The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Special diarrhoea ward in Sector 16 General Hospital
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — With onset of summer, incidence of acute diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis cases in various hospitals and dispensaries in the city have registered a significant increase. Data reveals that the maximum cases are reported in the period from April 15 to August 15 as high temperature during these months are favourable for multiplication of bacteria.

Keeping in view the further increase in the number of cases in the coming months, the UT health authorities have decided to set up a special diarrhoea ward in Sector 16 General Hospital, where IV fluids and anti-diarrhoeal medicines will be made available to severely ill patients. A senior official of the health department says as in the past, dispensaries adjoining slums and villages in the city will be well stocked with oral rehydration solution packets. However, all cases suffering from any of these infections should report to the nearest dispensary for treatment. Serious cases can later be admitted to General Hospital for treatment.

A senior medical officer is appointed as a nodal officer, who calls a meeting of the medical officers of various dispensaries and keeps checking the incidence of diarrhoea and the availability of medicines. He ensures that the MC is supplying chlorinated drinking water, particularly in those areas where more cases of diarrhoea are reported. The nodal officer is also required to ensure that all food items exposed to flies and dust in the market are destroyed by the authorities concerned. In one of the first meetings held today under the chairmanship of Director, Health Services, Dr Joginder Singh, medical incharges of various dispensaries were asked to report the actual incidence of these infections on a weekly basis so that necessary steps could be taken.

According to Dr Honney Sahni, a government medical practitioner, these water-borne diseases can be bacterial, parasitic or viral in origin. However, in most cases it is caused by rota virus. It is also caused by bacteria such as e-coli and solmenella and unicellular organisms such as antamoeba histolytica and giardia, he adds.

He further says unhygienic conditions and contaminated water are mainly responsible for the spread of these infections. "Intake of flies-infested food, exposed fruit and vegetables, stale food and water not fit for consumption generally cause diarrhoea," he adds. Mostly people belonging to the lower economic strata of society suffer from these infections. Poor hygiene of food handlers, cooks and waiters are also responsible for the faeco-oral transmission of these infections.

In certain dispensaries, particularly those catering to the population living in colonies and villages, 20 to 25 cases of diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis have been reported. The common symptoms of diarrhoea is increased frequency of motions, generally loose, and pain in the abdomen. Rice water stools are commonly seen in cholera cases. If the stool has blood, it is a case of dysentery. Dysentery can be bacterial or parasitic. In case of bacterial infections, mild fever is reported along with other symptoms. In case of gastro-enteritis, vomiting and diarrhoea occur simultaneously.

Dr M.P. Minocha, a paeditrician in Sector 22 polyclinic, discloses that children who are in the habit of buying foodstuff from rehris in the open and taking cut fruit are prone to these infections. Water loss from their bodies due to these infections, if not replenished, may lead to dehydration. He says this can be gauged from reduction in urinary output, depressed fontelle, sunken eye balls and dryness of the mouth.

In serious cases, when fluid and electrolytes are not replenished fully, the child starts losing consciousness. Hence, children should be given more attention as their body fluid depletion is faster than adults. He has advised that children should be given semi-solid diet, particularly rice-based khichri and mashed potato, banana etc, along with fluids.

Dr Minocha points out that in India, nearly 1.25 million children die every year due to diarrhoeal diseases and generally they are in the age group of 6 months to 2 years. Moreover, if the frequency of diarrhoea is high, the child may suffer from malnutrition.

According to Dr G. Diwan, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Sector 16 General Hospital, teachers have a major role to play in the prevention of such water-borne diseases. The school and college principals should ensure that overhead tanks and water coolers installed on their respective premises are thoroughly cleaned and painted before drinking water is made available to the students in summer.

This will help bring down the incidence of these infections, he adds. It will also check the spread of jaundice caused by hepatitis virus. He suggests that water tanks should be properly covered and inspected from time to time.

253 examined at camp
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — As many as 253 patients were examined and given free medicines at an infant and maternal mortality awareness-cum-medical check-up camp, organised by Ratna Memorial Trust in Karsan Colony ( Ram Durbar) yesterday. The camp was organised with the assistance of Sewa Bharti under the aegis of the Social Welfare Advisory Board.

