The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Purchase of CT scan, X-ray machines okayed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh March 7
The standing purchase committee (SPC) of the PGI finally gave a go ahead for purchase of a CT scan and a spiral CT scan besides some urgently required equipment for the institute, here today. A catheter laboratory costing about Rs 6 crore for the Department of Cardiology has also been given the nod. The department, at present, has just one catheter laboratory. The SPC agenda included 43 items.

The CT scan will cost Rs 1 crore and the technically more superior spiral CT scan, about Rs 3.5 crore. The SPC has also given its approval for purchase of two high-powered X-ray machines for the Department of Radiology.

The institute will also purchase two buses costing about Rs 15 lakh besides some routine items for the central store and dispensary, equipment for the advanced eye centre, anaesthesia, biochemistry, experimental medicine, ENT and the advanced paediatric centre.

The meeting was chaired by the Director, PGI, Prof S.K. Sharma, Dr Vimla Issac from Chennai, Prof S.B.S. Mann, Director Principal, GMCH, Sector 32, Mr R.K. Jain, Chief Engineer, UT, Mr Bakshi Ram, Financial Adviser, PGI, and Dr A.K. Gupta, Medical Superintendent, PGI.

Though the Radiology Department has two CT scanners, lately only one has been functional and that too rather erratically. Considering that the PGI is the only health institution in the city offering this facility the patients have to depend on private centres.

When the department eventually gets the new scanners, it will mean a lesser waiting period for the patients, besides a definite improvement in the quality of information and a better conclusion.

Salaries not paid

Irked by their contractor who had not paid their salaries for the past two months, a group of 50 daily wagers gathered at PGI, on Wednesday.

Demanding quick dispersal of their salaries for the months of January and February, a four-member representation of the daily wagers also met the PGI, Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, and apprised him of the situation.

The issue was later referred to the Medical Superintendent’s Office of the PGI. According to officials of the department, the PGI authorities have decided to disperse one month’s salary.

Besides, the company concerned has been asked to submit the required documents, including the ESI and Provident Fund, receipts by March 15.

Match blood groups not Janampatris
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
Blood transfusion experts stress that before a couple gets married, rather than matching janampatris as is the tradition, it is prudent to match their blood groups. At least this would spare their babies, the misery and pain resulting , from the strange phenomenon arising due to incompatibility between the blood groups of the husband and the wife.

Strange enough is the fact that in this day and age ignorance regarding the Rh babies continues, and in the cities where their medical management is not available, they die a very painful death .

Consider this — a new born baby delivered in a private nursing home has trouble breathing and is diagnosed for jaundice. Naturally parents and attendants are totally perplexed as the baby which appeared totally normal in various pre-natal tests and ultrasound was in a miserable unmanageable condition.

The baby was rushed to the hospital where after preliminary examinations, it was discovered that baby’s blood was damaged due to the blood group incompatibility between the parents. While the mother belonged to Rh -ve group, father was Rh +ve. The resulting incompatibility was causing destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) leading to a severe jaundice. Parents being totally ignorant for the possibility of such a situation. This baby fortunate enough to be born in a big city and was able to get specialised medical attention.

Baby and the mother were immediately investigated for Rh incompatibility which confirmed that the child immediately required replacement of blood. The damaged blood was exchanged with the healthy blood through a catheter with a three way syringe passing through the umbilical cord.

According to Prof J.N. Jolly, the founder of the Department of Transfusion Medicine in PGI, says that whenever parent ‘s blood groups do not match, baby’s blood gets damaged due to the production of Rh antibodies while still in the womb. But this combination can be easily found out before a couple gets married and much before the family has the misfortune to witnesses such a disaster, he adds.

A baby’s blood group is a combination of both husband and wife which is why with timely detection mother can be immunised with protective Rh immunoglobulin to provide protection to the formation of antibodies.

Besides prevention, management of Rh babies require active coordination and cooperation between the blood centre, department of obstetrics and gynecology and neonatology. In a place like Chandigarh, such babies can be provided timely protection, says Professor Jolly.

Facilities for the management of Rh babies are available in the PGI and the GMCH, Sector 32. After a timely transfusion, the baby starts producing its own RBC’s and leads a perfectly normal life. Any delay can cause damages of severe nature to the brain.

SPORT

IS Bindra beat MP Pandove
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 7
IS Bindra XI outscored MP Pandove XI by 264 runs in the three-day practice cricket match, concluded here today at the PCA stadium, SAS Nagar.

Resuming overnight score of 386 runs for the loss of eight wickets, Bindra XI today declared their innings without playing a ball. The team gave the target of 457 runs for the Pandove XI to win. In reply, Pandove XI were all out for 192 runs with Babloo Kumar and Sandeep claiming four and two wickets each for 32 and 64 runs respectively. For Pandove XI, Harminder Jagnu scored 45 runs, Reetinder Sodhi 33 runs and Vivek Mahajan 42 runs.

The UT Sports Department will organise a three-day rural sports tournament from March 15 at the Sports Complex, Sector 7. The meet will be held for both boys and girls in three disciplines namely athletics, volleyball and tug of war. Athletic event will have 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, shot put and discus throw.

12 openings to green belts closed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 7
The enforcement wing of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation today closed as many as 12 unauthorised openings towards green belts in Sector 8.

The staff under the supervision of executive engineer (Roads) S.K Chadha closed the unauthorised openings following the failure of the encroachers to comply with the notices already sent to them. The drive which started at 9 am continued for six hours and no untoward incident was reported.

Meanwhile, an anti-encroachment squad of MC removed and seized the sugarcane crushing machines of as many as 15 unauthorised sugarcane juice vendors from different parts of the city. As many as 100 challans were issued to shopkeepers in Sector 17, 22, 37, 38 for various kinds of violations on MC land.

Encroachments in Sector 33

The Residents Welfare Association of Sector 33-A has demanded the removal of encroachments from government land.

In a statement here today the residents, including three retired Brigadiers, said a tandoor is run behind the Sector 33 mini-market on government land with unauthorised electricity and water connections from a sub-distribution centre of the Electricity Department.

Another source of nuisance is a washer-man who has illegally occupied some area. A few shops in the market have carried out unauthorised alterations. An unauthorised rickshaw stand has also come up. At times there are drunken brawls.

The residents allege the market is littered with rubbish. Sewerage manhole covers are missing. No person from the Health or Horticulture Department has ever cleared the area.

“The present environment is a threat to the health and security of the residents,” the association said.