HEALTH

Can we share his pain?
 Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Disillusionment and pain have added years to Rama’s face, a young man of 33 years. Both his kidneys have failed and he is miserably ill.

He gets fever everyday, has sleepless nights as he feels breathless and his lower limbs are swollen due to edema. A resident of Attawa and working as a tea vendor in one of the quiet offices in Sector 35, he is unable to walk as he feels too weak to move.

The trouble started when he suffered a bleeding nose some seven-eight months ago. He went to GMCH-32 to see the doctor. The doctors without telling anything referred him to the PGI. There, the doctors told him that he was suffering from kidney failure and required Rs 3 lakh to get well.

“I have never seen an amount of Rs 3 lakh in my life. How can I arrange for such an amount? I am not making more than Rs 50 everyday from this tea business. How can I collect this much?”

His wife, Sheela Devi is unable to understand the seriousness of the disease. She is worried to see the deteriorating condition of her husband. “This persistent fever and the swelling of the body is not going. I don’t know why. Doctors say that we should arrange for Rs 3 lakh, otherwise he will die”, she says.

“If something happens to him, who will look after my two children? I don’t know from where he got this disease. He never met anybody suffering from such a disease. He has to go to the hospital every week. They do something to him there by using pipes. We have to spend Rs 1,000 per week. Nobody is there to help us. Last month, I went begging from door to door. But who gives you money like this?” says she, with tears rolling down her cheeks.

His children look at him with blank looks, wondering what has happened to their father who used to play with them. “They keep asking me, when will this fever go. What should I reply? I don’t know the answer myself. Doctors keep scaring me that I will die soon if I don’t get myself operated. I don’t have anybody to help me. My father died when I was a child and my mother is too old and helpless.” says Rama.

Anyone who wants to help this couple can contact Rama and his wife at Quiet Office number 7, Sector 35 from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. everyday.

‘Surgeons are more prone to HIV’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Is surgery safe for surgeons anymore? This question was debated at length in the session focussing on occupational hazards faced by the surgeons on the second day of the 21st Annual conference of the North Zone Chapter of the Association of Surgeons of India at Bhargava auditorium, PGIMER, today.

Experts pointed out that surgeons who are exposed to various types of patients are at a greater risk of getting HIV or hepatitis and they need to be cautious of this. In his talk on “Occupation exposure-HIV”, Dr Naveet Wig from AIIMS, New Delhi, emphasised that the drugs should be made available to all the health workers in government hospitals to protect them against the exposure. The drugs should be provided free of cost round-the-clock. He also suggested that high-risk patients undergoing any surgery should be subjected to the AIDS test to make it safer for the surgeons operating upon him. The post-exposure prophylaxis drugs can also be given to mothers who are infected so that the disease is not transmitted to the child, he added.

Dr S.N. Thomson from the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine (Durban) in South Africa disclosed that keeping in view of the high incidence of the HIV in their country, search groups are busy with the trials of new vaccines/drugs, which will further help the transmission of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The surgeons on their part should be very careful of the needle they use to take out blood from any part of a patient’s body as hollow needles, which have more blood are more unsafe than the solid ones, which are normally used for putting sutures after the surgery. Dr Thomson highlighted that surgeons should wear double gloves and visor over the eyes to ensure that blood of the patient does not splash on them.

Another highlight of today was the Symposium on Critical Care where discussion was on subjects of damage control, initial care and trauma. Emphasis was laid on reducing morbidity and mortality, because of increasing incidence of accidental trauma and natural disasters in our country and its lack of proper organised care and management. Dr Jyotsna Wig from the PGI talked about various aspects of monitoring a critically ill patient including how to prevent sepsis.

Dr D.N. Lobo, consultant at Nottingham, UK, also gave an interesting talk on “Resuscitative fluids in the 21st century”, highlighting various positive and negative aspects of these fluids. He in one of the earlier sessions highlighted Nutritional support in surgical practice. He pointed out that good nutrition is a must before and after the surgery to fight the disease and prevent infection. Later, Dr V. Minocha from New Delhi spoke on why there has been little progress in the control of sepsis particularly in the case of critically ill patients. Dr B.S. Sharma from New Delhi also highlighted the outcome and rehabilitation following the head injury.

Dr K.P. Singh from the DMC, Ludhiana, delivered the Dr F.C. Eggleston Oration. Focussing on the ethics of practice, he pointed out that a surgeon’s personality should develop around the framework of academic excellence, manual dexterity, intellectual integrity and prevalent moral and social values.