Ms K Santha Reddy, member of the National Commission for Women, India, visited the camp and enquired from the women about the problems faced by them. She lauded the efforts of the organisers in holding such camps.

Inaugurating the camp, Director Health Services, Dr Joginder Singh, expressed concern at the growing incidence of TB and advised the patients to complete the full course for treatment. He also asked them to go in for timely tests for detecting AIDS and malaria. Dr Adesh Kang explained the medical, non-obstetric and social causes of maternal mortality and precautions for prevention.

Ms Kamla Sharma, Chairperson of the Social Advisory Board, said 16 such multiple health camps would be held during the year by voluntary organisations and Rs 2000 had been earmarked for each camp. Mr Mam Raj Mittal, President, Sewa Bharti, promised that a mobile health van would visit Karsan Colony every week and arrange free X-ray and blood tests for the poor.

The President of the Trust, Mr K.S. Raju, revealed that on a proposal given by Dr V.K. Kak, Director Principal of GMCH-32, 27 old destitute couples had been identified and they would be given medical assistance at their homes free of cost. Some asthma patients would also be given special treatment at their homes to commemorate the World Asthma Day, he added.

SPORT

Vikram helps PEC employees win
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — A good allround display by Vikram Khajuria, who scored an unbeaten 73 and got three wickets for just 21 runs, helped Punjab Engineering College Employees Cricket Club beat Excel XI by four wickets in the inaugural Milan Cup League-cum-knockout tournament at PEC grounds today.

In another match, Godrej Cricket Club beat McDowell XI by six wickets.

Brief scores: Excel XI — 150 runs for seven wickets in 25 overs (Vinod 57, Ashwani 32, Satinder Singh 27, Vikram Khajuria 3 for 21, Rajesh Arora 2 for nine, Satish Chaudhary 2 for 14); PEC Employees CC — 152 runs for six in 23.5 overs (Vikram Khajuria 73 n.o., Surinder 33, Satish Chaudhary 18, Rajinder 18 n.o., Ajay Bakshi 3 for 14).

Second match — McDowell XI — 98 all out (Bhupinder Sandhu 42, Hitesh Angrish 21,Vijay Pal 3 for 8, Sanjay Dhull 3 for 11, Amit Bhardwaj 2 for 15); Godrej CC — 101 for 4 in 19.5 overs (Amit Bhardwaj 34 n.o., Harpal Singh 32, Rajesh Patha 26, H.S. Sodhi 3 for 18).

Soccer trials: The Chandigarh Football Association will hold trials to select 25 probables for a coaching camp to prepare a UT team for the eighth Women's National Championship to be held at Diphu (Assam) from May 14 to 28. The trials will be held in the Sector 17 Football Stadium on May 4 at 4 pm. According to Mr Rakesh Bakshi, Secretary of the CFA, the selected players will also attend a pre-tournament coaching camp.

Official appointed: Baljinder Singh Banwait, Secretary of the Chandigarh Ball Badminton Association, has been appointed the Chairman of the tournament subcommittee for the year 2000-2001 by the Ball Badminton Federation of India, according to an information received from the federation.

The other members of the committee include D.S. Dev Raj (Karnataka), Abdul Wahab (Rajasthan) and Parkash Rao (Delhi).

The annual general meeting of the Ball Badminton Federation of India was also held in Bangalore where 26 units participated. Mr Amar Kumar of Andhra Pradesh was elected the President and Mr A.S. Naqvi of Rajasthan the Secretary.

Playground cleaned: Employees of the UT Sports Department today cleaned the playground of Government Girls High School in Sector 25 and marked the basketball, volleyball, handball, kabaddi and kho-kho courts.

About 150 persons of the department took part in the drive under the guidance of Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Sports of the UT. He promised that equipment would be given to the school to impart training in the morning session under the rural sports scheme.

Team selection: The Chandigarh Powerlifting Association will hold trials to select the UT sub-junior team for the national championship to be held at Jamshedpur (Bihar) from June 1 to 4. The trials will be held on May 13 at 11 am. The aspirants should be aged between 14 to 19 as on December 31, 2000.

BTC for police recruits opens
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The revamped basic training course (BTC) for recruits of Chandigarh Police was inaugurated at the newly established Recruit Training Centre (RTC) at the Sector 26 police lines by Mr S. K. Singh, IGP, here today.

