HEALTH

New clinic to help region’s snorers
Our Correspondent

Mohali, June 8
The incidence of snoring is very high in the region because of widespread obesity. Snoring is mainly associated with sleep disorders where patients usually have a number of involuntary breathing pauses at night during sleep. The result is that oxygen in the body falls to dangerous levels putting heart into overload which can later lead to heart diseases.

Expressing these views at a press conference on the launching of the Snoring and Sleep Disorders Clinic at Silver Oaks Hospital here today, Dr Raman Abrol claimed that the clinic was the first of its kind in the region. He said it would help patients suffering from sleep apnoea syndrome. This was a serious, potentially life-threatening condition, that was far more common than generally understood. It was a breathing disorder characterised by loud snoring, along with brief interruptions in breathing during sleep.

He said snoring was not as simple as it appeared to be and people in most cases were not aware about the disease that caused snoring. An important test known as sleep study test was conducted with the help of a mechine. During this test, electrodes were put on the body of a patient and eight hours of sleep were recorded to analyse the gravity of the problem.

The simple snorers could be offered small surgical procedure which was done with a special machine called coblation surgery unit. This machine worked as a laser to stiffen the palate of the patients which helped to cure snoring. Patients suffering from severe disorders were offered CPAP unit. Under this process a kind of breathing machine threw breath under pressure in the patient’s nostril when he or she wore it.

Preparations to tackle diseases reviewed
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 8
The Deputy Commissioner, Ms Neelam Pardeep Kasni, reviewed the arrangements of dealing with cholera and other diseases at a meeting with the Civil Surgeon, Dr Satvir Chaudhary, here today.

She said no case of cholera or gastroentiritis had been found in the district, barring a few cases of diarrhoea. She directed the Civil Surgeon and the district health authorities to be vigilant and increase the surveillance since water-borne diseases usually surfaced this season.

She advised people to consume clean and safe water and not to consume cut fruits, overripe fruits and cold stale eatables. A notification had been issued by District Magistrate last month, banning the sale of cut fruits, substandard kulfi and milk products and substandard soft drinks.

The Civil Surgeon said in May, 53 water samples was taken for checking. This month, 40 samples had been taken in the first eight days.

Pondicherry minister visits PGI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8
Health Minister of Pondichery R. Varsaraj, accompanied by Director of Health and Family Welfare, Pondicherry, G. Subramanium Reddy, visited the PGI today. They visited various departments of the institute. They were greeted by the Director of the PGI, Prof K.K. Talwar, who explained the visting members about the developments in the institute since its inception in 1962. Heads of various PGI departments shared their views on starting a Postgraduate Medical Institute at Pondicherry. The aspects of recruitment of faculty members, other staff and organisational and administrative matters were also discussed.

Two doctors honoured
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 8
Prof Raj Bhadur of the Department of Orthopaedics at the GMCH, Sector 32, and the Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the PGI, Dr Sumesh Gupta, have been honoured with “orthopaedics excellence award” and ‘dermatology excellence’ respectively, for their contribution in their respective fields.

The national level awards, which consist of a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 21,000, have been instituted this year only. The jury for deciding the awardees was headed by eminent personalities in the medical field.

3 city eves in Indian baseball team
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 8
Three city eves Manpreet Kaur, Ekta Khullar and Richa Sehgal have found berth in the Indian women baseball team for the Women’s World Baseball series to be held from July 18 to 22 in Japan. As per the communication received from the Amateur Baseball Federation of India by the Baseball Association, Chandigarh, a coaching camp for the selected eves will be held at the Panjab University grounds from June 15 to 30. The players have been asked to report on June 14. The team will leave for Japan on July 16.

Kids get tips on taekwondo
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 8
Youngsters of The Gurukul, Sector 20, Panchkula today had a date with the international master instructor Vishnu Kumar Sharma. He gave them tips on taekwondo.

The exercise was a part of the summer sports activity being undertaken by The Gurukul.He gave demonstrations of fighting, sparing, rolling jump kicks, triple kicks and back kicks. Sharma was all praise for the enthusiasm shown by the kids in learning the various techniques of the martial art.

ADMINISTRATION

ST quota issue to slow down inspectors’ promotions
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

The Chandigarh Administration has identified 238 vacancies at various levels for the reserved category. These will be filled up in the next three months. The Administration had ordered the collection of data on backlog and vacancies for reserved categories. The Department of Social Welfare had been following up the matter. The process had been delayed due to elections.

Chandigarh, June 8
Future promotions for Inspectors in the Chandigarh police will be slowed as the Chandigarh Administration has sought a clarification from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) if some kind of reservation in promotions for Scheduled Tribes has to be observed.

At present, Chandigarh has a reservation for Scheduled Castes, but not for Scheduled Tribes. At least three DSPs are scheduled to retire in the next 10 months creating vacancies for three Inspectors to be promoted. One post of DSP is presently lying vacant.

Till the matter is decided, no fresh promotion can take place. This will have a cyclical affect on the force as no Sub-Inspector can be promoted to Inspector till Inspectors are promoted.

The issue has been raised by Inspector B.S. Negi, who is from a Scheduled Tribe. He has petitioned to the Administration that some reservation for Scheduled Tribes should be followed, as is the case with Scheduled Castes.

So far, the Union Territory has no such policy and the matter has been referred to the MHA. Officials say the matter is under consideration while they refuse to comment on who is competent to decide on the issue.

Among those immediately in line for promotion are Mr Inderjit Singh, acting as DSP since January, Mr Arjun Jaggi, Mr Parmod Kumar, at present on a UN mission, Mr Shivraj Sidhu, Mr Sandal Singh, Mr J.S. Cheema and Mr Prem Malik.

In the general category Mr Negi is junior not only to these Inspectors, but a few more, like Mr Vijay Kumar and Mr Satbir Singh. If Mr Negi gets promotion on the basis of reservation, he will jump the queue. Officials say these are sensitive matters and the National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is also involved. A decision will be taken after a thorough study.

Inspectors awaiting promotions are of the opinion that the case must be decided soon as DSP is the highest post for them. The first vacancy among DSPs will arise when Mr S.C. Abrol retires in July. Mr Daya Nand retires in November while Mr Subhash Sagar retires in March next.