HEALTH

Staff absent from govt dispensary
Tribune News Service

Kumbhra, July 11
This could well be a scene from a comedy movie with some suspense thrown in. An absentee doctor, a hidden register, a sleepy peon and a set of nine missing patients...can aptly describe the state in which the Government Ayurvedic Dispensary here was found today.

Manned by two class four employees and a pharmacist, a surprise visit to the dispensary by the local MLA here today revealed that the doctor in charge was missing from duty almost everyday and out of the two interns who were supposed to be on training at the dispensary, one had not come for days and the other left immediately after marking her attendance each day.

The worst off was the doctor in charge, Mrs Ajai Bharti, who was caught on the wrong foot when the MLA on reaching the dispensary called at her house and found her there. She, however, changed her identity the moment she realised that her hospital was in the middle of a surprise check.

Rushing to the hospital, she initially claimed that she was at the General Hospital, Chandigarh, attending to a serious patient and had returned to the dispensary to lock it and close it for the day. But after two hours of thorough interrogation by the MLA and the district Ayurveda officers, she broke down to tell the truth that she had left for home at 11.30 am before closing time and was there all along.

Lobbying on in PGI for rotational headship
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 11
Virtual battlelines have been drawn over the contentious issue of having rotational headship at the PGI as hectic lobbying on the part of those heading various departments is on to scuttle any such move.

Apart from dinner diplomacy and hectic lobbying to prevent any such proposal from being adopted, some heads of departments met the PGI Director yesterday to convey their displeasure. Though the idea of having rotational headship had been floated on a number of occasions earlier, it was only after the Faculty Association sent a representation to the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, that the issue came into focus.

While the heads of departments who stand the risk of losing their posts to juniors if rotational headship is started have not written to the Health Minister, a signature campaign is reportedly being undertaken to scuttle any such move. “The impression being created that the entire Faculty Association was in favour of rotational headship is wrong as only a handful of the members are pursuing the issue for their vested interest,” alleged a head of department, with more than 20 years of service.

“Since controversy over the issue of headship and promotions has led to a lot of bickerings and politicking, with some doctors moving court, it is best to switch over to rotational headship so that everybody gets a chance to perform,” feel some doctors. In some departments, the “autocratic ways” of the heads virtually makes it impossible for the juniors to perform, leading to a lot frustration, they add.

Those opposing the idea of rotational headship feel that it was not possible to equate a medical institute like the PGI, with Panjab University, Benaras Hindu University or NIMHANS at Bangalore, where this system is prevalent as 24-hour patient care and duty rosters have to be prepared. “If those junior in seniority are having problem working under their heads, then a vice versa arrangement under rotational headship, will worsen the situation,” is how another head of department feels.

Another sore point between the heads of department and faculty members is the annual confidential report (ACR) issue. Resentment has been brewing over this issue as there are allegations that it is used as a weapon to settle scores with those juniors who have a difference of opinion with their boss.

“There is discrimination in not just allocation of work, patient care and research but even at the time of interviews for selections as it is the heads of departments who recommend the names of experts who are to be invited, leaving a lot of scope for manipulation,” says a senior doctor who resigned due to a difference of opinion with his head.

Rare surgery helps youth eat food after 16 years
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 11
How would it feel to taste food after a gap of 16 years? Ask 28-year-old Kulshaid, who had his first morsel of food today after a rare surgery of removing the bony fusion of his jaw and skull for creating a mouth opening.

The youth from Chabbelpur village in Yamunanagar had been on a liquid diet for all these years after an accident that led to the bony fusion of his temporal bone and mandibular jaw. “I finally feel alive,” is all that Kulshaid manages to say after surgery today.

It is learnt that Kulshaid, a daily-wage labourer, had an accident when he was eight years old. A fracture in his mandibular jaw, which could not be treated because of financial constraints, led to the fusion of his jaw bone with the skull. Over the years, this led to a rare problem called bilateral akylosis of tempro mandibular joint, which means that his mouth opening started reducing.

A few weeks back, he came to BRS City Centre Multi Speciality and Dental Hospital for treatment. Seeing the financial condition of the patient, the management of the BRS Institute of Medical Sciences decided to bear the cost of the operation. It was on July 9 that Dr S.P.S. Sodhi operated upon the patient and removed the fusion of the two bones.

Speaking to TNS, Dr Sodhi said that the surgery was a big challenge, especially because of a network of veins in the mouth area. The surgery, which lasted four hours, has created a wider opening of the mouth.

