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April 23, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Urodynamics machine lying idle in
GMCH Chandigarh, April 22 The essential machinery was purchased without the required computer. The GMCH officials, when contacted, maintained that the computer could not be purchased due to paucity of funds and the hospital was in the process of buying an indigenously made computer. Urodynamics system is primarily used to assess bladder behaviour during urine filling and evacuation. The machine has multifold functions, which include studying the urinary bladder pressure while filling and emptying , examining neurogenic disorders, assessing urethral pressure and its profile and voluntary splinter activity. In other words, the system is an essential equipment to give better assessments, besides documentation purpose. It is learnt that the GMCH had floated a tender to purchase the urodyanamics system about a year ago. Out of the four companies which participated in the tender, two were shortlisted — one from Denmark and the other from the Netherlands. Incidentally, the decision was taken after an extensive technical appraisal by a qualified technical committee which besides others consisted of experts, UT Finance Secretary and others. While the machine from Denmark was quoted at around Rs 13 lakh, which included the price of an inbuilt computer system, the one manufactured in Netherlands was quoted at around Rs 10 lakh. The Netherlands- manufactured machine was quoted without a computer. Sources add that the order was placed in May, and the hospital finally got the equipment in November. What is surprising is to cut down the cost, the machine was purchased without an inbuilt computer, rendering it practically useless for any kind of investigation and immediate use. However, the GMCH officials maintain that the system could have been also used without a computer. The authorities decided to go in for a cheaper machine because the rates were low and it was thought that the computer could be purchased separately at a later stage. Sources, however, said that even though a computer could be fitted with this machine now, it will be an accessory, which could be misused and the data corrupted. Moreover, with fast changing technology, experts feel, a better version of the machine could have been purchased. It is a common practice for hospitals like the GMCH and the PGI to buy imported machines through local purchase agents. Moreover, there have also been instances in the past when after selling the machines, the agents vanish, leaving the hospitals in the lurch. The warranty period in many machines starts when the machines are actually installed. In many cases, machines are not manufactured in India , and in case there is delay in the installation due to one or the other reason, there is very little the purchaser can actually do. |
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Symposia on tropical
diseases Chandigarh, April 22 Inaugurating the programme, the Deputy Director Medical Services, Western Command, Major-Gen S.C. Sharma, said tropical diseases are constantly posing challenges in managing patients in day-to-day practice. Despite institutions for various control programmes, we are still faced with significantly large incidences of malaria, leprosy and gastrointestinal infections, he added. In his welcome address, the hospital Commandant, Major-Gen Pratap Dayal, said since all fields of medicine were witnessing a rapid upsurge of knowledge, organising such programmes was extremely beneficial for the medical professionals. In his keynote address, Professor Emeritus, PGIMER, Dr R.C. Mahajan, delved on various aspects of kala azar disease. He said that out of the 12 million cases of kala azar in the world, 90 per cent are in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sudan. During a symposium on tuberculosis, Prof S K Jindal, Head of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER, spoke on multi- drug resistant tuberculosis in India, while Lieut-Col A. Saha from the Command Hospital made a presentation on abdominal tuberculosis. Dr A Grover from the PGIMER’s Department of Cardiology spoke on atherosclerosis infection leading to heart ailments. Col A.C. Anand from the Base Hospital, Delhi, spoke on chronic amoebiasis, while Dr R Bambery made a presentation on snakebite. During another symposium on AIDS, Lieut-Col K.K. Lahiri an Lieut-Col (Ms) S.P. Prashad, delved on recent concepts in pathogenesis and virology of AIDS respectively. The Medical Management of AIDS was highlighted by Dr Archana Sood from the PGIMER. Other topics covered during the CME programme include dengue fever by Prof Subhash Verma, Head, Department of Medicine, PGIMER, gastroenteritis in children by Lieut-Col O P Singh and microcytic anaemia in tropics by Lieut-Col H Motwani. |
