The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Authorities plan to rid dist of malaria
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 29
To generate awareness among people regarding preventive measures against malaria, a month-long awareness campaign has been planned by the District Administration and Health Department starting June 1. The month would be observed as an “anti-malaria month” during which the people would be educated to check breeding of mosquitoes in their localities.

This was stated by Mr Rahul Bhandari, Additional Deputy Commissioner, while presiding over a meeting of officers from the Health, MC, Public Health and other departments after reviewing the progress of anti-malaria measures here on Monday.

Giving details, he said the Health staff posted in four hospitals and all dispensaries, in coordination with the administration besides other departments and voluntary organizations, would take the educational programme to all villages of the district and apprise the people of the diseases. The people would be motivated to join the campaign and clear stagnant water and sewerage points in their localities.

The people would also be motivated to cooperate in the anti-mosquito spray of ponds and other places.

The ADC called upon the officers of the Municipal Corporation, Public Health, Water Supply and Sewerage Board and municipal councils of the towns in the district to repair the leakage points in water supply pipes, which leads to collection of water thus forming an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. He also asked the officials to mix sufficient chlorine at the distribution points of drinking water.

Referring to the apprehension of seasonal diseases caused from substandard drinks and ice etc., he directed the officers of the Health Department to launch a sample collection campaign and to take strict action against those found guilty in case of irregularities.

He also directed the Health authorities to keep a strict vigil on vegetable and fruit sellers to check the sale of overripe fruits and rotten vegetables in the city and towns.

Later, he presided over a meeting of representatives of the chemists associations in the district and asked them to extend cooperation to anti-drug and anti-intoxicant campaign launched by the Health Department.

He urged them not to sell medicines without prescription from qualified doctors and warned strict action against those found violating the directions. He also asked the chemists to maintain full records of the medicines being sold.

Mr Bhandari advised the associations to keep in close liaison with the administration and Health authorities to get their genuine problems solved.

Dr S.N. Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, while addressing the meeting said the Health Department had started educating the people regarding preventive measures against the spread of malaria and to check breeding of mosquitoes in and around the localities. He also informed that the Health Department was also taking preventive measures to check the spread of water-borne diseases and would initiate comprehensive check of sale of uncovered eatables, unhygienic ice, ice cream, ripe fruits etc.

Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Drug Inspector, and Mr Vinod Sharma, president, Chemist Association, also addressed the meeting.

Govt owes money to CMC Hospital
K.S. Chawla

Ludhiana, May 29
The Punjab Government owes nearly Rs 1 crore to Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, for rendering treatment to those injured in various accidents. The CMCH authorities are approaching the state administration for the early payment of the same.

Inquiries show that whenever a mishap happens injured are rushed to hospitals in Ludhiana, including CMC and Hospital and DMC and Hospital. The VIPs like the Chief Minister visit the injured in the hospitals and make announcements regarding meeting all medical expenses of the injured. Inquiries reveal that the injured of the MIG crash last year in Jalandhar were rushed to Ludhiana with burn and other wounds to Christian Medical College and Hospital for treatment. There were 12 such injured patients who were given the treatment. The total bill for the same was worth Rs 8.90 lakh. The crash took in June last year and almost after a year, the bill still remains unpaid.

The Punjab Government has not paid Rs 60 lakh to the CMC and Hospital authorities under the post-partum programme for the past two years. Under this programme, the hospital authorities undertake family welfare programme. The payment was received from the Centre by the Punjab Government. The Punjab Government issued a cheque in favour of the CMCH and when the same was presented in the treasury here for encashment but here was no money.

The CMCH authorities have again approached the state government for the payment of the same and now the state government officials say that they will revalidate the programme.

As many as 82 patients with burn injuries caused in the Khud Mohalla fire incident were admitted to CMCH.

These patients are undergoing treatment in the burn unit of the hospital for the past two weeks. The Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, also visited the injured in the hospital and other hospitals and announced that the state government would meet all expenses on the treatment of the injured. Two patients have died in the hospital because of severe burn injuries and the total number of dead in the Khud Mohalla fire has risen to 12. Later 13 persons who were injured in the Frontier Mail disaster were admitted to CMCH. At present there are 62 patients of Khud Mohalla fire incident and two of the Frontier Mail disaster undergoing treatment in the burn unit.

According to Dr T.M. Jaison, Acting Director, CMC and Hospital, on an average Rs 2500 are daily spent on the treatment of burn patients and the cost of treatment of victims of the two incidents has come to Rs 30 lakh and the hospital authorities have not received any money.

Dr Jaison said they were now trying to contact the Chief Minister for the early payment as June 1 was approaching and they have to make payment of salary to the doctors and other staff.

The DMC and Hospital authorities say that no payment was due to be received from the state government.

CMC acts as saviour
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, May 29
Ramesh Kumar and his wife were found sitting on the lawn of Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) with a grief stricken face, holding their child in their arms on March 31. On enquiry, they showed the lump on the lower back of their one-and-half-year old daughter Suman. The pain in their eyes was speaking of their woe of poverty which put them in a dilemma whether to get their daughter treated or leave her to fate.

The parents could not even muster-up courage to get their daughter admitted as they barely managed to earn two square meals for their family. Ramesh is the only bread-winner in the family of six which includes old father, mother, wife, sister and the daughter. Moreover, the iron factory where he used to work as a labourer, threw him out when he could not go to work for a few days due to Suman’s ailment. He was running pillar to post to get her treated when her condition deteriorated and the lump became large. “The factory owners thought that I was with the striking employees and they kicked me out”, said Ramesh. “Nothing can be more traumatising than poverty”, said Ramesh with tears in his eyes.

At that point of time, CMCH came forward with a helping hand and got the unconscious child admitted to the intensive care unit where her condition remained unstable for a couple of days. Once her condition stabilised, various tests were conducted out on her and when it was confirmed that the growth was not malignant, she was successfully operated upon by Dr V.P. Singh, paediatric surgeon. The lump was removed and the child was kept under observation. The medication and the treatment expenses which amounted to Rs 48,000 during the 37 days of hospitalisation of the child, were provided through various funds of the hospital.