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Snakebite — shun traditional healers, rush to hospital
Tips on wound care
Chandigarh, July 19 Experts, handling snake-bite cases at the Government Medical College and Hospital-32, General Hospital-16 and the PGI, say they receive at least 10 such cases every month. Mostly, the victim is poor and has consulted a traditional healer before coming to the hospital. Several cases go unreported because most of the victims prefer traditional practitioners of witchcraft over proven therapy of anti- snake venom. It has been reported that in a majority of the developing countries, 80 per cent of victims consult traditional practitioners before going to a medical centre. Even in Chandigarh, the scenario is grim as Dr Sameer Agarwal, MD (Medicine), who has handled 50 cases of snakebite says, “In 1981, it was reported that 15,000 to 20,000 people in India die annually due to snakebite.The figures must have swollen. “Our clinical experience shows that in most of the cases, the victims have been bitten by poisonous snakes. Most of them come to us after losing precious time as they come from rural areas.” In 90 per cent of the cases which Dr Agarwal handled, victims had been bitten while walking barefoot in the farms and sleeping in the fields. He cautions (also see box for his tips), “ Victim may not have significant symptoms to begin with. But they may later develop breathing difficulty and go into shock. “As soon as the person is bitten, he should visit the hospital to get good woundcare. The victim must receive a tetanus booster if he hasn’t received one in the last five years.” Poor wound-management and loss of time in getting proper therapy are main causes of morbidity in India, which records over two lakh cases of snakebite annually. “Of these, 35,000 to 50,000 are reported to be fatal. Main types of snakes found in India are cobras, the common krait, Russell's viper and the saw-scaled viper,” Dr Agarwal said. His views are corroborated by a significant study recently conducted in this area by the Department of Internal Medicine, PGI. In the paper, featuring 142 cases of snakebite received at the PGI from 1997 to 2001, researchers showed that snakebite was still an important medical emergency in India. Despite the advances in medicine and the rational management of snakebite victims with anti-snake venom (ASV), a lot of trust was still being put in non-registered medical practitioners, they averred. They added that even where the ASV was available, lack of trained health staff resulted in irrational treatment, leading to wastage of time before appropriate treatment started. |
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Bungling in installation of CT scan alleged
Chandigarh, July 19 Addressing a press conference, Mr Surinder Pal Chauhan, joint organising secretary of the party, said the GMCH was one of the major projects of the Chandigarh Administration with a total outlay of nearly Rs 200 crore. He said the installation of a CT scan at the hospital by a private firm when they were being offered financial assistance to buy their own CT scan by the Central Government was beyond understanding. The GMCH had called a tender for the installation of a CT scan in 1999. Price bids were opened and M/s Siemens was the lowest. Despite that the hospital did not purchase the machine. He maintained that even when the World Bank offered assistance to strengthen diagnostic facility, they failed to avail themselves of the opportunity. He further alleged that tailor-made conditions to suit a particular firm were floated and the GMCH agreed to provide rent free space. Radiologists of the hospital would work on this machine which, he maintained, was against the civil service rules. He added that the financial burden on the government would be five times the total cost of the machine itself. “While the contract has been awarded for a term of eight years, the firm would only provide free of cost service to 10 per cent of the poor patients. We have prepared a memorandum, which will be submitted to the Governor of Punjab and the Administrator, UT, as also ministers at the Centre, including the Health Minister, and the local Member of parliament,” he stated. |
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Parliamentary
Secretary pays surprise visit to hospital
Panchkula, July 19 Besides inspecting almost every ward and Outdoor Patient Departments (OPDs), Dr Pandit also checked the slips issued to the patients by the doctors prescribing medicines from local medical stores. She also pulled up the doctors for prescribing medicines to poor patients from the local market instead of issuing free medicines from the hospital. During her 5-hour stay at the hospital, Dr Pandit also inspected the cleanliness of the hospital, especially the patient wards and the general wards. She also warned the doctors and paramedical staff against negligence in their work. After assuming office, this was Dr Pandit’s second surprise visit to the hospital. |
Punjab suffer first defeat
Chandigarh, July 19 R. Radika fashioned Tamil Nadu’s easy win by scoring two goals in the 30th and 55th minutes. M. Jeyanthi and R. Kalpana added one goal each for Tamil Nadu who now has three points from two matches. They may become the second team to qualify for the semifinals from Group I. Their next match is against Haryana on July 21. In another match today, defending champions Manipur handed out a 9-0 drubbing to Haryana and ensured a semi-final berth from Group I. Manipur opened their account in the 15th minute through N. Chan Chan Chanu. Thereafter, M. Mandakini Devi and Y. Kamala Devi dominated the scene. They contributed three goals each to swell the victory margin. Manipur have so far maintained their winning spree and with two wins and six points are leading Group I quarter-final league. Tomorrow’s fixtures (group II QF league): Orissa vs UP and Tripura vs West Bengal at 4.30 pm at PEC grounds. |
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‘Groom talent’ at tender age to uplift football
Chandigarh, July 19 After mostly one sided encounters in the qualifying round matches in the girls U-17 National Football Tournament underway at the Punjab Engineering College ground, Sector 14, here, one is compelled to think about the level of the game of our state teams. Looking at the statistics, it is astonishing that 218 goals were recorded in just 24 qualifying eight cluster matches played from July 10 to 15 and 58 goals were netted in cluster H. Punjab and Assam defeated Gujarat by an identical but amazing margin of 28-0. Similarly, last time champions Manipur registered 37 goals (17 against Jammu and Kashmir team and 20 against Madhya Pradesh), runners-up Orissa (7 against Bihar and 13 against Uttaranchal), Tripura (12 against Delhi and 12 against Maharashtra), Punjab (28 against Gujarat and 2 against Assam), and not the least West Bengal (10 against Rajasthan) and interestingly all teams did not concede even a single goal. This clearly showed the natural weakness of lack of agility at the national level. And the lopsided results of some of the group matches clearly showed how mismatched