HEALTH

Groping in dark for test reports
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 12 — At night, precious minutes silently slip away into nothing less as anxious hands of the confused attendants desperately look for the blood test reports of the patients from among the pile of papers at emergency of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

Angry screams mingled with frenzy fill the air as they struggle to snatch the reports from one another..... but to no avail. The report is not to be found.

The scene is repeated night after night after 11 pm. The doctors tell the attendants to get the reports... fast as in some cases it is nothing less than a matter of life and death. But in the absence of proper arrangements and staff at night, things are difficult, nay, impossible for the attendants.

The problem is grave in case of the poor and illiterate attendants, who do not even know where to deposit the samples and from where to collect the reports. Even when they reach the collection counter, they find it difficult to find the report and are often seen requesting people to help them. But since the others are also busy attending to their patient, they are left to fend for themselves.

A visit to the Emergency OPD on Monday night revealed that reports of various tests are all piled on one of the counters in Room No 23 and the attendants have to wait for their turn, till the other person is going through the bunch.

Ashok, one of the attendants pointed out that `` it is a virtual struggle to locate the reports and leads to sheer wastage of time in the crucial hours. I was asked to collect a report of my mother at 9 pm but it is well past midnight and it is yet to come.’’ Some of these reports are very essential for further investigations and mode of treatment but the delay in finding the reports only compound the problems, he added.

Few other patients, who were standing outside Room No 22 to collect the reports also voiced similar feelings and wanted the process be streamlined. One of them suggested that blood reports of different tests should be put separately so that one can find it more easily in the absence of staff. Ravi is of the view that reports of patients should be stacked department wise for the convenience of the attendants. Even 2-3 reports of the same patient are not pinned up together, lamented another person who walked up to the counter at least five times to search for his daughter’s report.

However, staff on duty admitted that there is no person to distribute the reports at night and the security personnel on duty collects and puts them on the counter for the attendants to collect them from there. The shortage of staff is responsible for this, said one of the officials who maintains that the number of patients has grown manifold but the staff has not been increased correspondingly. When the problem was brought to the notice of the authorities earlier, they had put nursing staff on duty to help the attendants but after 10-15 days the practice discontinued. 

SPORT

Bansal inspects Sukhna Lake
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 12 — “ We have probably the best lake in the country, ideal for all competitions. I will certainly take up the matter with the Government of India so that it can be brought up in a better way.” This was disclosed by the local MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, who visited Sukhna Lake today along with his wife, Mrs Madhu Bansal, to see the preparations for the Asian Junior Rowing Championship to be held in the city from December 14 to 17.

“I am happy that a major event is being held in the city,” he said while on the way in a motorboat to the Saketri Bandh. “ Now we have to get all our resources together to improve the facilities even further. We certainly have a very good basic infrastructure here.”

Mr Bansal along with Mr Kailash Nath, secretary, Chandigarh Rowing Association, Brig K.P. Singh Deo (retd) President, Indian Rowing Association, Maj-Gen M.S. Kandal (retd) and Col K.P.S. Mohli (retd) went till the far-end of the lake to see the progress in work for the championship.

“ I am happy with the preparations. But there is a scope for further improvement. Though, I am worried that the level of bed of the lake rising continuously. Something has to be done and fast, if the lake is to be saved. The only answer, I can see is wet dredging.”

Nearly 21 affiliated countries will participate in the championship in December. Four events — single scull, double scull, coxless pairs and coxless doubles will be held as part of the championship.

City lads for Indonesian meet
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, July 12 — Pawan Kapoor and Amitabh Chandel will take part in the Indonesian Futures Tennis Tournament in men’s section from July 14 to 31. Prominent players from nearly 20 countries will vie for top honours in this international meet. Two months ago, Pawan had gone to take part in a tennis competition in Japan.

Skating club: A few sports enthusiasts of the city have formed a club named the Wonder Land Skate club with Ms Sunita Puri as patron and Mr NS Sewak as president.

