HEALTH

Docs unaware of AIDS precautions
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20
Are doctors, who are vulnerable to occupationally acquired AIDS and hepatitis infection, enlightened enough to treat patients who have acquired the killer disease, when they themselves do not know the precautions and treatment in case of accidental prick from an infected person ?

A study conducted by the Paediatric Surgery Department at the PGI, in which more than 150 doctors and 60 nurses were interviewed, indicated that almost 70 per cent were not aware of the universal precautions that one needs to take. This, despite the fact that National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) has regularly been holding training for nurses through the nursing college at the PGI, to generate awareness among the nurses about AIDS.

“With India making an entry into the high prevalence zone in case of HIV, the current breach of safe practices has put everyone at a higher risk of occupational HIV infection,” remarked Dr K.L. Narsimhan, Associate Professor, Paediatric Surgery Department, PGI. He felt that there was an urgent need to train not just doctors and nurses but also healthcare professionals about the safeguards and treatment in case of accidental acquiring of the infection. The study has been conducted by Dr Narsimhan and Ms Nancy, a research scholar.

The study revealed that some of the doctors were so ignorant that they did not know what drugs to take after accidental pricking to reduce the chances of infection. Doctors felt that there was an urgent need to have an occupational health department, where all such cases can be documented.

The study assumes significance in the light of disclosure that some healthcare professionals in the region have acquired the infection through needle prick while treating HIV patients.

INSCOL Hospital offer concession to heart patient
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 20
In order to make heart-related treatment more affordable INSCOL Hospital will be offering angiography and angioplasty facility at concessional rates in October.

During the workshop, angiography, which normally costs Rs 10,000 would be done at Rs 5,000, while angioplasty, normally costing Rs 75,000, would cost Rs 50,000. The workshop will continue for the entire month of October

Dr Gujral, said registration service was available at various places in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The helpline numbers for registration were 9814212255, 9814015322, 9815130111 and 9814615322 and can be done after paying Rs 2,000.

Eye check-up camp today

Chandigarh, September 20
The Sohana Hospital Trust will organise a free eye check-up camp at Sohana Eye Hospital tomorrow between 9 am and 2 pm. Specialist doctors will be available for free consultation in the field of retina, glaucoma, cornea, uveitis etc. A special discount will be offered on all surgeries and procedures. During the camp there will be a special eye donation campaign to eradicate reversible corneal blindness. The trust has a registered eye bank, which has already provided cornea to more than 300 patients at far off places. TNS

SPORTS

Swimming meet inaugurated
Our Sports Reporter

Girls: 100-metre freestyle: Amarjeet Sandhu; 50-metre: Anchal Bajwa; 50-metre breast stroke: Vrinda; 50-metre butterfly: Amanjyot Kaur.

City cyclists bag medals

Rohan Kakkar in under 14 time trial and Gaurav Sagar in under 16 time trial, both from Chandigarh, had won gold medals in the Fourth National Mountain Bike championship that concluded on September 17 at Anandur Sahib. Rohan also bagged silver medal in under 16 section.

Rahul Anand was another promising cyclist from the city who a silver medal in under 14 time trial and bronze medal in massed start. Ajay Trehan won silver medal in men time trial event.

Cricketers honoured

The victorious under-19 UT schools cricket team which brought laurels to the city by winning the prestigious CK Nayadu National Cricket Tournament was honoured last evening at a function held in the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. Mr I.S. Sandhu, Director Sports, UT and Mr D.S. Mangat, DPI Schools, UT, gave away mementoes to the cricketers.

Earlier, Mr Ravinder Talwar, Principal, welcomed the guests and lauded the help and assistance of the UT Administration in moulding the players.

Mr Sandhu said in his brief speech that it was a big achievement for Chandigarh to win the National Schools under-19 cricket meet held in Srinagar. Mr Mangat praised the players like Gurkirat Singh who scored 105 runs, Gaurav Chopra (who scored 97 runs and claimed five wickets) and Gaurav Gambhir, Bharat Sharma, Naresh Gogyan, Sumit Kamboj and Karan Kherwal.

ADMINISTRATION

HUDA to fence reclaimed land
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 20
The Enforcement Wing and the Engineering Wing of the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will now coordinate on a regular basis for removing encroachments in the town.

According to a policy decision taken by the two wings, the Enforcement Wing will have to give prior intimation to the engineering staff before it launches an anti-encroachment drive in the city. The latter will then be able to arrange for its notified agencies to be present on the day of the anti-encroachment drive and fence the reclaimed area.

It is learnt that the Estate Officer, HUDA, Mr Ashwani Kumar Sharma, had shot off letters to executive engineers of all three divisions of HUDA, asking them to take over the land for developing it, as soon as it is cleared by the enforcement staff. The letter further asked the engineering staff to save the reclaimed land from encroachers by keeping watchmen and fencing the land once it was cleared, so that encroachments do not resurface. The Engineering Wing has also been asked to do a day- to- day monitoring of the cleared sites.

The move comes following the resurfacing of encroachments at various places in the township, hours after these have been cleared by the enforcement staff. At several places, the enforcement staff has had to undertake anti- encroachment exercises three to four times on the same site.

It is learnt that the enforcement staff led by the Estate Officer, has cleared the three kilometer tract (about 4 acres area) from Majri Chowk to Sector 3, thrice during the past over one month. However, hours later the jhuggi dwellers would again set up their hutments in the area have not been cleared.

Similarly, on the road dividing Sector 15 and Industrial Area Phase I, the Enforcement Wing has removed illegal hutments in Sector 15 twice, but these have resurfaced. Same is the case of Sector 14, in front of the HSIDC group housing society, where the jhuggis have not been cleared in spite of two anti- encroachment drives.

The Superintendent Engineer, HUDA, Mr S. C. Malik, informed that they had fixed agencies in all three divisions of HUDA, who will now be contacted before the demolition drive and will immediately fence the area after it has been cleared of encroachments.

PUDA removes encroachments
Our Correspondent

SAS Nagar, September 20
The enforcement wing of PUDA removed encroachments from Sector 68 here today.

According to PUDA officials, encroachers had asked one week’s time to vacate the area but the encroachments had not been removed even after one month.

The land had been acquired by PUDA and affected persons had been given due compensation for that.