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800 treated at health
camp Panchkula, April 22 The campaign which was inaugurated today, would go on till April 30 and an on-the-spot decision, on public demand, was also taken to treat patients suffering from any ailment and provide medicines to them free of cost. While the campaign against HIV provided the public with information on keeping the disease at bay, physicians, psychiatrics, surgeons and eye-specialists catered to the problems of the general public. As many as 800 patients were attended to during the day. Organised in collaboration with the Rotary Club, a blood donation camp was also held to mark the occasion. Along with donors from the block, the Civil Surgeon, Dr H.C. Nagpal, donated blood at the camp. Speaking at the function, Dr Nagpal highlighted the 11-point programme for healthy living which included learning stress management techniques, importance of sterilisation, practicing safe sex, eating nutritious food and maintaining hygiene. The District Health officer, Dr Vijay Garg, appealed to panches, sarpanches and local MLAs to come forward and help the Health Department in spreading the message of protection against HIV. It was informed that camps would be held in all sub-centres of the Barwala and Raipur Rani block during the second phase. Three to four sub-centres would be covered during the day and doctors on duty would not only give treatment for sexually transmitted diseases but also attend to patients suffering from other ailments. The MLA from Naraingarh, Mr Pawan Dewan Sahni, was the chief guest while the District Governor of the Rotary Club, Mr Ranjit Bhatia, was the guest of honour. The SMO of Raipur Rani, Dr APS Sodhi, was also present on the occasion. |
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Health mela held at Ropar
village Chandigarh, April 22 According to Dr Alka Gupta, project coordinator, the camp provided health check-up by doctors of ophthalmology, gynaecology, skin, ENT, besides a general physician. The visitors were also given counselling about HIV and AIDS. More than 459 patients were checked by the doctors and provided medicines free of cost. These were provided by a local bank and the gram panchayat, Nurpur Bedi. During the camp, schoolchildren from adjoining schools participated in a colourful cultural bonanza which included skits, debate and dance competitions on social issues like drug abuse and AIDS. A large number of women panchayat members also actively participated in the day-long health orientation programme. As per Dr Gupta, the mela served as an effective forum of interaction for government agencies, NGOs and the grassroots workers besides orienting the local panchayat members towards essential healthcare. The mela was inaugurated by Mr Sunil Kaushal, Assistant General Manager, State Bank of Patiala, who while appreciating the efforts of the CRRID-LIP project team, urged for more such camps to be organised in future. As per Dr Gupta, 174 community health volunteers have been deployed in 110 villages at the grassroots level who are now actively involved in social work amongst the villagers. |
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Hazards of eating cut fruit Priya, Shalini and Kamini come out of their college in their latest designer clothes and make a dash towards chat, papadi rehriwala and eat chat without bothering that the man selling the chat has unclean hands and dirty nails. His gol-gappa pani has been cooled by the ice that has been made in the most unhygienic conditions and from impure water. The sad part is that the girls are educated and yet they have no qualms about eating uncovered food from a rehri on the roadside. Most of them are subjecting themselves to gastro troubles in order to satiate the taste of their tongues. “Busy roadsides have hundreds of cars, scooters and three-wheelers spewing out obnoxious carbon monoxide fumes in the atmosphere, which definitely settles on the food and fruits lying in the open. The less one talks of flies, the better. Who does not know of diseases like gastroenteritis, tricoma, cholera, para typhoid and typhoid etc,” says Dr Vatsyayan. Another doctor says it is the duty of the Municipal Corporation to see that no food is sold uncovered. Due to high temperatures, fruits like water melons, papayas ferment very quickly, giving rise to a host of diseases.” “The way plates are washed in a sloppy manner by small boys with one bucket of water is too sickening to see. I can’t think of eating from such rehris”, says a horrified housewife Mrs Juneja. Mr Tota Ram, a fruit seller, was asked why he did not cover the food and was he not aware of the dangers of exposed food. He said, “I did cover my water melons one day but nobody purchased from me whereas my neighbour fruit-seller sold all the exposed cut fruit. So the moral of the story is not to cover the food”. |
