HEALTH

Rise in eye injuries among industrial workers
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, April 25
Mr Harjit Singh, an industrial worker in his early twenties, recently suffered an eye injury when an iron particle of about 2 mm flew into his right eye while he was working in a factory. He could not see anything. He was successfully operated upon at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and was lucky enough to get back his vision because he approached the doctor in time. But there are many others who are not so lucky and lose sight permanently.

Cases of eye injuries come on regular basis to the DMCH. Generally the patients suffer minor to major injuries like holes in the interior surface, cuts on the outer layers and damage to the retina. Most of the sufferers are the industrial workers. The workers working in the steel and iron industries are more prone to such eye damages. But factory owners remain indifferent to the workers’ plight.

Dr G.S. Bajwa, Reader in the Retina Unit of the DMCH, said that they received about two such patients in every 10 days.” All the industrial workers are prone to such injuries as they are exposed to iron, dust, fire, wood or moving objects like machines and hammers. Anything can happen to them because they are not aware of the environment around them. Even the industrialists give a raw deal to their safety”, said Dr Bajwa.

There are gaseous particles, chemicals, radiations and metallic particles in almost all the industries which can damage eyes. Dr Bajwa said, “Gaseous particles cause irritation and allergy in the eyes which can be cured with mild eye drops. The carpenters are exposed to particles which can cause corneal damage. Excessive radiations and welding lights can damage the retina. The chemicals or the ‘foreign particles’ enter the eye at a high speed and pierce through the eyes and can turn a person blind”.

“One of the main reasons of eye injuries among industrial workers is the lack of awareness about their eye care. They are not provided plastic screens by the industrialists. “The recovery chances of the patients who approached the doctor within seven days of the injury are more than the ones who approach later”, added Dr Bajwa.

In the absence of such awareness for eye safety, a group of local social workers is contemplating to launch a drive highlighting the plight of workers who have lost sight at work and also to force industrialists to provide equipment to safeguard the eyesight of workers.

Akal Takht’s directive hailed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
The Homoeopathic Medical Association of India (HMAI) has appreciated the directive of Akal Takht asking the people to stop female foeticide. A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the three units of the association held here recently.

Dr Chanchal Singh, president of the Jamalpur units said the association welcomed the directive of Akal Takht which said that anyone indulging in or abetting female foeticide would be declared “tankhaiya” or “excommunicated”.

‘Diabetes more common among women’
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 25
‘‘Diabetic mellitus, the disease related to pancreas disfunctioning, is more common among women and is a predisposing factor for much-dreaded cardiovascular ailments,’’ according to Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, while speaking at a seminar and workshop on Diabetes mellitus, held at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science at Punjab Agricultural University, here yesterday.

Dr Sekhon also spoke on the causes and management of the disease. He stressed on the control of the disease, healthy dietary habits and living style. He also emphasised the role of genetic and environmental factors in the management of diabetes.

Dr A.K. Srivastava, organising secretary and Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, traced the history of the disease as far back as the 6th century AD, when it was recognized as ‘madhumeha’. He said that as per the WHO report, 67 per cent of diabetics in the world and 83 per cent of Indian patients were not diagnosed properly. He dwelled on the need to discuss present therapeutic measures and control strategies during the seminar.

The seminar was also addressed by speakers from Dayanand Medical College, Christian Medical College, PAU and Guru Nanak Homeopathic College. The topics of discussion included regulation of glucose homeostasis, types and etiopathogenesis of diabetes, oral anti-diabetic drugs and insulin.

Dr Parminder Singh, Head, Department of Endocrinology DMC, gave a detailed review of management and complications of the disease.

A workshop on diabetes was also held, during which Dr S.P.S. Sangha and Dr R.K. Chaudhary from PAU demonstrated simple diagnostic tests, qualitative and quantitative estimation of glucose in urine and estimation of glucose in blood by different methods.

SPORT

Stadium awaits completion
Tribune News Service

Whenever the officials are asked about the completion of work, they always reply, “We will complete all the repair and construction work in just two months and then the government can hold the games whenever it wants.” But the stadium has had only a few changes after so many months.

Sports session starts
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
“All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.”

This old saying seems to be religiously followed by Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School. Keeping in mind the rising interest of the students in skating, an old basketball court has been converted into a skating rink and nearly 70 student have been enrolled for the training.

Last year, Aishwarya, a Class II student of the school, had bagged gold in the CBSE School National Skating Championship. The roller skating is picking up among the children as the number of students participating in skating is more as compare to other games.

Besides motivating students to score more than 80 per cent marks, the school never lags behind to create infrastructure for sports. The school provides each and every facility like equipment, ground and coaching. The talented players are identified and given a chance to give their best. Volleyball, cricket, skating, shooting, kho-kho, table tennis and athletics are the games which could be chosen by the students.

The sports session has also started with the academic session. The grooming of the sports aspirants has been started. About 35 volleyball players come in the morning and evening and practice for about four hours daily. The players are very enthusiastic and doing their best to clinch the forthcoming District Volleyball Championship.

Although the shooting range was set up about two years back but there are nearly 25 shooters enrolled. Despite the fact the shooting has started recently, four shooters of the school participated in the National Shooting Championship. This year the shooters are practicing very hard and quite hopeful to perform well in the national championship.

KVM had won the District Inter-School Cricket Championship at the zonal level last year. The students interested have also been enrolled. They are practising for about four hours daily. Mr Charanjit Singh Channi, district sports coach, is training the boys.

The school has won the District Table Tennis Tournament at the zonal level and remained third in the Sahodya School Table Tennis Championship. Nearly 20 players have started practising daily for three hours in the evening. Nearly 30 players of kho-kho have also started practicing for two hours in the evening. However, the number of athletes are quite low as compare to other sport as only 15 athletes are coming regularly to practise. 

Football tourney
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 25
The Senior National Women’s Football Championship is scheduled to be held from May 12 to 27 at Ludhiana.

According to information available about 18 international women players of the country would be seen in action during the championship. These will include Bina Shori Devi, O. Bembem, Chaoba Devi, Rani Devi, Madhu Kumari and Gurmeet Kaur of Punjab.

About 20 teams would participate in the championship. The matches would be played in two rounds and the teams would be divided into four groups.