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| Wednesday,
June 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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Before taking animal insulin
consult doctor Chandigarh, June 17 “The reduction in the price of human insulin has come as a big relief to diabetics in India, but before shifting to animal insulin one must consult a doctor so that the dose can be adjusted,” says Dr R.
Muralidharan, consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetology. He said the price of human insulin has come down by almost one third, bringing the cost almost on a par with animal insulin. Though in most of the developed countries diabetics are using human insulin, but with the cost factor being a major deterrent, in India patients were still using animal insulin, he added. He explained that in case of animal insulin the required dose had to be increased due to the antibodies being produced in the body, which reduce its
effect. "As such before switching over to human insulin one must seek the advice of the doctor,” he remarked. He warned that if a doctor was not consulted then it could lead to complications like low blood sugar level, nausea, unconsciousness and at times even hospitalisation. “The fact that many patients in India are still dependent on cheaper bovine insulin, the phasing out of animal insulin may not be in the interest of the poor patients,” he opined. Dr Muralidharan, also expressed concern over the rise in the number of diabetic childrens. “During the past two years the number of children being diagnosed with diabetes is on the rise and this is very disturbing,” he said. It was due to the changing lifestyle, decreased physical activity and intake of junk food, which had led to the problem, he stated. “While there is a definite genetic component to the disease, children who are obese are more prone to diabetes,” he explained. He said children in India, like in the West, were also getting hooked to junk food, which is very high in calories but low in nutrition. He said diabetes, apart from affecting the eyes and nerves, could lead to complications like high-blood pressure, cholesterol and heart diseases. He said healthy diet and physical activity was a must for children to avoid becoming diabetic. |
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Pay cheques elude health staff Chandigarh, June 17 Ms Satwant Kaur, president, ANM and LHV Union, Punjab, claimed that as auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) and para medical staff they were the backbone of the pre and post-natal healthcare services for women and children. However, thousand of employees have not been paid salary even for up to 10 months. The situation has further aggravated after the retirement of Dr Joginder Singh, Director of the department as no one has been given charge so far. She claimed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare was directly funding their salary under the Family Welfare Project in the state by the Centre. However, the state government had diverted funds to other areas in the recent past causing financial crisis for them. Recently the Centre had decided to directly release funds in the name of the department only. But with the retirement of the Director, she added, there was no one to pursue their case with the Punjab Finance Department. Insiders claimed that in the name of financial constraints, the Punjab Government was not giving adequate attention to the role of these employees in the Integrated Child Development Programme and to provide primary medical services to the women at their doorstep in Punjab. According to the instructions from the Centre, one ANM is reportedly appointed for a population of 5,000 in the rural areas and for a population of 20,000 in the urban areas. LHVs are appointed to supervise their work and paramedical staff to assist
them. They are also engaged in collecting data on different indicators, monitor the growth of children and to participate in the pulse polio and other health campaigns. Since they have not been paid salary for months together, the morale is quite down. They claimed that during the previous government as well they had to hold a long agitation to press upon the Akali Dal-BJP government to accept their demands. Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had himself come forward to settle the issue of their recruitment and other demands. Mr Johal further said as a result of efforts of the union, the Centre had sanctioned over Rs 1 crore for the release of interest-free loans to ANMs to purchase mopeds for their work However, the Family Welfare Department had failed to issue the instructions in the absence of the Director. The other demands of the union, she said, included promotion of LHVs as District Nursing Officers which was pending for many months. |
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‘Spread
of malaria under check’ Chandigarh, June 17 Last year, as many as 256 patients, on the sick list, were suffering from malaria. In April 2002, 13 patients were administered medicines for malaria as against just three this year. A substantial number of the patients last year were from Mani Majra motor market where water stagnant in discarded tyres provided breeding ground for the larvae. The credit for the reduction in the number of cases in 2003 goes to Rs 25 lakh anti-malaria project and about 200 staffers attached to it, besides “information, education and communication” activities being undertaken by the health authorities, says Assistant Director (Malaria) Dr J.K. Kalra. Giving details, Dr Kalra asserts: “The city, under the project, is divided in 14 different zones. Each zone is supervised by an inspector, along with supervisors and field workers. They are actively involved in organising anti-malaria camps, besides discussion with experts on the issue”. Regarding the anti-malaria month observed all over the country in June, Dr Kalra says, “We are basically preparing for the coming four months. The activities undertaken during the month involve the adoption of anti-larvae measures including the spray of insecticides and oil”. |
