Aging patients need expert care
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 4
Mr Khem Raj, an octogenarian, has been suffering from multiple diseases and disabilities like blood pressure, hypertension, depression and physical decline. The family members have consulted various specialists in the city but to no avail. Medical experts have said since the patient is in his old age, he can not be treated with interventions or drugs and every intervention carries additional risks that must be weighed against potential benefits and that he should be looked after by a good geriatrician.

The case of Khem Raj is not an isolated one. According to city doctors, approximately 80 per cent of people over the age of 65 years have at least one chronic health problem and about 69 per cent suffer from more than one chronic problems. But, unfortunately, the city, with premier medical institutes, does not have a single geriatrician (a physician basically trained in diseases of old age) to look after senior citizens.

Dr Sandeep Puri, Medical Superintendent, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, said the hospital did not have any geriatrician. "It is a field of research investigating the biological, psychological and sociological aspects of aging. We do not have the speciality right now at the hospital. Last year, in collaboration with AIIMS, Delhi, we had conducted a two-day workshop on the subject at the hospital, which was well attended by doctors from all over the state. Gerontology is a developing speciality and good resources are needed to introduce it in the hospital. But at present, the Department of Medicine is looking after the problems of aging patients", Dr Puri said.

The Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) does not have the speciality right now but the authorities are planning to start it within next six months. Dr John Abraham, Medical Superintendent, CMCH, said, "At present, the Medicine Department of the hospital takes care of the elderly. But we realise that there is a need to provide exclusive care to the aging people. We are going to introduce this speciality very soon and it would benefit the elder by patients".

City doctors maintained that old people suffered from various ailments including falls, urinary incontinence, confusion, depression and physical decline. They also suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, prostate enlargement, osteoporosis and hypertension. One of the physicians said,"A geriatrician takes special training to handle multiple interacting conditions, drugs, social situations and psychological problems.

We just listen to them and try to relieve them with medicines but that is not sufficient. The elderly ailing patients need best homecare, rehabilitation, psychological support, etc and only a geriatrician can guide them better".

On drip with none to attend on him
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 4
The apathy of the local Civil Hospital staff towards patients came to the fore here today when a person suffering from gastroenteritis on a drip was seen lying unattended for over an hour in the main corridor and then near the stairs of the hospital with a relative standing close by with a glucose bottle in hand.

No employee, be it a doctor or paramedical staff, spotted the patient in distress and provide him medical attention. To add insult to injury, the patient was made to move from one unit in the hospital to the other for help.

The city has been witnessing a large number of gastro cases these days and hospitals are said to be on high alert in handling such patients.

It was only on the intervention of mediapersons that the patient, Balinder Kumar, a migrant labourer, got medical attention. When he was spotted by mediapersons, his left hand with the drip bleeding. In acute pain, he grabbed at the feet of scribes asking them to save him.

Speaking with difficulty, he said he had gone to the Emergency on the ground floor of a separate building, but was told to go to the second floor of the new building. There, he was told to go the Emergency ward. All this while, not a single employee of the hospital staff came to his rescue.

When the matter was brought to the notice of Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Manjit Kaur, she accompanied the mediapersons to the patient on the second floor. She directed a nurse to immediately attend to him.

Later, she called up the employees whom the patient had approached and issued them a warning.

Dr Manjit Kaur said the hospital had acute shortage of beds. While there were 60 beds, the number of patients was over 110.

She said she would identify the employees responsible for the “careless” attitude towards the patient and take action.

In the late afternoon, Dr Gurcharan Singh of Emergency unit, called up this correspondent, claiming that the relative accompanying the man had disappeared and asked who would take responsibility for the patient.

Easy win for Sanatan school lads
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 4
Fine batting performance by Atul Kohli (39) and equally good bowling display by Sushyant (3 for 7) and Nakul (3 for 3) enabled Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School to register an easy 87-run victory against Shefali Public School in the first match of the PAU Gill Zone (I) Inter-School Cricket Tournament (u-16) being held at the SDP College for Women ground here today.

