The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Surgery at affordable rates for the poor
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 28 — For the benefit of poor patients and those belonging to weaker sections of the society, the Sector 16 General Hospital has introduced certain newer surgical procedures at affordable rates. The recent one to be started is the facility for trans uritheral resection of prostrate (TURP) .

According to Dr Sushil Kumar Gupta, one of the surgeons in the hospital, the installation of TURP set will enable many patients, mostly aged men, to get themselves treated for enlargement of the prostrate gland. He said though the enlargement of the gland could take place in men of all age groups, the symptoms were more common in case of the aged, who suffered from urinary retention problem.

Dr Gupta further said the procedure, which started only 10 days back, was being made available to the poor for Rs 2,500, while the cost of the same for those in the private ward was Rs 8,000. The charges in private hospitals are exorbitant and not within their reach. Hence, the poorest of the poor can now avail themselves of the facility by purchasing the material required, without even paying the hospital charges.

The availability of laproscopic surgery in the hospital is also a boon for the patients, who come for removal of gall bladder stones, appendix and hernia. Dr Gupta maintains that the highly sophisticated key hole surgery not only reduces the stay of the patient in the hospital but also ensures early recovery and mobilisation. “Earlier, when the abdomen used to be cut to remove the stones, a patient had to be hospitalised for nearly a week, but now he can even attend to work after three days’’, he added.

In some cases, where the income of the patient is less than Rs 1000 per month, the procedure is being made available for Rs 1,000, though the cost of the same is not less than Rs 6,000. Nearly 5 to 6 surgeries were being done every week, said Dr Gupta. The technique is also being used to remove renal stones.

In Halo Majra dispensary patientsare examined
by a pharmacist
By Monica Sharma

Chandigarh June 28 — Patients are examined and prescribed medicines by a "doctor sahib", who, in fact, is a pharmacist. This arrangement is going on in the absence of the doctor at Halo Majra dispensary.

According to sources, the doctor and pharmacist check patients on alternate days.

Besides this, the boundary wall is the need of the hour at the dispensary. In the absence of which animals stray in. The courtyard is also used by anti-social elements. Moreover, there is no electricity connection and water supply is also inadequate.

The employees complained that the dumping of garbage near the dispensary was a health hazard.

Though cleanliness within the dispensary is not up to the mark, other allied services are in order. For example, in delivery cases, midwives are provided by the dispensary at home for a nominal sum of Rs 50.

Some patients lamented that helpers usually demanded money in addition to the official fees while others alleged that the doctor, in most cases, referred the patients to General Hospital, Sector 16, even without a proper check-up at times.

An employee revealed that as many as 80 patients came for the check-up daily. Most of the patients complained about cold, cough or diarrhoea. The area remained without power and water for the major part of the day.

Another employee informed that the Director, Family Welfare, paid surprise visits to the dispensary to check its functioning.

The dispensary has three rooms. It has facilities for providing first-aid to patients.

On account of low charges, this was the best alternative for poor patients who could not afford to visit private practitioners, said a village resident.

However, there are others in the surrounding areas who don' t even know that there was a dispensary nearby. One of the residents, Hanspreet, said, "I have visited the dispensary for any type of medical aid as there is a doctor near my house with much better facilities.''

Another grudge of the residents is that the working hours of the dispensary should be increased. Vikram, who resides nearby, said, "We would be satisfied with this dispensary if its working hours can be extended and it remains open in the evenings as well.''

Jacob for drive against killer diseases
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH June 28 — The Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Lt. Gen.(Retd.) J.F.R. Jacob, today stressed the need to launch a concentrated drive against killer diseases like AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He said they were affecting a large section of the population and needed to be dealt with on a war-footing.

General Jacob was speaking at the release of the World Disaster Report-2000 prepared by the International Federation of Red Cross in a function organised in the Raj Bhavan.

He emphasised that the Red Cross can play a major role in helping government agencies eradicate these diseases.

