The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Diabetic? Hypertensive? Get eyes checked!
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Diabetic patients falling in type-II category must get their eyes checked the moment they get to know they are diabetic. Over 90 per cent of all diabetics fall in this category.

All diabetic patients falling under type-I category who are insulin dependent must get an eye check-up conducted for the first time five years after they get the disease and again after five years as changes may take place.

Some patients get to know that they are diabetic only after they visit an eye clinic.

Chandigarh, March 29
Diabetics and hypertension patients need not just watch their sugar level and blood pressure alone. Over 350 persons ignorant of the adverse affects of these diseases are pouring in at the PGI’s Eye Department with serious eye problems.

“The magnitude of the problem is so huge that even the government is considering focusing on it. Many patients end up losing their vision,” says Dr Amod Gupta, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at the PGI.

With almost 80 per cent of the patients coming to the retina clinic, being diabetic, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has set the ball rolling for undertaking a survey so that population-based data can be obtained to tackle the problem.

“Both the WHO and the Government of India have identified diabetic retinopathy as a potential health problem, about which it is not just the patients who are ignorant, but also a majority of the doctors,” points out Dr Gupta. It is learnt that the protocol for undertaking the study is being prepared so that work can be started at the earliest.

It is learnt that eight centres all over the country will be identified, covering 50,000 diabetic patients per centre. To begin with, the study will be confined only to the urban areas, which can later be extended to rural areas.

“Despite over 10,000 ophthalmologists in the country, there are only a few who are undertaking diabetic retinopathy, while none of the medical colleges have so far taken up programmes to tackle the growing problem,” revealed Dr Gupta. With a large section of the north Indian population suffering from diabetes, the number of such people approaching doctors is much higher than in other parts of India.

“Diabetic retinopathy is posing a major challenge as by the time a patient discovers that his vision is getting affected and seeks medical help, major damage is already done,” remarked Dr Vishali Gupta from the PGI’s Ophthalmology Department. To prevent the vision from getting affected, early detection was a must. But unfortunately, the doctors in most of the cases failed to alert the diabetic patients, she added.

The problem lies in the fact that the patients are not aware that diabetes can affect their eyes, kidney and heart. Thirty per cent of the patients end up with virtual blindness. Doctors recommend that all those suffering from diabetes must get regular eye check-up done.

Civil dispensary cries for treatment
Kulwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29
The allopathic civil dispensary at Sector 39-D has no electricity and water connection. Thanks to Super Bazar which has not cleared the pending bills of electricity and water supply.

Flat No. 3096, Sector 39-D, was allotted to the Department of Health, Government of Punjab, on January 22 for running an allopathic civil dispensary. After occupying the flat when the officials of the Health Department approached the local offices of Electricity and Public Health Departments for electricity and water connections they were refused on the pretext that the previous bills had not been cleared.

Inquiries made by Chandigarh Tribune revealed that the flat was earlier allotted to the Super Bazar, which had vacated it three years ago but did not obtain an NOC from the housing allotment committee of the Punjab Government in this regard. The flat remained locked and in the possession of Super Bazar, till the last week of January when it was finally allotted to the Health Department for running a dispensary.

Dr Rajesh Kumar Rana, Medical Officer incharge of the dispensary, said the pending bills in the name of Super Bazar amounts to Rs 14,000. “We have approached the local offices of the Electricity and Public Health Departments to provide new connections but officials of both departments have expressed inability to provide these facilities until the bills were cleared,” said Dr Rana. He further said they had already submitted the forms to the respective offices for getting new connections.

The general secretary of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 39-D, Mr Ashok Kapoor, alleged that the Health Department said it had no concern with the bills pending against the Super Bazar. “As the Super Bazar, an autonomous body, is directly under the control of the UT Administration the electricity and public health officials should take up the matter with the Administration for clearance of the bills,” said Mr Kapoor.

He said, “Patients and doctors are unnecessarily being harassed for the callous attitude of the Chandigarh Administration”. The association has also written a letter to Mrs Daljit Kaur Jayjee, Principal Secretary, General Administration, Government of Punjab, to take up the matter with the UT Administration for clearance of bills.

The matter also assumes importance in the wake of the coming summers. “Not only we but the patients also have to bear the brunt of the summers,” said Dr Devinder Singh, dental specialist posted at the dispensary.

Interestingly, the maintenance wing of the Public Works Department, Punjab, has not provided fans in the dispensary.