Sanatan Vidya Mandir School skipper, Nakul, won the toss and decided to bat first.

They score 131 for the loss of four wickets in 16 overs. Atul Kohli hammered 39 runs off 23 deliveries. Other notable scorers were Chirag (11), Nakul (31 n.o) and Ankur (22 n.o). In reply, Shefali Public School could muster only 44 runs.

Brief scores: Sanatan Vidya Mandir School — 131 for 4 (Chirag 11, Atul Kohli 39, Yogesh 5, Sushayant 6, Nakul 31 n.o and Ankur 22 n.o; Hemant 2 for 17); Shefali Public School — 44 all out in 10 overs (Rmakant 10, Yogesh 1 for 13, Sushyant 3 for 7 and Nakul 3 for 3).

In the second match, Government High School, Ludhiana, defeated Nauriamal Jain School, Ferozepore road, by five wickets.

Batting first, Nauriamal Jain School scored 67 all out in 15 overs and Government High School made the required runs in 14.1 overs after losing five wickets.

Brief scores: Nauriamal Jain School — 67 all out ( Ravinder 19, Sushyant Sharma 4 for 5 and Arvind 2 for 11); Government High School — 68 for 5 ( Rahul 25; Jatinder 2 for 17, Ravinder 2 for 9 and Jaswinder 1 for 10).

School cricket

RS Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, and BCM Arya Model School, Model Town, won their matches against Baba Mukund Singh Public School, Daba Road, and Guru Nanak International School, Model Town, respectively, on the opening day of the Inter-school (Gill Zone) Cricket Tournament at the Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, here today.

In the first match, RS Model Senior Secondary School won the toss and elected to field.

They restricted Baba Mukund Singh Public School to a paltry 76 runs in 15 overs. RS Model School got to the target in just 9.5 overs after losing just two wickets.

Brief scores: Baba Mukan Singh Public School — 76 all out (Karandeep 17, Sandeep 16, Ravinder 11, Vijay 8; Mohit 3 for 17, Vipan 3 for 16 and Lok Raj 2 for 7); RS Model Senior Secondary School — 79 for 2 (Lok Raj 28, Mohinder 14; Pankaj 1 for 11 and Vijay 1 for 22).

In the second match, batting first, BCM School were all out for 115 in 20 overs. Guru Nanak International School, in reply, could make only 84 runs in 18.3 overs.

Brief scores: BCM Arya Senior Secondary School — 115 all out (Bhuvnesh 21, Sahil 17, Gaurav 11; Sukhdev 2 for 18, Loveen 2 for 22); Guru Nanak International School — 84 all out (Lakhvinder 11, Gagan 10, Jaspreet 11; Gaurav 3 for 20 and Munish 3 for 19).

Applications invited for National Youth Awards
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 4
The district administration has invited applications from youths between 15 to 35 years who have rendered commendable services in different fields, for recommending those eligible for the National Youth Awards.

Deputy Commissioner Anurag Verma today informed that the awards were to be given by the Centre to those youths, who excelled in different areas, including promoting of national integration, rural development, adventure and cultural activities, education or any other activity.

Each district has to recommend two names. The government, also gives awards to voluntary organisations who have made exemplary contribution in these fields.

The total number of awards will not exceed 25, which comprise a medal, a scroll and Rs 20,000 in cash, in case of individuals and a trophy, a scroll and Rs 1,00,000, in case of voluntary youth organisations.

Employees of the state and the Union Government are not eligible for the awards.

The aspiring voluntary organisations should be registered under the Registration Act 1860 (Act XXII of 1860), for the last three years or any corresponding state Act and should have a constitution or articles of association, and a properly constituted managing body and should not be guided by profit motive.

Mr Verma said the selection at the district level would be made by the District Level Selection Committee for the selection of youth for Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh State Youth Award.

The application forms can be obtained from the office of the Deputy Commissioner and the District Public Relations Officer, here, and the applications must be submitted by August 10.