Speaking about the population explosion, the Governor said that this was a matter of concern in some parts of the world, especially in India. “Red Cross will have to evolve its role in tackling the problem.”

General Jacob also said that to the increasing slums in the city were a major social problem and rehabilitation of slum dwellers was another area the NGO should focus upon. “ It is very important that we care about their health too.”

Emphasising on the need to launch a movement to educate the children regarding preventive dental care, the Governor said that the Red Cross should explore the possibility of raising a fleet of vans to take the dental treatment to the villages. “Latest report reveals that 65 % of the population suffers from dental ailments and the Red Cross will have to make specific efforts in the direction.”

General Jacob said that the focus of the World Disaster Report-2000 on public health, especially malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS was a welcome step. The Director of Health Mr G.S.Preet, and prominent social workers from Punjab and Chandigarh were also present on the occasion.

SPORT

Patiala, UT institutes allotted centres of excellence
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH June 28 — The Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, have been permitted to open ‘centre of excellence’ in six sport disciplines — athletics (boys and girls), cycling (boys and girls), hockey (boys), wrestling (boys), judo (boys and girls) and weightlifting (boys and girls). The trials for the same will be held from July 20 to 22 at NIS, Patiala.

The prerequisites for the candidates will be that they should have first six positions in individual events in senior/junior nationals and at all-India inter-varsity meets. In team championship, the participants should have at least reached semi-finals in senior and junior level meets. The candidates in age group of 17 to 25 years will be permitted, but it may be relaxed for outstanding sportspersons. About two-thirds of total sanctioned strength of trainees will be provided with lodging facilities, while the rest can join the scheme on non- residential basis.

The Chandigarh northern centre has also been allotted the ‘centre of excellence’ for girls hockey for which trials have been fixed on July 13 and 14. Regarding badminton, another centre of excellence proposed some time back in Chandigarh, has not been formally approved yet. The strength for city hockey centre will be 25, while the rest of conditions are the same as above. Ms Manjeet Kaur, a SAI coach, earlier posted at STC, Sector 18 had been posted at this new centre.

Meanwhile, the delay in approval from the corporate office, Delhi, for admission of trainees under NSTC scheme to various selections done in the past regarding this session for DAV School, Sector 8, and Sports Training Centre, Sector 18, has caused worry among trainees. The STC, 18 had given provisional admission to a few trainees who fulfilled the category I of the scheme, which considers the medal winners of various national tournaments also. Dr P.C. Kashyap, Director Incharge of the Northern Centre, Sector 42, had yesterday said the new trainees would not be allowed to suffer and automatic admission would be given to some of the potential candidates.

The Chandigarh centres are preferred by the players from the states such as Himachal Pradesh since lack of adequate playing facilities in hill state, accompanied by host of educational facilities, force them to shift to nearby city. In volleyball, hockey, basketball and athletics the STC, Sector 18 has produced outstanding players and some of them of international level.

As per Dr Kashyap, recently the trials for Sports Training Centre for girls were held at Badal (Muktsar) for athletics, volleyball, basketball, hockey and shooting, which attracted 168 participants. Sources said in shooting the response was poor and majority of girls who appeared for the trials were not equipped with any adequate knowledge of shooting. A top-level Volleyball Federation of India official, who met this reporter a few days back, had also desired that instead of volleyball centres being given to Badal and Mastuana, the same could have been opened at Ludhiana, where all the infrastructural facilities were available.

Tomorrow, the trials for new Sports Training Centre for boys will be held at Mastuana Sahib (Sangrur) in athletics, volleyball and boxing. On July 3 and 4, the boys and girls trials for SAI special area games scheme at Sri Anandpur Sahib Academy will have wrestling, judo, taekwondo, boxing and fencing.

Shiva, Arjun to contest under-10 boys final
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH June 28 — Shiva Sangwan of Chandigarh and Arjun Sehgal of Patiala will face each other in the tomorrow’s under-10 boys final of the PD Vaishnav total tennis tournament played here at Lake Club courts, Sector 6. In girls under-12, Sanjana Kapoor from Delhi will cross swords with Inayat Khosla of Chandigarh. In semi-final of boys under-12, local lad Kinshuk Sharma will take on another city boy Bakul Khera for the title clash tomorrow.

