Brain disease re-emerges in kids
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — A disease of the brain — neurocysticercosis, or formation of a cyst in the delicate organ controlling the central nervous system — that was known to affect few people till about five years ago has become common among little children from varied socio-economic backgrounds.

The numbers have been growing at an alarming rate as more than a 100 cases, on an average, are added annually to the list of cases being maintained at the PGI. There have been local cases as also cases from other areas of the region. This does not include the cases which may not be reaching the PGI due to incorrect diagnosis at clinics in far-flung areas or ignorance.

At the moment, more than 1000 children between the age of 18 months to 10 years are under treatment at the special clinic started at the advanced paediatric centre (APC) by the PGI some years ago. Close to 60 per cent of such children can be cured through an extended medication plan that costs a few hundred rupees a month. The rest will have to suffer throughout their lives as the cysts, even if they taken care of, leave behind a residue in certain cases that results in seizures, said Dr Pratibha D. Singhi, who runs the special clinic.

The cases have definitely increased, Dr Singhi said, adding that still several thousands may be having the cyst or multiple cysts but do not know about it since the cyst may not have started reacting, thus there are no seizures or symptoms.

A study conducted by the PGI says that 94 per cent cases come to doctors with seizures ( commonly known as fits). The rest have vomiting and headaches. There is no other known symptom. Certain cases have been seen with odeama (swelling) of the brain. The cases come from the lower or the lower middle class of society. A few cases have been reported among the affluent sections also.

Neurocysticercosis is segregated from routine epilepsy cases through tests. The infection is known to travel through a tape worm ‘’taeniasolium’’ , found in the intestines of worm-infected people. The eggs of this worm pass through the excretal matter of the infected person. This, if it’s lying in the open , is consumed by pigs. The larvae of the eggs then hatches and manifests itself in pigs, thus making consumption of pork dangerous, Dr Singhi warned.

If the excreta gets mixed with a water source, it can contaminate the water that could carry the infection through drinking water drawn from unauthorised sources or if the water is used in the fields. The consumption of vegetables that are contaminated or those that are eaten raw may not be safe without certain precautions and cases of vegetarians having got the disease are also well documented now. The travel route of the infection is the feaco-oral route but it is not contagious.

The vegetables that run the risk of carrying infections, include cucumbers, potatoes, radish and carrots, among others. ‘’Peel them and wash them thoroughly. If need be, cook properly before consumption,’’ advises the doctor. The infection is found only on the outside surface of the vegetables and peeling them can be a major precaution.

The disease is spreading more due to insanitary conditions and unhygienic habits, besides lack of awareness.

At the moment, neurocysticercosis is the commonest cause of seizures among children in the region. The PGI is also doing research on the effect of ‘’albendazole’’ used in therapy to cure cysts. Besides, another study is on to see how long anti-epilepsy drugs can be used to cure such cases.

Vet hospital cries for care
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, July 30 — The veterinary hospital in Sector 3 here which caters to the needs of residents of the town and surrounding villages is housed in a dilapidated building.

The structure was built by the gram panchayat and subsequently acquired by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). The District Town and Planning Department had allotted a one-acre plot for the hospital. Today it enjoys only 15 per cent of the allotted area. The remaining area has been encroached upon by villagers and migrant population.

Since April the hospital has attended to over 1,200 cases. It undertakes special vaccination drives for animal care in the villages. Also, advanced and sensitive activities of artificial insemination for breed improvement are undertaken by the hospital, which requires adequate funds for its success.

There is no provision of sheds for the animals that require intensive care. The misery compounds during monsoons when the roof leaks, especially after a heavy downpour.

The hospital has no boundary wall. Due to this, it is an easy game for trespassers and encroachers. HUDA had earlier this year formalised a tender for the construction of the boundary wall in the undisputed area of the hospital, but no progress has been made in this regard.

Eversince the building has been acquired by HUDA, no funds have been allocated for its maintenance. The veterniary hospital functions under the Director, Animal Husbandry, Haryana, and derives its funds from the rural development bank.

However, the hospital lacks basic amenities. Safe drinking water is scarce. It operates amidst insanitary conditions. There is no provision of an adequate warehouse for the storage of costly medicines which lie unattended. Also there is no provision for a night watchman.

Dr Rajender Singh, Veterniary Surgeon, says: ''The hospital has been neglected over the years and needs immediate attention." The hospital and the Animal Husbandry Department had several times brought the matter to the notice of HUDA, but the situation had remained unchanged, he added.

Villagers await clean water
From Our Correspondent

MANAULI (SAS Nagar), July 30 — A rural water supply project worth Rs 43 lakh is hanging fire and a large part of the population in Saini Majra and other adjoining villages may have to wait for a long time to get clean water supply. The panchayat has been unable to provide a suitable place of land for the purpose.

A sewer from Chandigarh and SAS Nagar flows near the village. Villagers complain of several diseases as they are forced to use the polluted water.

Mr Gurbachan Singh of Manauli village says the matter has been brought to the notice of the district authorities many times.

Several water samples from Manauli village have been tested and declared unfit for human consumption. Bacteria have been found during the sampling of potable water, which has delayed the water supply project.

Mr S.R. Aggarwal, Executive Engineer, Rural Water Supply, SAS Nagar, says a project of Rs 43 lakh for rural water supply, approved by the central government, is facing difficulties in execution.

Allotment of land for the project is the main problem. The project site was at Manauli but was later shifted to Chao Majra village.

Sources in the rural water supply department say inability of providing land is the main cause of delay in starting the project. As the department will get the land free of cost, the village panchayats seem to be reluctant to provide it with land.

