The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

1,065 disabled persons treated at camp
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, May 18
An eight-day Handicapped Welfare and Surgery Camp, organised jointly by the District Red Cross Society, Jain Milan and Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, concluded here on Friday evening.

According to a report, the camp proved a blessing for the handicapped persons in the area. During the camp, as many as 1,065 handicapped persons were treated and given tricycles and other articles to ensure their mobility. All of them felt overjoyed when they walked on artificial foot or moved about in tricycles.

Speaking at the concluding function, Mr S. N. Roy, Deputy Commissioner, lauded the role of the organisers of the camp and said that such noble deeds, which helped the handicapped persons, were a landmark in the social history of the district.

He called upon the organisations to create a sense of self-reliance and confidence among the people of this section of the society and treat them with respect. He also said that efforts should be made to make such people realise that they were a valuable part of the society and were not in any way inferior to other persons.

Mrs Sangeeta Roy, chairperson of the Sonepat Hospital Welfare Society, praised the positive role of the representatives of various social and voluntary organisations in making the camp a success.

Highlighting the achievements of the camp, Mr Harish Chand Jain, General Manager of the Haryana Roadways and the convenor of the Viklang Sahayata Samiti, said that as many as 1,065 handicapped persons were treated and given necessary artificial limbs, Jaipur foot etc. The organisers distributed 175 hearing aids, 115 tricycles, 25 wheelchairs, 80 artificial legs and Jaipur foot, 465 polio callipers, 145 aluminium crutches and 60 other equipment among the handicapped persons.

The Deputy Commissioner also gave away prizes to the students of various schools who won the first, second and third positions in the competitions on this occasion.

BODY & MIND
Cholera cases increasing in the Capital
Tripti Nath

The number of cholera cases in the Capital is on the rise, according to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) here. Dr Sunil Gupta, Head of the Microbiology division of NICD says that 240 cases of cholera have been reported this year alone between January and mid-May.

Besides the trans-Yamuna area, a large number of cholera cases have been reported from Civil Lines, Central and South zones of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Dr Gupta said that 138 cases of cholera were reported in April from various parts of the Capital compared to 46 in the corresponding period last year. The figures indicate that a three-fold increase in cholera cases. According to figures released by the Health department of MCD, 21 cases of cholera have been reported from the 12 zones between May 9 and May 16. In the previous week, 42 cases were reported from various MCD zones. The maximum number of cholera cases have been reported from the Central zone between May 2 and May 16. The NICD has been getting requests for stool sample analysis from the Municipal Corporation run Infectious Diseases Hospital on Kingsway Camp.

According to Dr Anil Bansal, Chief Medical Officer of NDMC dispensary on Mandir Marg, cholera is caused by insanitation and contaminated water supply. The symptoms are watery loose motions. Cholera can be fatal if not treated in time. Sodium content in the body falls sharply because of enormous loss of water. Ideally, sodium content should be between 130 to 145 m.eq per litre. If this falls below 120 m.eq per litre, the patient’s condition is serious. This is checked by a special test called Serum Electrolytes.

In case, sodium content is less, the patients should be given normal saline/dextro saline solution as iv fluid. The patient should be moved to the nearest nursing home or hospital. The water depletion in the body is to be substituted by fast administration of intravenous (iv) fluid depending upon the condition of the patient.

This should be followed by antibiotics and other supportive measures, if necessary. Stool sample should be examined to detect presence of Vibrio Cholera, Cholera-causing bacteria. If the test is positive, the patient should be immediately referred to Infectious Disease Hospital. Cholera is highly infectious and is a noticeable disease. The treating physician is therefore required to report the matter to the concerned health authorities for preventive action.

Ramesh Negi, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Sanitation) says that sanitation in Jhuggi Jhopri clusters is being monitored regularly and the officers visit areas as soon as they get reports related to insanitation and cholera cases. “We have asked our sanitation officers to do special monitoring,’’ he said.

Anti-quackery movement

The anti-quackery cell of Delhi government has recently filed a case in the court of Chief Metroplitan Magistrate against 50 unqualified medical practitioners of East Delhi.

According to Dr R N Baishya, Director, Health Services, Delhi government, the case has been filed against those practitioners who have not registered themselves with the Delhi Medical Council, Bharatiya Chikitsa Parishad or the Homeopathy Board. A public notification issued by Delhi government on May 3, 2001, made it mandatory for the doctors practising modern system of medicine in Delhi to register with the Delhi Medical Council.

Similarly, those practising Ayurveda and Homeopathy are required to register with the Bharatiya Chikitsa Parishad and the Homeopathy Board respectively. In October-November last year, a team of the anti-quackery cell carried out a survey and found that 500 practitioners were unqualified in East Delhi.

It issued notices to all the practitioners to produce degrees or registration certificates. When they failed to produce any certificate, they registered a case against 50 unqualified medical practitioners on May 10.

According to a survey carried out by Delhi Medical Association, there are about 30,000 unqualified practitioners in Delhi. Of these, 9000 chemists are even selling medicine without valid prescription or bill. Asked whether cases had been booked against them in other parts of Delhi, Dr Baishya said that registration of cases is a continuous process. President-elect DMA, Dr Anil Bansal is not satisfied with the action taken by the cell. Terming it an “eyewash,” Dr Bansal says that the DMA is flooded with complaints about unqualified medical practitioners playing with the lives of the patients.