SPORTS

Tennis fraternity upbeat over Sania Mirza’s feat
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, July 11
Glorious feat achieved by Sania Mirza of Hyderabad, who bagged the prestigious Wimbledon junior girls doubles title last week, has given a boost to the women tennis in the country.

Sania, yet to turn 17 in November, has created a history in Indian women tennis by becoming the first girl to win any Grand Slam doubles title. Before this Rita Dabur lost in the singles final of a Grand Slam, in 1952.

In April 2001, when Sania visited Chandigarh to take part in the ITF Women Tennis Meet at the CLTA, Sector 10, she expressed her desire to win a Grand Slam title. Though that appeared more of dream for Sania at that time, but this niece of a former Test cricketer Ghulam Ahmed has proved herself to be a great force to reckon with.

Local tennis fraternity is jubilant on the stupendous victory of Sania. Neha Singh, a trainee at the Lake Club, who has played with Sania and has won various AITA tournaments, was thrilled in saying that Sania now occupies top slot in the women tennis world.

Neha praised the style of Sania and added that she was one girl who could reach the zenith of tennis world.

Isha Toor, another local player and winner of various AITA tournaments, said though she never got the chance of playing with Sania, but she saw her playing last year in Delhi. Her win at Wimbledon has given a big boost to Indian women tennis, adds Isha.

Sania, plays 90 per cent of her tournaments overseas and very few in India and as a result, got more exposure, said Isha.

Inayat Khosla, another promising tennis player of the city, said, she too saw Sania playing in the DSCL National Tennis Meet in Delhi last year. Inayat said at this age, Sania has shown the world that Indian tennis holds a bright future. On the strength part of Sania, Inayat said it was the fitness level and the more exposure to tournaments abroad. She said if Sania could perform this feat in doubles, then in the coming times, Sania would certainly win a Grand Slam in singles.

Mehak, another sub-junior tennis player of the city, echoed her views by saying, “yes, Sania, whom she saw playing two years back, has got the distinction of winning the girls doubles title. Mehak said she would like to meet and play with Sania whenever she would be in Chandigarh for the ITF meet.

Sadhika, Puneet win

Sadhika Kaushal in the girls section and Puneet Kumar in boys section emerged winner in the Cadet event of the Bhavan Hawk’s IXth Bhavan Vidyalaya First Ranking Table Tennis Tournament played here today at Sector 27. Sadhika, a student of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, got the better of Meghna of DAV Public School, Sector 8, in a five-game thriller with scores being 5-11,11-9,11-4, 111-3, 14-12.

In the boys final, Puneet of Delhi Public school, Sector 40, downed Chetan Singla of DAV Public School, Sector 8, at 11-7, 6-11,11-9,13-11.

Results: all semi-finals: girls — Sadhika Kaushal b Naina 11-7,11-8,12-10; Meghna b Kalyani 4-11,11-3,11-9,12-10; boys — Puneet Kumar b Himanshu Attri 11-9,11-9,11-9,11-9; Chetan Singla b Mohit Malik 11-4,11-7,11-9.

ADMINISTRATION

PCR division gets more manpower
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 11
Additional manpower has been provided to the Police Control Room (PCR) division of the UT police so that policemen are not burdened with work for more than eight hours a day.

This is one of the several steps taken by the UT police to improve and streamline the working of the PCR division. It has been claimed that the PCR division is a “modern, well-equipped” unit with the latest communication facilities and 65 vehicles, including 25 Gypsies.

According to a press note issued by the Police Department here today, the change of shift duty of the PCR vehicles will take place at their respective police stations. This has been done to ensure attendance of all police personnel, proper taking over of the vehicles and loading of arms and ammunition and wireless equipment. The patrolling pattern of the PCR vehicles has been integrated with that of the police station staff with common halt points at pre-fixed hours. In addition, the SHOs have been given operational freedom to change the deployment of the PCR vehicles during night hours.

All police personnel have been rotated among various units to ensure that no police personnel serves for more than three years in a particular unit at a stretch.

It has been claimed that PCR personnel are being briefed twice a day by an Inspector concerned and once in two days by a DSP concerned regarding alertness on duty. An additional Inspector has been provided to the PCR division so that there is “better” checking of PCR vehicles and maintenance of alertness. The UT Red Cross has provided first-aid boxes to the PCR vehicles.

As many as 65 police personnel posted with the PCR division have been awarded commendation certificates with cash rewards for doing “good” work in the past.