Women's participation; livestock management and its harmful effectson their health: a case study of Toba Tek Singh

Livestock production is of paramount importance in minimizing the vulnerability of poor and marginalized people in remote rural areas. Women play an active role in managing and care taking of the herd by participating in different activities of livestock management. The growing population is exerting pressure on all the resources and in future, it is expected that the livestock demand will also increase for fulfilling the demands of masses. Due to women's crucial role in livestock management activities, they are more susceptible to zoonotic diseases. The zoonotic diseases are becoming a threat by becoming responsible for the death of 2.2 million people every year and majority of the victims belong to developing countries. To find out health related issues while participating in livestock management activities. Survey. 2011-2012. the present study was conducted in rural areas of district Toba Tek Singh. One Union Council [UC] and three villages from the selected UC were selected by using simple random sampling technique. The sample size of the study was 120 respondents of rural females having forty respondents from each village. The study revealed that majority of the respondents was involved in grazing and fodder cutting activities and they are satisfied with their role. It was also noted that the highly educated respondents were more secure from diseases than that of less educated and illiterate respondents. It is the sole responsibility of the government and public sector department to run campaign regarding livestock diseases to whom human are susceptible so that the risks regarding this situation may be minimized

Ethnobotanical survey; common medicinal plants used by people of Cholistan desert

Medicinal plants are used for the production of different medicines and also for the treatment of different diseases

Study Design: Study is based on a survey

Setting: Traditional medicinal uses of common medicinal plants of Cholistan desert

Objectives: The present investigation is aimed to conserve and create awareness about the ethno medicinal value of the plants and their uses to draw the attention of pharmacologists, phytochemists and pharmaceuticals

Methods: In the study area a total of 33 plant genuses belonging to 21 families are reported. In current study the medicinal plants and their indigenous medicinal uses are only presented by interviewing the local informants and Hakims. The information gained by these sources is presented here. For every plant basic information like family of plant genus, botanical name, local name, plant origin, abundance, status, plant form, part used and medicinal importance are given

Results: Field observations showed that deforestation, over grazing, agricultural expansion and unscientific collection, processing and preservation of natural vegetation are the major threats in the investigated area

Conclusion: There is dire need to conserve plant resources of Cholistan desert