Dr Thomson from South Africa pointed out the problems surgeons face in operating upon critical patients as in some cases the extent of the injury is such that it is not possible to stitch the abdomen or it is just not done. He explained various indigenous techniques which have to be used to prevent the bowel from falling out. A plastic bag is often sewed into the wound, which makes the abdomen bigger temporarily and the bowel stays in its place. Later, once the patient recovers, we perform the complex surgery to repair the hernia. Since the operations take long, these patients require lot of fluids and some of them become very cold (hypothermia) and need ventilator support.

Dr P.C. Sood, President of the Northern Chapter of the ASINOZ, urged the medical fraternity to be more kind and courteous towards patients so as to increase the rate of their satisfaction levels. He also pointed out that there is a move to get every patient who comes for surgery, screened for AIDS as surgeons come in contact with their blood. The deliberations at the conference will see a shift towards better patient care with recent advances in information technology, better diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

In another session on vascular problems, experts highlighted the use of minimal invasive procedures to tackle the blockage of arteries in various parts like legs, arms and abdomen. In such cases there is no need of arterial reconstruction.

Later in the day was the Endoscopy workshop and free paper presentations.

SPORT

Fine victory for Godrej club
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — Fine allround performance by Arun Tuli (50 and 2 for 17) enabled Godrej Cricket Club to beat Khalsa Cricket Club by 86 runs and enter the final of the fifth Jal Cup League Cricket tournament at the PGI cricket ground here today.

Khalsa XI won the toss and elected to field first. Gurinder Saini started off in a whirl-wind fashion to score 23 runs of just 11 balls. Vkramjeet Sodhi (23) and Nagesh Gupta (28) consolidated the inning with a stand of 52 runs before Nagesh was stumped by Satish Thaper.

Amit Kakria (38) and Arun Tuli (50), with a partnership of 67 runs, ensured a good total. Kakria scored three exquisite boundaries in his knock of 38 runs which came off just 35 deliveries. Arun Tuli played the sheet- anchor role and scored 50 runs off 57 deliveries before being bowled by Chandan Puri. Towards the end, Amardeep played a flamboyant knock of 27 runs off just 14 balls, which included one six and three boundaries. Godrej Cricket Club scored 206 runs in the allotted 30 overs.

Khalsa XI openers, Gurpreet and Gurmeet Sahi, gave the team a flying start as they scored 50 runs in just four overs. Leftarm spinner Amardeep and Amit Bhardwaj came back strongly to restrict the run rate. Amit gave only seven runs in his five overs, when the batsmen were in full flow. Gurpreet played a hurricane knock of 38 runs in just 31 balls which included two sixes and five boundaries.

Left-arm spinner Amit Kakria (3 for 16) and Arun Tuli (2 for 17) bowled well in tandom to restrict the flow of runs. After 15 overs Khalsa XI could manage just 74 runs. Only Ramesh Kumar (23) and Anil Azad (22) could add some respectability to the total as Khalsa XI were bundled out for 120 runs.

Brief scores:
Godrej C.C.: 206 all out in 30 overs (Arun Tuli 50, Nagesh Gupta 28, Vikramjit Sodhi 23, Amit Kakria 32, Chandan Puri 4 for 42, Radhey Sharma 2 for 36.

Khalsa XI: 120 all out 23.1 overs (Gurpreet Sonu 38, Ramesh Kumar 23, Anil Azad 22, Amardeep 3 for 3, Amit Kakria 3 for 16, Arun Tuli 2 for 17 and Amit Bahrdwaj 2 for 7).

The Chandigarh (U-7) and (U-9) Boys Chess Championship 200 started on Saturday at the St Xaviers Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, Chandigarh.

Anmol Razdan was leading in the under-9 category, while Sahil Bhatia was leading in the under-7 category.

The points at the end of the third round were:

Under-9: 3 points — Anmol Razdan (Tender Heart); 2 points — Mandeep S. Kohli, Anish Gupta; 1½ points — Raj Bhavya, Gaurav Thakur; 1 point — Gaurav Bhatia, Harmandeep; zero — Nikhil Sharma.

Under-7: 3 points — Sahil Bhatia (Tender heart); 2 points — Bharat Saxena; 1½ Anmol Singh, Shuhul; 1 point — Sahil Dutt.

Karate trials

Trials to select the Chandigarh boys and girls teams for the fifth Sub-Junior and Junior National Karate Championship being organised by Sports Karate-do-Association of Haryana at Faridabad from December 1 to 3, will be held at MDAV School, Sector 22-A, Chandigarh, on Sunday (November 12) at 9 a.m., according to Mr Ashwani Kumar, General Secretary of the Amateur Karate Association of Chandigarh.