The main objectives of the newly formed club would be to hold coaching camps, competitions and honouring top- level skaters from time to time. Other office-bearers are: Patron-Ms Sunita Puri; Advisor-SS Bandi; President-NS Sewak; Vice-President-Iqbal Singh; General secretary-Surinder Thakur; Finance Secretary-Jaswinder Singh; Press Secretary-Jaswant Singh Gill; Organising Secretary-Amardeep Singh; Joint Secretary-Manohar Singh. Executive members-Pawan Sharma, Ms Sukhbir Tiwana and Ms Renu Paul.

ADMINISTRATION

Zila Parishad members take oath
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 12 — members of the first-ever Zila Parishad of villages, located within the Union Territory, were administered oath at UT Guest House here this morning, while the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the body will be elected by the members and the local MP on July 21.

The SDM Central-cum-Elections Officer, Mr Prithi Chand, administered the oath to the members. Meanwhile, the office of the Zila Parishad will be located in the building where the Notified Area Committee (NAC), Mani Majra, was housed. This is opposite to the Dhillon cinema on the Chandigarh-Kalka road.

While defining the powers of the Zila Parishad , official sources said that it would be responsible for channelising the grants received from the Centre for the development works in 18 villages that are within the Union Territory and have a collective population of nearly 1 lakh. Normally the ZP gives grants to the Panchayat Samiti which then forwards the grant to the Panchayat . In case of Chandigarh, no Panchayat Samiti exists so the grants will be given to the 17 elected panchayats that govern the 18 villages.

Plan to plant 10 lakh saplings
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 12 — In a bid to give thrust to green revolution at Panchkula, it has been decided to plant 10.88 lakh saplings in an area of 1380 hectares at a cost of Rs 1 crore during the current monsoon season, whereas in the last year nine lakh saplings were planted.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Monga, said that under this programme 825 hectares of land had been earmarked in the Morni area and 530 hectares of land in the Kandi project for plantation. At present there are 28 nurseries in the district, whereas 17 lakh plants were available.

Mr Monga said that the Forest Department of the district had been directed to coordinate with all those departments in the district which had land available to chalk-out a programme of planting saplings. The PWD (B and R) has also been requested to conduct a survey of all those places along road sides where saplings would be planted under shadowy trees. The Block Development and Panchayat Officers and Tehsildar were also directed to make a survey report of schools where trees such as gulmohar, neem and pipal would be planted and submitted to the Forest Department. The officials of the department have also been asked to prepare a programme for developing a green belt in the industrial area of Panchkula.

MC okays sanitation contract
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 12--The Finance and Contract Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) today gave its approval to the allotment of sanitation contract of Badheri, Buterla, Burail and Attawa villages, Modern Housing Complex, Mani Majra and Sectors 41,42 and 45 to the bidder, who had quoted the lowest rates.

At a meeting here, certain members resented the delay in the award of the contract since the contract of the previous contractor had expired on May 17 and the MCC had to shell extra money to the contractor for almost two months.

The contract was given to the bidder on the condition that the sanitary conditions of the areas should be satisfactory failing which the contract was liable to be cancelled.

The members were informed about the proposal of the Chandigarh Administration to install musical fountain near the Plaza carnival stage in Sector 17. Out of the sanctioned amount of Rs 27.90 lakh, Rs 20.62 lakh would be provided by the Union Ministry of Tourism in the shape of financial assistance to the administration.

With CITCO being the executing agency, the necessary infrastructure already created for the existing fountain would be utilised for the new one.

The meeting also decided to hold the next Budget review meeting on July 17.

Drive on voter I-cards extended
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, July 12 — The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), SAS Nagar, Mr Jaipal Singh, today announced that the drive to make voter I cards had been extended. Now the I cards would be made on every Saturday and Sunday during the month of July at the four centres already notified by the local administration.

Earlier in the two-day drive on July 7 and July 8, around 220 voter I cards had been made, said the ERO. Meanwhile, as per the schedule the notification of the election would be issued by the Punjab State Election Commission on August 7. The nomination would have to be filed by August 10 and the verification would be done by August 11.

The last date of withdrawal would be August 12 and the elections would be held on August 20.