“There is no point taking action against only 50 practitioners. The cell has not told us what action they propose to take against these unqualified practitioners under the law of the land. In the absence of a proper legislation to check the menace of quackery, more and more unqualified practitioners will continue to practice.”

New faces in IMA

Dr P.V. George from Kerala has been elected as the President-elect of Indian Medical Association for 2003-2004. The President-elect for 2002-03, Dr S Arul Raj will take over from Dr Ketan Desai as President of Indian Medical Association in July.

Dr Sanjiv Malik, a Delhi-based general physician has been re-elected as the Secretary General of IMA. In the election results announced on Friday by the Election Commission of IMA, Dr Jitender Patel from Gujarat, Dr Avinash Latkar from Maharashtra, Dr Satish Chugh from Haryana (Rohtak) and Dr M.S Ashraf from Tamil Nadu have been elected to the post of Vice President. Election to all the posts is through postal ballot.

For the post of President and Vice President, however, all the 1.5 lakh members of IMA cast their vote directly. The Secretary General, Finance Secretary, Editor, Dean of IMA College and Chairman of IMA Academy are elected by about 1500 Central Council Members, each representing 100 members of a local branch. All the office-bearers will assume charge in July.

Morepen launches Lifelyte

Morepen Laboratories Ltd. has launched Lifelyte, ‘the ready to drink, sterile electrolyte rehydrate’. This gives Morepen an entry to Rs 50 crore ORS market, which has an annual growth rate of five per cent. Priced at Rs 35, Lifelyte is available in a 540-ml bottle. This solution replenishes electrolytes and water lost due to diarrhoea, vomiting and heat exhaustion.

Escorts heart centre

The Health Minister of Delhi, Dr A K Walia, inaugurated Escorts Heart Command Centre (EHCC) in Bhardwaj Hospital in Sector 29, Noida on Saturday evening in the presence of EHIRC(Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre) Executive Director and Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Padma Bhushan Dr Naresh Trehan. EHIRC, Delhi, started as a dedicated cardiac hospital in October, 1988.

The EHCC has a state-of-the-art art cardiac care unit with a heart station. It will provide specialised cardiac care including curative and emergency cardiac services, facilities of a 2 D Echo Doppler, Stress Echocardiography, TMT. EKG, Holter Monitoring and Peripheral Dopller Studies. The CCU has seven beds in the 50-bed hospital.

SPORTS

Collage Group sail into semis
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, May 18
Collage Group stunned Chand Khanna by four wickets to storm into the semi-final of the 29th Goswami Ganesh Dutt Memorial Cricket Tournament at the SGTB Khalsa College ground in the Capital on Saturday.

Collage Group will take on defending champions Indian Airlines Corporation in the semi-final on May 24. Chand Khanna lost despite a brilliant unbeaten 79, studded with six fours and one six off 95 balls, by Sumit Dogra. But Dogra nevertheless earned the man of the match award. Collage Group skipper Mahesh Bhatti won the toss and put Chand Khanna into bat. Chand Khanna lost the first three wickets cheaply for a total score of 56. But skipper Sumit Dogra swung his bat around to tote up some quick runs with Rajiv Uniyal, Sandeep Rana and Sidharth Verma also chipping in with useful contributions.

Still, Chand Khanna could make only 204 for 5 in the allotted 40 overs. Collage Group, in reply, made 205 for 6 in 39.5 overs with opener Mayank Telhan and Virender Sharma slamming half centuries. Collage Group were lucky to win the match as Chand Khanna spilled catches and fielded poorly.

Scores: Chand Khanna Club: 204 for 5 in 40 overs (Naveen Asrani 12, Rajiv Uniyal 31, 2x4, 1x6, 38b; Sumit Dogra not out 79, 6x4, 1x6, 95b; Sandeep Rana 22; Sidharth Verma 14, Varun Kumar not out 32, 3x4, 1x6, 17b; Oniel Wilson 1 for 28, Sanjay Gill 1 for 31, Rajiv Rathore 2 for 36).

Collage Group: 205 for 6 (Mayank Telhan 54, 8x4, 66b; Virender Sharma 54, 8x4, 65b; Pankaj Sharma 26, 1x4, 42b; Sanjy Verma 35, 4x4, 38b; Sumit Dogra 2 for 28). Sunday’s fixture: Sonnet Club vs Steel Authority of India Ltd; Khalsa College ground (7.30 am).

DDCA League: Super Star Club beat Patel Nagar Gymkhana by 20 runs in a DDCA Super League B Division match at the Ramjas Sports Complex ground. Scores: Super Star Club: 172 all out in 36.4 overs (Durga Prasad 56, Vijay Sharma 40, Karamvir 4 for 51, Dushyant Kumar 3 for 34).

Patel Nagar Gymkhana: 152 all out in 38.2 overs (Hardeep Singh 26, Dushyant Kumar 24, Durga Prasad 3 for 20, Sunny Sharma 2 for 30).