Newspapers must play positive role: Kapil Chandigarh, June 17 Kapil, who is the general secretary of the UT Cricket Association, also played cricket with youngsters and a few children from the families of Kinetic group this evening at the Cricket stadium, Sector 16. He also gave tips to the youngsters. Earlier, in an interaction, when newspersons quizzed Kapil on the latest controversy of accepting the Mercedez car from an alleged smuggler, he said if someone offered you a gift but later on turned out to be a notorious person, what is the fault of the person taking the gift. Kapil was in favour of having a positive outlook towards sports and said, “if one goes on spreading only negativity, it is very dangerous.” On the question of promoting sports like hockey, he said they are already on the job and the launching of the Indian Sports Academy was a step in that direction. On the resumption of India- Pakistan cricket ties, Kapil said it was for the Government of India to take a decision. He said when he was actively involved in the game, for years they could not play in the South Africa, but later the Government of India allowed us to play. He refused to get dragged into any controversy of this kind. Repeatedly, Kapil pleaded with the newspersons to remain positive towards sport and said, “one negative word can create a lot of harm to society.” On the affiliation of the UTCA with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kapil said: “We are hopeful of getting affiliation in due course of time”. But he said this will not deter the UT players from playing and showing their potential. Meanwhile, Kapil Dev had a brief meeting today with the Adviser to the Administrator, Mr Virendra Singh. The discussed the recent meeting convened by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to promote the game in Union Territories and the North-East in an effort to spot fresh talent. While the BCCI has decided to directly interact with the governments of the Union Territories and the North-East while providing funds for building infrastructure, provide coaching and promoting the game, Kapil Dev tried to impress on the Adviser that the Union Territory Cricket Association (UTCA) should be recognised as the truly representative cricket body in the Union Territory. He was of the view that this association should be entrusted with the task of running cricket in Chandigarh. When pointed out that two more cricket associations, one affiliated with the Punjab Cricket Association and the other affiliated with the Haryana Cricket Association, were functioning in Chandigarh and were promoting the game in their own way, Kapil Dev offered to talk with office-bearers of these bodies to see if an unified body could be constituted to run cricket in the Union Territory. |
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Kapil plays cricket
with customers Chandigarh, June 17 Later, Kapil visited the Kinetic dealerships and interacted with customers. Speaking on the occasion at CMPL, Sector 35, Mr Punit Chaudhary, General Manager (sales and marketing), said, “The company has introduced this four-stroke 100 cc bike at a price of Rs 29,999. Its features include double-cradle chassis, engine guard, mileage of up to 89 kmpl under test conditions and a warranty of two years.” Mr Navneet Mehra, Regional Manager, said, “Kinetic Boss has been designed with a view to satisfy the needs of long-distance commuters. He said the bike had been declared as the best “value for money” motor cycle in the country by Motor India. It has been made in technical collaboration with Hyosung Motors of Korea for the GF series and Aquila. |
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Eight qualify
for main draw Chandigarh, June 17 Foreign coaches The Baseball Association, Chandigarh, has invited two coaches from the USA to impart coaching to nearly 60 players who will attend the 11-day camp beginning tomorrow at Panjab University grounds.
Cricket matches Tait Club, JIT XI and YMCC XI won their respective matches in the day-night Jai Mata Di Trust cricket tournament being played at the Sector 46 grounds. This was stated by Mr Arun Rishi, president of the Trust. |
IGP’s directive to DSPs, SHOs Chandigarh, June 17 Directing the beat staff to make door-to-door visits at the residences of representatives of residents welfare associations, the IGP instructed the Superintendent of Police (Traffic) to study traffic-related problems of the residents and find solutions. The issues were discussed at a meeting between police officials and residents welfare associations. The residents objected to the functioning of guest houses in residential areas. A police official said the representatives of residents welfare associations in areas where the neighbourhood watch scheme had been adopted, attended the meeting. The scheme was operational in Sectors 8, 18, 19, 15, 37, 38 West, 42, 46, 55 and 61. During the meeting, the representatives suggested that roundabouts, zebra crossings and rumble strips be constructed. The IGP assured the residents that police officers would take up their grievances with the department concerned. |
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SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL Chandigarh, June 17 The committee was set up last week by the Mayor, Mr Subhash Chawla, to evaluate proposals put forward by three companies for setting up a plant either to generate electricity from garbage or turn it into bio-fertiliser. In its maiden meeting, the committee decided to invite a foreign company, Terrasafe Limited, to again give a demonstration of its power generation technology, along with the financial proposal, next month. The committee, comprising the Additional Commissioner, Mr Sunil Bhatia, the Chief Engineer, Mr V. K. Bharadwaj, and the Medical Officer (Health), Dr. G.C. Bansal, councillors, Mr Balraj Singh, Mr Pardeep Chhabra, Ms Harjinder Kaur, Mr Jatinder Bhatia and Mr P.C. Sanghi, has roped in the Regional Director of the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Resources, Mr S.S. Bedi, and the Punjab Energy Development Authority representative, N.P. Singh. |
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Centre ‘considering’
proposal to amend MC Act Chandigarh, June 17 This was conveyed to the local Congress MP, Mr Pawan Bansal, by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr Harin Pathak. “The proposal to amend the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 (extended to Chandigarh), in order to provide for conferring deemed deputation status to employees transferred to the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, is under the active consideration of the Central Government,” Mr Bansal said in a press note here yesterday, quoting Mr Pathak. The communication has come in response to Mr Bansal raising the issue in Parliament on April 21.
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