The course has been reformulated keeping in view the changing ground realities and the need to adopt new techniques and changed methods of policing today and for the challenges for tomorrow.

Addressing the recruits on the occasion, the IG congratulated the recruits on joining the Chandigarh police family and exhorted them to utilise their time productively so as to come up to the expectations made of them by the citizens.

A special task force, comprising Mr Ajay Kashyap, SSP, Hq, Mr Alok Kumar, ASP, Traffic, Dr Sagar Preet Hooda, SP, Central, and Mr S S Randhawa, DSP, Lines, has been constituted in March by the IGP for setting up the RTC and developing the BTC. Others who attended the function included Mr Parag Jain, SSP, Mr Baldev Singh, SP, and the SDPOs.

As many as 116 newly recruited constables, 60 male and 51 female, will benefit from the course. The training will be imparted in two phases over a span of one year. In the first phase, recruits will be trained at the RTC for nine months. In the second phase, they will undergo commando training with the National Security Guards (NSG).

Mr Kashyap said the special features of the training were that the recruits would be regularly attached with the police stations an integral part of training. Study visits to important institutions like paramilitary camps, courts, hospitals, GEQD and the CDTS would be arranged. Guest lectures would also be arranged. Contemporary subjects like human rights, gender sensitisation, judicial activism, economic offences, crimes against women and minorities would be covered widely. Intensive modules would be organised whenever necessary with outside help.

Knowledge about computers and a basic level of English language would be imparted and the recruits would be encouraged to work on projects and participate in debates and workshops. Regular feedback from trainers and trainees would be welcomed for better evaluation and modification of the training inputs.

Behavioural assessment would be an important part of the training and this assessment would be conducted before, during and after the training. Crime sociology, focusing on crime rather than criminals, was a newly introduced subject which was unique in police training at this level.

The trainers for the RTC were specially handpicked and and a special incentive package was evolved, by which they would be promoted to the next rank, 15 per cent extra allowance and out of turn allotment of house. Mr Kashyap said the course had been designed to achieve discipline, professionalism and all-round personality development.

SIs Baljit Singh, Budh Ram, Surinder Singh and Parvesh Kumari have been promoted as Inspectors, while Head Constables Raghunath Tyagi, Des Raj and Daya Ram have been promoted as ASIs. Constables Gursahib Singh and Balwinder Singh have been promoted as Head Constables.

ADMINISTRATION

Additions in flat demolished
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The enforcement staff of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) today demolished illegal alterations and additions from a flat in Sector 55 here.

According to a letter written by Mr BS Brar, SDE, who supervised the operation, the stairs leading to the terrace, the “jalis” at the terrace, the partial back balcony and extended verandah were demolished from Flat 230/2, owned by Mr SK Goel.

The owner failed to demolish the illegal structures despite issuance of notices and during the time provided to him, the letter added.

On the other hand, Mr Goel alleged that he was summoned to the Sector 39 Police Station around 7.30 and the parts of structure were demolished in his absence for about two hours. Only his structures were targeted and others were spared though they too had received notices, he added.

At a time when the CHB had invited suggestions for need-based alterations and additions, board’s action was uncalled for, he complained.

Power supply schedule changed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 1 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has decided to revise the power supply schedule of the rural feeders with effect from midnight today in order to give sufficient power to the rural areas in the morning hours and to enhance the power supply for drinking water supply.

Stating this here today the Chairperson of the Haryana Power Utilities, Mrs Meenakshi Anand Chaudhary, said the night group of rural feeders would not get power from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. instead of 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. as present. The second group would get power from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This would ensure that both groups get adequate power during the morning hours to avoid drinking water problem.

She said the power supply for drinking water purposes in the evening would be given to these groups from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., respectively. The two-phase power supply would be given to the non-working group from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. for lighting purposes.

Mrs Chaudhary further said that the new schedule of power supply to the rural feeders would also ease the pressure on the grid which always increased in the afternoon during the summer.

The matter would be reviewed at the end of May when power availability was expected to improve.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (UHBVN) has extended the last date for paying arrears of electricity bills of the farm sector from April 30 to May 15.