Satluj Cricket Cup

PANCHKULA: In the first match of the inaugural Satluj Cricket Cup, Little Flower Convent school defeated Army school by seven wickets. After winning the toss Little Flower decided to bowl first. Army school captain Dhawal Lekhi scored 56 runs. Other main scorers were Amit with 37 runs and Rohit with 25 runs. Little Flower scored the required runs in 24 overs.

Brief scores: Army school, Chandimandir 160\7 in 25 overs (Dhawal Lekhi 56, Amit 37, Rohit 25 Varundeep 2/19, Aditya 2/29.

Little Flower Convent school 161\3 in 24 overs ( Karandeep 65, /Varundeep 23).

In the second match, Satluj Public School beat Fighter XI Mohali by seven.

Brief scores: Fighter XI, Mohali 116 for 9 in 20 overs ( Raj 29, Mandeep 19, Apardeep 23/5, Vishal Gupta 19\2, Mandeep Singh 21/2). Satluj Public School ( Ravi 21, Amit 15, Pawan 19).

DAV Senior Secondary School Sector 8-C beat Government Model High School, Sector 38 by 5 wickets in the under-14 section.

Brief score: Government Model High School 52 all out in 13 overs. ( Hardeep Singh-18, Simranjit Singh 13, Ashwani Khokhar 2 for 15, Tanjeet Singh 2 for 0 Rajneesh Sharma 2 for 6).

DAV Senior Sector 8: 56 for 5 in 12 overs ( Vishal Dev Raj 17 ( not out), Narinder Khokhar 11 (not out), Hardeep Singh 3 for 12).

In the under-16 section DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8-C beat St Joseph School, Sector 44, by 67 runs.

Brief score: DAV SS8 221 for 6 in 25 overs Priyank -83, Maninder -30 Harpreet 6 for 29). St. Joseph School 154 runs all out ( Puneet -46, Harpreet-28, Karan Sharma 18, Vijay 3 for 30, Daulat 2 for 20.

In the under-19 section New Public School, Sector 18, beat Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19 by 121 runs.

Brief score: New Public 18 scored 193 for 5 Brinder Singh-63, Bhaskar-54, Amit Kapoor-17 Sanjeev 3 for 19. GSS School 19 scored 72 all out. Mohit -22, Satish-9, Bawa 4 for 10, Ankit 2 for 15, Yuvraj 1 for 27.

In the second match Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, beat Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16 by seven runs.

Brief score: ( Government M SS School 19 scored 147 for 7 in 25 overs. MNohit-57, Deepak-26, Chetan-21. Arjun Nikhanj 4 for 35, Rohit 1 for 31. GMSSS 16 scored 76 all out. Sanjiv-16, Puneet Sharma 12, Satinder Pal 11 Mohit 3 for 12, Deepak 3 for 19, Gurvinder 2 for 14.

ADMINISTRATION

Prime land for nurseries?
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — The Finance and Contract committee of the Municipal Corporation, which is slated to meet next week, will take a decision on a letter written by the Chandigarh Administration, asking the MC to decide on the issue of allowing five nurseries to operate from 8 acre of prime land located on the Chandigarh-Panchkula highway.

Officials of the MC are presently preparing a fact sheet to be placed before the committee. Sources disclose that the MC estimates a loss of close to Rs 100 crore as the land has immense commercial value.

The Chandigarh Administration, in a meeting held recently allowed five nurseries selling flowers and plants to continue and occupy close to 8 acre of prime commercial land on the Chandigarh-Panchkula highway. By doing so, the authorities have thrown all norms to the winds, as the said land was scheduled to be acquired as part of the development of Chandigarh. The nurseries will be surrounded by institutions and other offices, besides a specialised hospital.

The Chandigarh Administration had earlier promised the Municipal Corporation — which was to be the ultimate beneficiary — that it would compensated for any financial loss.

The MC was to be given this land located in Mani Majra for further auction or sale. Going by rough estimates based on average land price of Rs 5000 per square yards, the cost of 8 acre works out close to Rs 19 crore. The idea should be to find out who actually owns these lands where the nurseries are housed, said a source.

Clerk suspended
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 11 — The Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, has suspended a booking clerk, Usha, on charges of embezzlement. The orders of her suspension were issued yesterday when the matter was brought to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner.

Sources disclose that Usha used to charge extra money from customers for booking of community centres. She was caught when Mr Mange Ram, a resident of Sector 46 booked a Janj Ghar for his daughter’s wedding and it was found that she had entered Rs 5,000 extra in the receipt given to him. Infact, she is reported to be indulging in such activities even in the past.