The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

3 main hospitals to be digitally linked
Neelam Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Utilising information technology for sharing the expertise of the medicinal institutes, the three major hospitals in northern India : the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMER) Chandigarh, the Sanjay Gandhi PGI, Lucknow and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, will soon be digitally linked for sharing information and technical expertise.

Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the inaugural day of the conference of the northwest chapter of the Indian Association of pathologists and microbiologists today, the nodal officer of the telemedicine at SGPGI, Lucknow, Prof S. K. Mishra, said that the initial testing and pilot projects to judge the efficacy of the programme had been successfully completed recently and the teleconferencing programme was expected to formally begin by the end of this year.

Under this project, which was initiated by the Department of Information Technology, the three leading institutes in the government set-up will be linked through the satellite and the knowledge and advancements made by them will be shared.

The concept of teleconferencing too would be a part of the programme, where the faculty of the institutes can communicate to share their experiences.

“Our aim under the project is to share the teaching expertise in three hospitals. We are presently trying to link the indoor Clinico Pathological Conferences (CPC) that are held at the PGI every Wednesday, for use of the two other Institutes.

The CPC programmes of the PGI are famous in the entire country as the cases are discussed at length by the faculty members of different departments, including the retired professors of the Institute.

This is one forum, from where the knowledge can be shared by the other institutes and we can aim at mutual benefits,'' said Prof Mishra.

To give a practical shape to the project, for which Rs 7 crore have been allocated by the government, an indigenous software for the transfer of the information in the digital format ( including the X Ray reports and other data ) among the three institutes has been developed by the Centre for Development Advanced Computing (C-DAC) at Mohali and Pune. The test runs of the software, too, have been completed successfully.

Is hospital biomedical waste plant going waste?
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Inmates of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and surrounding areas, more often than not, are forced to inhale suffocating air. Choking their breathing are acrid fumes and pungent odour that the smoke-belching hospital chimney spews out under the cover of darkness and away from the preying eyes of the media.

This was making staying and studying difficult, said a group of hostel students living in the vicinity of the hospital. In fact, some of them had even lodged a

complaint with the hospital authorities concerned. Yet no effective steps were taken. Should this be happening when the hospital is said to have its own biomedical waste management plant and incinerator and shredder? It was a relevant question students had asked. Perhaps, the plant and equipment were either lying idle or were ill-equipped to take proper care of biomedical waste.

Several people, including attendants of in-door patients, visitors and those living close to the hospital had either called up The Tribune or come over to talk of this menace, playing havoc with their health.

It was surprising that such carelessness was being observed, when dealing with germ-infested and infected cotton, bandages etc., despite the machinery having been installed for scientific and safe disposal of the hospital waste.

There is the Biomedical Waste Management Act, 1998, which mandates the hospitals to handle their wastes in an environment-friendly and scientific manner. It was, thus, strange that even in Chandigarh, guidelines under the biomedical waste management were dumped and burried under heaps of hazardous waste material.

The Government Medical College and Hospital may not be the lone culprit. Going by official information, it is learnt that by June-end over a score of government institutions and private clinics in the Union Territory were ticked as ''defaulters'' of the Act. It s also in the knowledge of the Chandigarh authorities how rag-pickers collected disposable items from the hospital waste-- gloves, syringes, glucose bottles etc--which frequently find their way out of the premises of key government medical institutions, causing further health hazard.

The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee had reportedly served over 70 notices to various clinics, labs and hospitals etc. in January last for violating the waste management guidelines. Yet, it is not known what follow-up action, if any, was taken. In fact the committee, in collaboration with the Central Pollution Control Board, had got a study done in the late 90s to assess the quantum of biomedical waste in key medical and health-delivery institutions in Chandigarh. It had concluded that over 8,000 kg of this waste would be generated per day by the end of 2000.

This calculation is already obsolete, say sources. As per that study, the Government College and Hospital should be generating over 1,750 kg waste per day. The way it was being disposed of, as indicated by the complaints, unless checked effectively, pollution caused by the smoke and fumes from the hospital chimney would do more harm to patients and people than, perhaps the relief and cure it was otherwise supposed to provide. In the hospital, no one was willing to talk how the waste was disposed of or why. Yet, faulty disposal, as a routine, was admitted.

