HEALTH

Dengue claims a life
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 29
Dengue claimed one life as 16 new patients were admitted to the local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) during the past 48 hours. The authorities at Christian Medical College and Hospital confirmed that a suspected patient of dengue, who was undergoing treatment, at the college had died on Sunday. The person was a resident of the Kartar Nagar locality in the city.

The health officials said they had received a report about the death of a suspected patient of dengue but added that till some more investigations were conducted into the cause of the death, it was difficult to say anything definitely.

Meanwhile, Batala town in Gurdaspur district still remained in the grip of dengue and out of the new cases admitted to the DMCH here, eight were referred from this town. Six patients were from this city, while one each was admitted from Amritsar and Patiala.

According to doctors at the DMCH, the total number of dengue patients so far admitted in the hospital had reached 112, out of which 63 were still being treated. The number of confirmed cases of dengue remained 29. As many as 68 dengue patients were admitted to the hospital from Batala town alone and 30 others from the city.

Gastro cases on the wane
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 29
Gastroenteritis, which broke out in Giaspura and surrounding areas on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday, continued to afflict more residents though the number of patients in the out patient department (OPD) of the camp hospital at Giaspura was fast declining.

While the doctors provided medical assistance to more than 280 patients on Sunday, the number had dwindled to around 70 in the past 24 hours. Two patients with serious dehydration were referred to the local Civil Hospital today which was in sharp contrast with 20 patients having been shifted to the hospital yesterday.

According to the SMO of the Civil Hospital, Sahnewal, Dr S.S. Dhir, who was supervising the camp hospital, the patients suffering from gastroenteritis were, in fact, far too less since those down with fever or other ailments were also visiting the OPD at the hospital for treatment. However, so as not to leave anything to chance, teams of doctors, health workers and civic staff had visited more than 700 houses in the past 24 hours to educate the people with preventive measures against gastroenteritis. During door to door visits, around 2,000 chlorine tablets and 210 packets of ORS were distributed.

He said there were reports that in some parts of the locality residents were consuming water drawn from hand pumps, which might be contaminated and a potential source of infection. The health workers, moving in the area, had also noticed that chlorine tablets were not being properly used to purify water.

Dr Dhir further said the public address systems of temples and gurdwaras were being put to use to educate the residents on proper chlorination of water and to warn them against using water drawn from hand pumps. The administration was also pressing into service cycle rickshaws and three wheelers, fitted with public address systems, to further strengthen the education drive and to propagate preventive steps against gastroenteritis in the affected areas.

Seminar on parents’ orientation 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 29
Mother’s Touch Kindergarten organised a seminar on Parent’s Orientation here today. Dr M.S. Chawla, child specialist, was the eminent guest on the occasion. He said vaccination of children against various diseases was a must as they tend to catch infections easily.

He also spoke on children’s food habits and various deficiencies that could prove hazardous for their health. Ms Harinder Chadha, educationist in Sacred Heart Convent School, along with Ms Manjeet Sodhia, ex-Principal of the GCW, also shared valuable information with parents. 

ADMINISTRATION

Admn ban on harvesting at night
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 29
The District Administration has banned the harvesting of wheat crop by combines at night. According to an order from the DC’s office, it has been noticed that during night-time operations, unripe and green crop is often harvested, which not only results in losses to the farmers but also to the nation indirectly. Such produce was not procured by the procurement agencies resulting in a glut, which in turn caused undue harassment to the farmers.

The orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been issued banning night-time operations between 7 pm and 8 pm. The respective officers at the block and sub-division level, besides the panchayat officers, have been directed to implement the orders. Orders to this effect have also been issued to police officers concerned for strict compliance.

Similarly, an appeal has been made to owners of harvesters to desist from carrying out such operations during night time to avoid any action against them.

Refusal on their part to harvest the crop will also discourage the farmers, who will have to wait till the crop is ripe.