The final stage for boys under-18 were also decided today, with Ankit Raj making it to final along with Sahil Thapa, who had a tough tie in the semi-final against Kanwarneet. The under-16 match between Aditya Ahuja of Patiala and Rajiv Garg was a crucial one and also the one played in under-14 section between Gurtej Pannu and Raj Kanwar Singh. The twin brothers from Delhi, Lakshit and Chandril Sood, competed with vigour in this tournament. Lakshit lost in semi-finals of under 10, while Chandril went down fighting in quarter-finals. Both lost to Arjun Sehgal in respective rounds. Chandril made it to third round of under-12 section also.

Results:- Boys: under-10 (semi-final) — Shiva Sangwan (Chd) b Amit Chauhan (Chd) 6-1, 6-3; Arjun Sehgal b Lakshit Sood (Dli) 7-6(5), 6-1; Under-12 (SF) — Kinshuk Sharma b Jay Vinod 6-0, 6-1; Bakul Khera b Viraj Gandhi 6-0, 6-0; Girls: under-12 (semifinal)—Sanjana Kapoor b Shaleen Chandra 6-0, 6-0; Inayat Khosla b Taskeen Bains 6-2, 6-4; boys: under-18 (SF)—Ankit Raj b Banpreet 6-2, 6-2; Sahil Thapa b Kanwarneet Singh 5-7, 6-3, 6-0; Boys: under-14 (IIIrd round) — Yuvraj Chaudhary b Uday P Sandhu 7-0; Dilpreet Singh b Rajiv Garg 7-2; Navinderpal b Kulwinder 7-4; Sanam K Singh b Karan Patnaik 7-2; Rohan Bhandari b Kinshuk Sharma 7-6 (7-3); Jay Vinod b Raghav Inder Paul 7-5; Gurtej Pannu b Raj Kanwar Singh 7-6(8-6); Harneet Singh b Harinder Singh 7-3; Boys: under-16 — IInd round: Ankit Raj b Rohan Bhandari 7-1; Annie Mehta w/o Amandeep Singh; Yuvraj Chaudhary b Kanwarneet Singh 7-1; Sanam K Singh b Sahil Thapa 7-5; Amarpreet Singh b Raghav Rai 7-2; Aditya Ahuja b Rajiv Garg 7-6(7-3); Dilpreet Gill b Aman 7-5; Harneet Singh b Karan Patnaik 7-2; Boys: under-12 (QF): Kinshuk Sharma b Varun Chandra 7-0; JayVinod b Chetnaya Verma 7-0; Bakul w/o Varun;Viraj Gandhi b Harkamalpreet 7-1; Boys: under-10 (QF) — Arjun Sehgal b Chandril Sood 7-5; Shiva Sangwan b Mehtab Cheema7-3; Amit Chauhan b Tanveer Sandhu 7-0; Lakshit Sood b Anant Vidur 7-3.

Badminton team

The Chandigarh Badminton Association has selected an eight-member team which will take part in the Smt Krishna Khaitan memorial junior badminton tournament, to be held in Chennai from July 2. The tournament was included as one of the grand prix tournaments of the Badminton Association of India. The team is: boys under-19, Vivek Sharma, Deepak Sidhu,Varun and Naresh; under-16 Puneet Bansal; girls under-19 Isha Sharma; under 16-Mala Gaba; under 13-Harleen Kaur.

Karate trials

The Amateur Karate Association of Chandigarh will organise selection trials for the UT team for the international karate tournament for boys and girls, to be held at Dhaka (Bangladesh) from July 20 to 22, which will be conducted by Bangladesh Shotokan Karate Association. According to Mr Ashwani Kumar, Secretary of the association, entries close at MDAV School, Sector 22, on June 29.