The local primary health centre has registered several cases of skin diseases. Medical experts say the water supply is the cause for the increase in cases of such diseases.

Residents complain that this has also affected cattle. Whenever any operation camp is held in the area, medical teams discard the local water to avoid infection to patients.

Due to non-availability of pollution-free water, teachers in local government schools get their bottles of drinking water from their houses. The fear of outbreak of an epidemic has also causeda scare among residents.

Film industry in shaky state: Biswajeet
By Sonoo Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, July 30 — "Unlike the golden era of yesteryear, the film industry today is in a very shaky state. Nobody knows what might happen tomorrow," said cine-star Biswajeet, the chocolate hero of the sixties and seventies, while commenting on the state of Bollywood and the influence of the mafia on the same.

This ''jubilee star'' of yesteryear is here to raise fund for the benefit of the Kargil heroes. ''An evening with Biswajeet'' will be organised at the Government Polytechnic for Women, Chandigarh, tomorrow.

For someone who has acted in thrillers like ''Jaal'', ''Bees Saal Baad'', ''Kohra'' and ''Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi'' and also soft romantic films like ''April Fool'', ''Merey Sanam'' and ''Kismet'', Biswajeet's favourite film remains an almost unheard of movie, ''Rahagir'', in which he acted opposite Bengali actress Sandhya Roy. "This was an off-beat subject that we worked with, but unfortunately the film flopped. I was, in fact, nominated for the national award for the best actor for this film", he said in an interview with Tribune News Service here today.

After his last film as a hero in ''Nami Chor'' opposite Leena Chandravarkar, Biswajeet has been seen in character roles in movies, besides the small screen. "A tremendous amount of time and preparation is required for the 35mm screen which is not the case with the small screen. But television has become big time today with the kind of impact it has on the masses. But surely the effect of the films cannot be denied because television means instant stardom till the time a serial is on air. But look what the movies do to you — even today when people look at me they sing my songs," Biswajeet said.

While comparing the films of today and of the "good old days", he said "technically speaking, our films can be compared to sometimes even the Hollywood films. And talent in the form of Nasseerudin Shah, Kamalhasan, Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Madhuri Dixit and Kajol and Govinda is immense. Today whatever one can conceive can actually be brought down on the celluloid. But musically, things do not look too good for Bollywood. Even the hit music of the super films is very shortlived whereas songs that are 40 years old are still hummed".

In fact, he had been lucky to get films which had some of the best music of the times. From the catchy ''bekraar kar key'' to the haunting ''kahin deep jaley kahin dil'' to the ever-popular ''pukarta chala hoon main'', Biswajeet sang all of these on the screen. He said: "Even today my image of giving musical hits is like a hangover for most of my fans. So I guess I do fit into the 'romantic-hero' variety."

Most of his fans would now be happy to hear that this musical hangover can continue further with this cine-actor having recorded the re-mix of eight popular songs from his movies. Titled ''Oh, My Love'', the songs have been sung by Biswajeet himself who now hopes to release it by the end of this year.

Switching gears, Biswajeet talked about the cultural sanctions in Mumbai and even the recent controversy on Dilip Kumar. "Well, sometimes our actors do come under pressure because of certain impositions, but then there never has been a leader like Balasaheb. Look what happened when the Shiv Sena protested against an India-Pakistan match, but now Kapil Dev is saying the same and most of us are supporting it. As for Yusuf Bhai, if I had been in his place, I would have not even considered twice and given away my award. But yes, there are political implications of certain acts sometimes".

Any political ambitions? A vociferous "no" was the reply. For the time being he seems to have his hands full. Biswajeet is acting in various television serials — the role of Jehangir in the ''The Great Mughal'', actress Farha Khan's serial ''Taqdeer'' and bilingual serial ''Masnat'', in both Bangla and Hindi. He is also planning to produce a film in Bangla for his son, Prasanjeet, who had been introduced in the Mumtaz-comeback film, ''Andhiyan'', a ''flop'' film directed by Pehlaj Nihalani. Biswajeet is also busy producing a serial for children, ''Power Man'', for Doordarshan.

Stress laid on breast feeding
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 30 — There is no substitute for mother’s milk, which is essential for a child at least for the initial four months. Its consumption has a long-lasting effect on the health of a child, who inherits characteristics of the mother through early doses of her milk, Dr Joginder Singh, Director of Health Services of Chandigarh, said here today.

He was speaking at a lecture-cum-slide show organised by the Health Centre, Chandigarh. A breast feeding week will also be observed from August 1 to August 8, 1999.

Dr Singh expressed concern at the apparent indifferent attitude of modern mothers towards the importance of breast-feeding. “They seem to be more conscious about their own figures at the cost of the well-being of their infants,” he said. As such he advised young mothers to follow the age-old tradition of feeding infants their own milk so that children remained healthy and emotionally attached to them.

He added that mother’s milk is economical also, because artifical milk is costlier, besides being unhealthy for the child. Artificial milk can in no way compensate for mother’s feed. He stressed the need to create awareness about the usefulness of mother’s milk among youngsters through proper counselling by doctors and other trained health workers. Awareness about the importance of breast feeding must be imparted at educational institutions and to a woman during the pregnancy. Members of the family should also cooperate with the mother in this regard.

Demonstration of proper postures of breast-feeding, comfortable for both mother and child, were also given in the programme through slides and a skit enacted by family welfare workers. Dr Mohinder Minocha, Director of Health and Family Welfare of Chandigarh, presided over the show which was attended by about 100 social and health workers.