforts continue, it is vital to recognize that emotional healing must be addressed alongside physical recovery. Providing psychological support to those affected is essential for restoring a sense of safety, hope, and resilience in the community.

• Understanding the Psychological Impact: Natural disasters often trigger intense emotional responses. Victims may experience fear, helplessness, grief, anxiety, and even guilt for surviving. Children may become withdrawn or clingy, while adults might suffer from insomnia, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The emotional toll is often hidden but can be long-lasting if not properly addressed. Therefore, psychological support should be an integral part of any disaster response strategy.

• Immediate Psychological First Aid: In the aftermath of the Mandalay earthquake, the first step is to provide Psychological First Aid (PFA). This involves creating a calm and supportive environment where survivors feel safe and heard. Trained volunteers and health workers can offer emotional comfort, listen without judgment, and guide individuals toward available services. Providing accurate information and reconnecting people with loved ones also helps reduce anxiety and confusion.

• Creating Safe Spaces and Community Support: Establishing safe spaces for different age groups is crucial. Child-friendly areas allow children to play, express themselves, and regain a sense of normalcy. For adults, group discussions, religious ceremonies, or storytelling sessions can foster mutual support and healing. Cultural and spiritual practices play an important role in the psychological recovery process and should be respectfully incorporated into support efforts.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

A pill that mimics the effect of a gastric bypass has been touted as the latest weight loss miracle – and may even be more effective than fat jabs in the long term. 

The capsules produce a temporary coating in the gut that prevents food from being absorbed, forcing it into the lower intestine and triggering hormones that make you feel full. 

Its manufacturers say it may have advantages over weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, including having fewer side effects and being easier to take. 

It is also far safer and less invasive than actual gastric bypass surgery. 

Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, makers of the pill, said: The problem is [fat jabs] are not very tolerable and patients want to come off them. 

By binding to the mucous membrane lining of the duodenum - the top of the intestine near the stomach - the pills create a barrier that stops calories being absorbed. 

It forces food directly into the lower part of the digestive system, the pills set off a ‘cascade’ of hormones including GLP-1, the same chemical mimicked by semaglutide jab Wegovy. 

It also causes the body to stop producing ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, and start producing leptin, which makes you feel satisfied. 

The person taking the pill feels full more quickly and stops eating. 

The coating created by the pill sheds naturally after about 24 hours, leaving no trace.

The effect is similar to gastric bypass, in which surgeons make the stomach smaller and shorten the small intestine, changing how the body absorbs food and leaving people feeling fuller after eating less. 

In rats, the drug caused the animals to lose 1 percent of their bodyweight per week while preserving 100 percent of their lean muscle mass. 

Trials in humans have not studied weight loss but found the pills cause no harmful side effects. 

If they prove effective in further trials, the pills could help patients maintain a healthy weight after intensive weightloss with jabs, or replace the injections entirely. 

Dr Louis Aronne of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City told the conference that a ‘golden age’ of treatment had begun with these new drugs. 

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