Experts discuss ways of giving anaesthesia
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
The one-day workshop on the “Techniques of difficult airways” was organised by the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists, Chandigarh branch, and the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, PGI, here today.

The experts participating in the workshop from all over the region discussed the newer and better way of giving anaesthesia to the patients with deformities. It was highlighted that during the general anaesthesia, a tube is introduced in the patient’s windpipe to assist his breathing, but it may become difficult for patients with deformities of the face, mouth or neck, tumours or injuries on the face. It was also highlighted that sometimes the abnormality causing the difficulty may not be apparent beforehand but may cause extreme difficulty to the patient, giving rise to an emergency situation.

The expert faculty explained how the advanced techniques of fiberoptic intubation, retormolar and retrograde intubation are made available to manage those patients who have difficulty in general anaesthesia.

In rare situations, where it is impossible to negotiate a tube into the wind pipe from the mouth to allow respiration, the technique of cricothyrotomy was also discussed. The participants from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula and Punjab participated in the one-day workshop.

Medical camps held
Our Correspondent

Mohali, October 2
Free medical camps were organised in the town here today. One camp was organised by the J&K Bank in collaboration with the Social Welfare Association in Phase II here. The camp was inaugurated by Mr K.N. Dhar, AGM of J&K Bank. A team of seven doctors examined 475 patients.

Mr Raman Kaushal, Manager of the branch, said though patients came from other areas of the town as well, most of them were from the nearby jhuggi colony.

A large number of patients suffering from gynological problems, throat and chest infections turned up at the camp.

Free medicines were also distributed on the occasion.

Another free medical camp was organised at Genius Public School on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti in Sector 69 here.

The camp organised by the Genius Education Society, was inaugurated by Dr S.P.S. Sohal, Deputy Director, Health Services, Punjab.

Nearly 187 people were examined by a panel of doctors.

Mini marathon to celebrate Air Force anniversary
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
As part of the celebrations of the forthcoming Air Force anniversary, a mini marathon was organised by No.3 Base Repair Depot here today, in which a large number of participants including airmen, civilian staff ladies and children took part.

The race, divided into four categories, was flagged of from the AFWWA’s Kamdhenu Shopping Complex in Sector 31 and culminated at the same point. In the group for personnel below 35 years, the first three winners respectively were Cpl Major Singh, Swaran Singh and Cpl Kuldeep Singh. JWO Baldev Singh, WO J. Singh and Sgt A.K. Singh were the winners in the above 35 years category.

Winners among children above 10 years included Vikas Singh, Manjot Singh and Romit Singh, while in the category of women, the winners were Vimla, Preeti and Sandhya Sharma.

HCBA-XI thrash Press Club-XI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Powered by a scintillating 71 by Puneet Bali Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association –XI (HCBA-XI) defeated the CPC-XI by 120 runs here today. Electing to bat first, the HCBA –XI got off to a brisk start, with the openers making 40 in just four overs at DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8. Almost all the bowlers employed by CPC-XI captain Ajay Bhardwaj were ineffective against the strong batting line-up of HCBA –XI. The number of dropped catches did not help the cause of CPC-XI.

The HCBA-XI piled up 200 runs in the allotted 20 overs with the loss of just four wickets. The other main scorers for HCBA-XI were Rajiv Trikha, who scored a brisk half century, P.S. Hundal (14) and SS Sidhu (22).

The CPC-XI started its innings on a poor note, losing three wickets in quick succession in the first four overs. With the run rate climbing steeply and falling wickets at regular intervals, the entire innings folded up for just 80 runs.

For the HCBA-XI, fast bowler Hemant Bassi was the wrecker-in-chief. He took four wickets, while captain Y.P.S. Mann scalped two.

