Birthday of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

 

Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muʿizzaddin Waddaulah, born on 15 July 1946, in Brunei Town [now Bandar Seri Begawan], Brunei, is the 29^th sultan of Brunei.

Hassanal Bolkiah was the eldest son of Sultan Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin.  He was educated privately and later attended the Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England. In 1961 Sir Omar named him crown prince, and when Sir Omar abdicated six years later, Hassanal Bolkiah became sultan on 5 October 1967, his coronation taking place on 1 August 1968. For the next decade, however, his father remained the power behind the throne. After the death of his mother in 1979, his father withdrew from public affairs, and the sultan quickly took the dominant role in the administration of Brunei. He made frequent trips throughout the country to listen to his subjects as well as to promote himself as ruler. In anticipation of independence from Britain, he began to create a native bureaucracy, replacing British expatriates in the civil service with Bruneians, and he cracked down on corruption.

After having held Brunei as a protectorate for 95 years, the British formally withdrew on 1 January 1984. Although there were minor disagreements over matters such as the management of Brunei’s huge investment portfolio, relations between the two countries continued to be friendly. Sir Omar died in 1986, and on 5 October 1992, the sultan, who also acted as prime minister and as the minister of defence and of finance, celebrated the 25th year of his reign. He continued to rule under a state of emergency declared by his father in 1962. In the 1980s and 1990s the sultan regularly appeared at or near the top of lists of the world’s richest individuals, his fortune deriving from Brunei’s oil and gas.

 

World Plastic Surgery Day

 

World Plastic Surgery Day is observed on July 15 to spread information about the side effects, spread awareness among the people about the different types of plastic surgeries, and remove misconceptions related to it.

To mark the day, plastic surgeons shed light on some of the innovative procedures and their benefits for both hair and facial rejuvenation while underlining some pertinent considerations. The day presents an occasion for understanding and spreading awareness among people about the role and contribution of plastic surgeons in society.

What Is Plastic Surgery?

The word plastic was derived from the Greek word ‘Plastikos’ which means ’to mould’. Although silicone and other types of implants are used in plastic surgery, it is the art of remodelling of the tissues which gave rise to this name plastic surgery. The risk involved in plastic surgery is similar to the risk involved in other surgeries.

History and Significance

In 2011, the concept of National Plastic Surgery Day was first introduced by Dr S Raja Sabapathy, the then president of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. He conceptualised the idea of celebrating the day and chose July 15 as the appropriate date.

Subsequently, recognising the importance of plastic surgery, World Plastic Surgery Day has been observed since 15 July,2022.

Plastic surgeons across the country commemorate the day by conducting camps and awareness meetings. Many conducted free surgeries, street shows, lectures, write-ups in print and social media, and more.

Types Of Plastic Surgery:

There are two major types of plastic surgery including reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.

Reconstructive surgery usually includes surgeries to repair abnormalities caused by birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, separation of fused fingers, removal of birthmarks, severe burns, or disfigurement or scars caused by an accident or injury. While, cosmetic surgery is usually done by people to make the texture of the breasts and buttocks attractive, change the nose and lips shape, or reduce their belly.

The Association of Plastic Surgeons of India:

In 1957, the Association of Plastic Surgeons in India (APSI) was formed. It aims to foster and co-ordinate training in plastic surgery and to advise on the organisation of both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programs for plastic surgery in India. The APSI also provides for and promotes dissemination and diffusion of knowledge of plastic surgery amongst plastic surgeons, and members of the medical profession in general.

According to APSI, India has rapidly become a hot favourite plastic and cosmetic surgery destination for medical tourists from worldwide because people get world-class facilities at more affordable and economical costs, higher success rates and safety measures.

“Indian plastic surgeons already have a great reputation when it comes to finest surgical skills for providing a wide range of cosmetic as well as plastic surgery procedures. With increasing popularity and easy availability of such procedures in India, more and more foreigners are flying in to get chiselled looks while experiencing the vast heritage of this ancient country,” the APSI said.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), globally over 45,000 plastic surgeons form a formidable community in the healthcare system.

Country Wise Trend:

The plastic surgery market is growing globally, and many countries are known for their expertise in plastic surgery. In 2022, the US had the highest number of plastic surgeons in the world, with 7,461 surgeons. Brazil had the second largest number of plastic surgeons, with 6,200 surgeons, followed by Japan in third place overtaking China in the number of plastic surgeons. According to an estimate, the number of plastic surgeons in India was 2600.

 

World Youth Skills Day

The United Nations General Assembly designated July 15 as World Youth Skills Day in November 2014 and it was observed for the first time in July 2015. This day aims to spread awareness and develop an understanding of the importance of youth skills to counter the challenges of unemployment and underemployment faced by young people globally.

The initiative aims to equip youth with employable skills and competencies crucial for personal development, and economic empowerment. It also encourages governments, education institutions, employers and organisations to invest in training, education and initiatives to boost the skills and capabilities of youth so that they can actively participate in the labour market and ultimately contribute to the sustainable development goals. 

World Youth Skills Day: History and Significance

World Youth Skills Day was observed for the first time in July 2015 after being recognised by the UN in November 2014 to promote the development and empowerment of young people. It also emphasises the need to equip young people with the necessary skills and competencies which are important for entrepreneurship, sustainable livelihoods, and employment.

This day is observed to focus on vocational training, education and apprenticeships to mitigate the gap between education and employment. It also drives attention to foster innovation, productivity and social inclusion to achieve global development goals.

It also focuses on the growing importance of sustainable skills as it is projected that there will be an estimated 600 million jobs required by 2030 to meet the global youth employment demands.