64 rallyists race for top positions
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 29
The 16th SJOBA Sub-Himalayan Rally-2003 today evoked a good response with as many as 64 rallyists, including seven in jeep category, 17 in car category, 34 in motor cycle category and five in scooter section, taking off from St John’s High School, Sector 26, here today. The first car took off at 7 a.m. despite inclement weather conditions. The first to roll were jeeps followed by cars, motor cycles and finally scooters.

Defending champion Sunny Sidhu faces fierce competition from another financial rallyist Sanjay Sikand. Three women rallyists are in the fray in car and jeep category. In motor cycle category, Sukhjinder Rana is defending the title. A journalist, Sukhwant Basra, has come all the way from Delhi to take part.

Mr Anop Sood, president of the St John’s Old Boys Association (SJOBA), said 11 contestants were out of the race due to technical snag developed in their vehicles.

He said there was one minor accident involving a motor cycle ride. Other rallyists reached the stopover for the first day, Koti Resorts. The rally will be flagged off at 7 am tomorrow for Chandigarh. The first vehicle was likely to reach St John’s School in the afternoon.

Mr Sood said only provisional results would be announced tomorrow, while the main prize distribution would be held on March 31 at Forest Hill Resort where Ms Pushpinder Cheema, Principal of St John’s School, will be the chief guest.

Athletics meet

Gurjot Singh Randhawa among boys and Sarabjeet Kaur among girls were declared best athletes in the first annual athletics meet of the GGS College of Modern Technology, Kharar, near here. The following are the results:100 metres: boys — Gurjot Singh 1, Sarabjit Singh 2; girls — Pooja Sharma 1, Sarbjeet Kaur 2; 200 metres: boys — Vinay Sharma 1, Sarabjeet Singh 2.

2 colleges clinch overall trophy
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 29
MCM DAV College For Women, Sector 36, and DAV College, Sector 10, clinched the overall trophy for 2002-03 by winning 393.5 points and 555.5 points, respectively. Winners were declared today at the annual sports prize distribution function of the affiliated colleges to the university held today at the university gymnasium hall. Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, who was the chief guest, gave prizes to only officials. Sportspersons were given prizes by the president and vice-president of the Panjab University Sports Committee.

In women section, GGS College for Women, Sector 26, and Government College, Sector 11 secured second and third place, respectively. In men section SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh, and Panjab University got second and third place, respectively.

Outstanding sportspersons were given track suits and mementos, while cash prizes were announced and as per university sources, these would be given to the sportspersons by their respective colleges.

Gurpreet Kaur in rowing, Kamaljit Kaur and Harpreet Kaur in basketball, Puneet Rana in swimming, Jasleen Narula in boxing, Sukhwinder Kaur and Seema Rani in kho-kho, Satinder Kaur in boxing, Sakshi Sharma in athletics along with women shooters Avneet Sidhu, Sabeeha Dhillon and Ramandeep Kaur were given awards.

Friendly match

The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Lieut-Gen J.F.R. Jacob (retd) today gave away prizes to the winners of a friendly lawn tennis match played between Army officers and Chandigarh team at the CLTA, Sector 10.

Mr Rajan Kashyap informed General Jacob that the Chandigarh Academy for Rural Tennis is under construction to promote tennis among rural children, various dignitaries who were present today included, GOC-in-Western Command, Lieut-Gen S.S. Mehta and Chief Engineer, UT Administration, Mr Puranjeet Singh.

Hockey tournament

The AG, Punjab, edged past the AG, AP, 3-0 on the second day of the All-India Inter Zonal IA and AD Hockey Tournament played here today at the Panjab University grounds. In the second match of the day, AG, MP, routed Delhi Audit 3-1 while AG, Jharkhand, outplayed AG, Rajasthan, 2-0.

Tribune TT matches

Sukhwinder Sodhi, Munish, Vijay, Umesh, Rajan Raikhey, Sunil Dutt, A.C. Bali and Dinesh moved into the quarter-final of the Tribune Table Tennis Tournament here today.

Sukhwinder Sodhi beat Umesh 21-16 and 21-18; Sukhwinder Sodhi beat Vinay 20-22, 23-21, 21-13; Rajan Raikhey beat Dinesh 21-14 and 21-8; Munish beat Sukhwinder 21-14 and 21-12; Sunil Dutt beat A.C. Bali 21-14 and 21-14 while Sunil Dutt beat Dinesh 21-8 and 21-9.

Cricket tournament

Punjab Civil Secretariat XI defeated City Youth XI by four wickets in the VIIth UT league cricket tournament played here on Saturday at PEC grounds. City Youth XI were all out for 90 runs while Punjab Sectt. XI made 92 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20.2 overs.