THIS is apropos of a photograph on page 18 (Jan 11, Lahore edition) which reminded me of pathetic scenes of teenage boys and girls and young women with only one arm/hand seen in villages during my field visits.

The missing part of the upper torso was, in fact, accidentally amputated while working on fodder machines. This is a lifelong tragedy.

Usually, such simple and easy task of fodder cutting is left to inexperienced youngsters of the family. They cut the fodder and serve it to animals.

The children are overenthusiastic and unguided, and the fodders are now electric motor-operated without having any protection.

A simple wrong movement causes severing of an active body part. Sometimes in panic, both forearms/hands are amputated. A number of injured children die due to excessive bleeding and delay in getting medical aid.

Fodder cutter is an important tool for a farmer but highly dangerous in the present form due to lack of protective manufacturing specifications. It is time a regulatory department insisted on a protective barrier between the user and sharp blades. It also needs proper education for careful use and prompt medical care through the media, textbooks and school demonstrations to minimise human sufferings.

The health department must also arrange ambulance service, save blood and repair surgery with rehabilitation at rural tehsil hospitals to reduce mortality and morbidity of injured people.

DR S. ANWAAR AHMAD BUGVI Lahore