Chandigarh, August 20
One might be amazed at the advances made by medical science and though only a handful of people are today surviving on “artificial hearts, a few years down the lane having an artificial heart might become as simple as a bypass surgery.

“Though 10 patients in the USA, on whom a heart transplant was not possible, have responded positively to an artificial or a mechanical heart, yet still being at the experimental stage it has so far not been adopted on a routine basis,” revealed Dr G.H. Mudge, a renowned cardiologist and Medical Director of the Partners Healthcare Systems, UAE Programme. He is part of a four-member medical team from the Partners Healthcare System, USA, which is here on an annual visit to Fortis Heart Institute, with which it has a tie up.

“I would say that it is rather too premature for India to think of adopting this advanced technology. As apart from being at the experimental stage, it is so exorbitantly priced that it is out of the reach of even the average American,” he opined. While adding that after five years it was thinkable for India to adopt artificial heart technology, Dr Mudge gave full credit to Indian doctors for being second to none in the world. He said the concept of having an artificial heart had opened up a new world and a study conducted to compare its results had indicated that it was very successful.

He said the experiments done six months ago had so far proved that a person could lead an almost normal life with an artificial heart. Apart from the 10 persons in the USA, who were living on artificial hearts, there had been a handful of cases in other countries also.

While reaffirming the well established fact that Punjabis were more prone to heart ailments, he said even a considerable number of Americans were suffering from these. “In India, it is the young, adult and paediatric populace, which is prone to valvular and rheumatic heart diseases, the reason for which is the prevalence of “streptococci” bacteria,” observed Dr Mudge. He said as compared to India, the mortality rate on account of heart ailments was far less in the USA.

He further revealed that another advancement in the field was the use of wire stents coated with drugs to prevent the narrowing of blood vessels, which was another type of heart problem.He added that this facility was already available in India.

Giving details of the Partners Healthcare Systems, USA, Mr David Jones, Executive Director of its International Programme, said since they were associated with Harvard Medical School, that was the touchstone they would want to be judged by. “It is our constant endeavour to follow the typical Havard approach, which is the reason why we only have affiliations with medical institutes world over, who can meet the high medical standards,” he remarked. Mr Jones, who is leading the medical team, said they would be focusing on quality of clinical care, implementation of systems and standards and planning for the next year for Fortis Heart Institute. The team would also review critical areas of the hospital like OT, Cath Lab, ICU and MICU.

Chandigarh, August 20
The Second Chandigarh Junior Girls Football Championship began this morning at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. The four-day meet is being organised by the Chandigarh Football Association. In the first match of the day, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, eves outplayed St Soldier’s International School, Sector 28, 4-0 to move into the last eight.

In the second tie, the girls of Sacred Heart school, Sector 26, put up a brave fight before losing to fancied IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, 1-3. Till the half time, no team could score any goal. After the lemon break, Sacred Heart School conceded first goal in 26th minute and was scored by Varsha. Another goal was scored by Dev Samaj girls in 30th minute when their left striker Gunwant Kaur scored a goal. However, Sacred Heart School girls scored their first goal in the 35th minute through Shweta and reduced the margin 1-2. But again it was Dev Samaj girls who increased the lead through Shweta Dutta in the 37th minute.

In the third match, Jawahar Navodya Vidyalya, Sector 25, were given a walk over against MRA Model School, Sector 27, who did not turn up for the match.

SAS Nagar, August 20
Frustrated over the delay in the rectification of the Rs 21 lakh storm water sewer in Phase XI here by the Public Health Department (PHD), the Municipal Council has shot a letter demanding a high-level inquiry into the faulty project.

The project, which was completed more than two yeas ago, has failed to bring relief to affected residents as no water has drained through it. The level of the storm water sewer laid was lower than that of the main sewer to which it had to be connected.

Sources say that the council has accused the PHD of poor workmanship. This has not only led to residents of Phase XI suffering at the time of rain but also a financial loss of Rs 21 lakh to the civic body. It is learnt that the council has also demanded that the storm water sewer should now be relaid by the PHD free of cost.

Sources say that in a letter dated August 19 to the Secretary, Public Health Department, Punjab, the President of the Municipal Council, Mr Kulwant Singh, has stated that there was no proper drainage system for rain water in Phase XI. As such the council decided to provide a storm water sewer in the area and the work was got done from the Public Health Department. The cost of the project came to Rs 21 lakh and the amount was deposited with the PHD.

Sources say that the letter further stated that due to lack of proper supervision by the Public Health officials, the storm water sewer was not laid at a proper level. The municipal councillor of the area, Mr Sukhminder Singh Barnala, had brought the fault to the notice of the SDO concerned but to no avail.

The matter was brought to the notice of the Chief Engineer of the Public Health Department, and to rectify the fault, a fresh estimate of Rs 2.59 lakh was prepared by the department which was sent to the council. The civic body again deposited Rs 1 lakh with the PHD but no action was taken by the officials.

To discuss the matter again a meeting for July 10 was fixed at the office of Mr Kulwant Singh. The then Executive Engineer of the PHD did not turn up for the meeting. Again a meeting was fixed for July 22 to look for a solution to the problem. Though the Executive Engineer concerned reached for the meeting, the discussion did not reach any conclusion. Then it was decided that the matter could only be sorted out after visiting the site where the storm water sewer had been laid. The officials concerned, the president of the council and certain municipal councillors were to meet on the spot on July 24. The Executive Engineer of the PHD again did not reach. An SDO and a JE were sent on his behalf. They were once again shown the faulty work that had been carried out by them.