The match was opened by Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Mr Justice VK Bali, while tow other Judges, Mr Justice Swatanter Kumar and Mr Justice Hemant Gupta were present at the end of the match. HCBA President Anmol Rattan Sidhu, Secretary Munish Jolly and other members of the Executive were also present.

Rajan Mahindra wins TT titles
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
Rajan Mahindra of DAV Public School, clinched the sub-junior and junior boys titles in the NPS Table Tennis Academy’s third Chandigarh State (2nd Ranking) Table Tennis Tournament. In the sub-junior final he ousted his school-mate Chetan Singla 4-1 while in the junior boys final he defeated Raghav Sharma of St Kabir by the same margin.

Barbei Nagpal and Nadia Saini, also of DAV Public School, Sector 8, won the sub-junior girls and junior girls titles.

In the final, Barbei Nagpal thrased Kalyani of Tender Heart, School, Sector 33, whereas Nadia Saini thrased Sunandha Mahindra, also of DAV Public School, to bag the titles.

The results: Boys singles: semifinals: Rajan Mahindra (DAVPS-8), Sumit Choudhary (AKSIPS-41) 6-11, 11-6, 11-9, 14-12; Chetan Singla (DAVPS-8) b Sameer Singla (MM-21) 11-9, 11-9, 11-8.

Final: Rajan Mahindra (DAVPS-8) b Chetan Singla (DAVPS-8) 5-11, 12-14, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6.

Sub-junior girls singles semifinals: Kalyani (TH-33) b Aishwarya (DAVPS-8) 11-9, 11-9, 11-7; Barbei Nagpal (DAVPS-8) b Meghna (DAVPS-8) 11-6, 11-9, 11-2.

Final: Barbei Nagpal (DAVPS-8) b Kalyani (TH-33) 11-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9.

Junior boys singles semifinals: Raghav Sharma (St Kabir-26) b Sumit Kumar (MM-21), Rajan Mahindra (DAVPS-8) b Himanshu Sharma (AKSIPS-41).

Final: Rajan Mahindra (DAVPS-8) b Raghav Sharma (St Kabir-26) 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10, 12-10.

Junior girls singles semifinals: Sunandha Mahindra (DAVPS-8) b Guneet Kaur 11-7, 11-5, 11-8; Nadia Saini (DAVPS-8) b Sadhika Kaushal (GM-35) 11-3, 11-8, 11-6.

Final: Nadia Saini (DAVPS-8) b Sunandha Mahindra (DAVPS-8) 11-2, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9.

Body building meet

The Chandigarh Amateur Body Building Association will organise the fifth Mr Inter Club Body Building Championship on October 10 at Maloya Sports Centre, Maloya. Weighing-in will be held at ABBA office, Sector 17-A, Chandigarh, on October 9 at 4 p.m.

The trials to select the Chandigarh team for the junior, senior, handicapped and master sections for the Mr North India Body Building Championship to be held at Sikar, Rajasthan, on October 16 and 17 will be held at Amateur Body Building Association office on October 9 at 4 p.m.

Volleyball tourney at Shivalik School from today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2
The CBSE Cluster XIII Volleyball Tournament will be organised at Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh, from tomorrow to October 4. This tournament is being organised by Shivalik Public School for the first time. Fifteen teams in the boys section and five teams in the girls section, from various parts of northern region, have already confirmed their participation in the tournament.

All matches will be played on the knockout basis as per the VFI rules.

Last year’s winners Shivalik Public School and the runners-up S.D. Public School, Sector 32, are again the main contenders to win this tournament, according to Mohan Nargata, volleyball coach of the SAI .

Outstation teams will stay at S.P.S, Mohali. Their boarding and lodging facilities will be provided by the school.

Matches will be played in the newly-constructed volleyball stadium. Facilities like refreshments and transportation will be provided to the players and officials taking part in the tournament, according to Mr D.S. Bedi, Director-cum-Principal of the school.

Cricket tournament

The UT will organise cricket tournament for the under-13 age group. The tournament will commence tomorrow at St. Kabir High School, Sector 26.

In all 16 teams will participate in the tournament. It will be played on the knockout basis. The final match will be played on October 10.