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654 donate
blood Chandigarh, April 22 As many as 654 volunteers, including 195 women, donated blood. A 30-member medical team of the PGI Blood Bank Society conducted the camp. Ms Nanda appreciated the self-motivation of the people who donated blood for the needy people. The General Secretary of the mission, Mr Govind Singh, said that the blood donation programme was adopted by the Nirankari Mission in 1987. |
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Anti-infection mela
makes big impact Chandigarh, April 22 Medical specialists from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of the PGI examined patients suffering from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections ( RTIs). Aganwadi workers and preraks of the Adult Education Department motivated and mobilised the residents to attend the camp. Dr Jasjit Kaur and Dr Monica Dhir (from the State AIDS Control Society) also attended to the patients. The evaluation of these camps is being done by the Department of Community Medicine, GMCH, Sector 32. The next camp will be conducted at the Bapu Dham colony in Sector 26 tomorrow. |
Dravid to be in city
today Chandigarh, April 22 Jolly shines Rakesh Jolly, a former Haryana Ranji player, played a heroic innings when he scored 75 runs and also scalped three wickets for just 21 runs enabling Kelvinator’s Royal Greater XI in defeating Himachal Cricket Club by 140 runs in the First TL Talwar cash prize cricket tournament organised by the Chandigarh Cricket Association affiliated to the Haryana Cricket Association at the DAV College grounds today. In another match, a fine quickfires of Kamal Walia who scored 82 runs in just 42 deliveries helped the Mohali Gymkhana Cricket Club in overpowering the Pace Cricket Club by just two runs. In the third match of the day, the Bedi Cricket Club defeated the Cable Network Systems XI by one wicket. In last match of the day, Dominator XI beat Panchkula Sports Cricket Club by two runs.
Cricket tourney Jagjit Saini played a superb knock of 89 runs and also bagged three wickets for 26 runs which enabled two Industrial Cricket Club in beating High Court XI by six wickets in the Vth UT Summer League Cricket Tournament played here at the Gursagar grounds today. In other matches of the day, the FCI XI downed Stadium XI by seven wickets, BBMB XI beat Seventeen CC by 66 runs, Chandigarh Sports Club defeated Maloya Cricket Club by 12 runs, Connect ‘A’ beat Thunder XI by seven wickets, Eagle CC beat 3 BRD by seven wickets and Indo Dutch outplayed DYFI CC by 46 runs.
Registration from April 25 The Mohali Cricket Association, which was running its academy for the past two years, will be registering new players from April 25 to 27. According to Mr G.S. Walia, Secretary of the association, only the players residing in SAS Nagar and studying in its schools, will be allowed for registration. Mr Tej Kaul will be training the boys along with other experts. Mr Walia also disclosed that Pt Chaman Lal Memorial (under-16) Cricket Tournament will be held in SAS Nagar from May 1 and it was open to all clubs and schools based at SAS Nagar. The entry fee of Rs 300 per participant may be submitted by April 28. |
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Excelled both in sport and
studies Chandigarh, April 22 He was honoured for his winning the bronze medal at the Vth National Games held at Manipur in 1999 in fencing by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr P.S. Badal, at a function organised by the Punjab Sports Department recently. Atul, who is a second year student of the bachelor in computer technology course at GND University, Amritsar, said in 1992 he took to fencing and continued to take part as sub-junior player. He had love for other sports also and taking advantage of his height he went in for basketball and was a member of the team which won the silver medal in the Chandigarh Junior Basketball Championship in 1998. On the basis of that, he was also selected in the UT team in the 49th Junior National Basketball Championship held at Patiala in June, 1998. Atul said his father always encouraged him for sports. For the first time he took part in the 10th Senior National Fencing Championship at Lucknow where he could not achieve any place. In November, 1998, he played at the Junior Punjab Fencing meet at Amritsar and won the bronze medal, then at the VIth Junior National Fencing Championship held at Guwahati in December, 1998, he clinched the silver medal. At Amritsar, he was not able to play fencing, but he went in for athletics. In consecutive two annual sports meet of GND University, he won various medals. |
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