the teams were. Explaining the reason, Mr Harjinder Singh, said, “In soccer physical strength and stamina are the key components, which seemed to be lacking in our players. There are some of the teams with were participating for the first time. The girls hardly knew the basic rules of the games. But there are some of the teams like Manipur, Orissa, Tripura and West Bengal, which displayed good play.” Noeline John, coach with the Sports Department Authority of Tamil Nadu, said, “ The reason for the poor performance of the teams is that there was no time for preparatory camps. There should be at least one or two months’ training camp and the qualifying cluster programme should have been chalked out in a way where reasonably good teams could participate. Any way, it is better late than never. It is a good start, I suppose”. Coaching is another aspect where Indian football needs immediate attention. Most of the coaches in the country are not acquainted with modern football. The need is to have a pool of coaches, who are trained abroad, well versed and updated with the best coaching systems available in world. These coaches should be employed from the grass-roots level for ensuring proper grooming of talent. Shukhla Dutta, a Kolkatta-based former-captain of Indian football team (1986 Asia Cup) opined that football was played with enthusiasm and agility and our teams lacked these. “Football is almost played already at the school level by most people but India’s natural weakness at agility shows at the national level. The players should be given incentives like job security because if there future is secure only then their parents will allow them to take this sport as a career and not as a pass-time. The more this game becomes monetarily beneficial the more it can attract talent and maybe someday we can give these Europeans and the South Americans a run for their money”. “Ours is a disturbed state, even then sportspersons are not affected at all. Delhi and Manipur teams have been lucky enough to be adopted by the Asian Football Confederation, under the programme “Vision India”, where time to time coaching clinics are conducted. To implement a successful youth development programme, more and more national level football tournaments should be conducted.” said L. Chaoba Devi, former captain of the Indian Girls Football team (2001) and coach with Manipur team. |
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Sports wing scheme needs revision
Chandigarh, July 19 The sports department has made an announcement to allot 355 seats in schools and 183 seats in the sports coaching centres of the city, the trials of which are being conducted from July 13 to 17 in schools, whereas centres’ trials will be held from July 18 and 19 at varius sports centres. It has put forth a condition that at the time of admission to the sports wing of the schools, the players should have a minimum standing of state-level or national-level championship. Since sportspersons fail to comply with the high percentage criteria of the schools, they are not admitted there. Consequently, they are left with no choice but to take admission in some other school, which might not be able to meet their game requirements. A number of schools have sufficient infrastructure to meet the needs of players. Seventeen government schools have been allotted 183 seats under various disciplines, little considering what infrastructure they possess. Ten seats of football have been allotted to Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, which does not even possess a suitable football ground to hold trials. The outfield, which is unkempt and overgrown with rusty goal posts hanging on one side, tells the sorry state of affairs. Government Model Senior Secondary School-23 has a well-maintained football ground, a 400-m track, an indoor hall for badminton and its teams remained winners in u-14 and runners-up in u-12 in badminton. But it was given 12 seats in handball only. Despite having adequate infrastructure for football, hockey, volleyball, a 400-m athletic track and a good record in badminton, volleyball, table tennis, handball and kabaddi, the GMSSS, Sector 35, has been totally ignored this time too. Similarly, Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, has done well in swimming, shooting, gymnastics and was also been winner of last year’s under-14 hockey team championship, but has been given 12 seats (boys and girls) in volleyball only. In basketball, SD Public School, Sector 32, has good infrastructure, and has dominated this sport, but it has been totally ignored, creating resentment in the basketball community. Budding talented sportspersons are thus deprived of the benefits of the scheme. Director Sports Chandigarh Administration Inderjit Singh Sandhu was apprised of these developments. “The seats are allotted according to the sports facilities these schools can offer only. Our aim is to develop the technique and achieve excellence in games. We proceed in the matter according to the feedback we receive from the committee of department coaches. Some concerns might get unnoticed, I will look into the matters and try to revise accordingly,” he opined. A senior sports coach said the schools were unable to maintain the grounds because of lack of funds. Some of the schools have no funds even to cut the wild grass. The best option is to hand over the grounds on lease to local associations which are capable of maintaining these. Another coach suggested that the department should conduct a meeting with the principals or sports teachers of the schools concerned who could make the department aware about the infrastructure they possess so that the best of its use could be made out of it. |
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Mohali to have sports complex
Mohali, July 19 According to information received here, a decision in this regard was taken at the 18th meeting of the Punjab State Sports Council held under the chairmanship of the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh. At the moment, the space, on which the complex would be made, is being used as a parking lot during the matches held at PCA stadium. Apart from setting up boundary wall and gates, the department did not bother to develop it further. Meanwhile, it was also decided that the government would provide astro-turf in the five districts to promote hockey besides constructing 12 stadiums in the rural areas. In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Sports Department to prepare a blueprint for the promotion of sports in the state and formulate a system under which both the Education and Sports Departments could
coordinate to unearth the young talent. He government support and financial help for the purpose. |
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Jayaprakash overall winner
Chandigarh, July 19 Category 69 kg: (snatch): CPL Jayaprakash (97.5 kg)1, CPL Nasir Deen (95 kg) 2, CPL PK Naik (85 kg)3. (Clean and Jerk): CPL Jayaprakash (120 kg)1, CPL Nasir Deen (117.5 kg)2, CPL PK Naik (102.5 kg) 3. Total: CPL Jayaprakash (217.5 kg)1, CPL Nasir Deen (212.5 kg)2, CPL PK Naik (187.5 kg)3. Category 77 kg: (snatch): CPL Ramesh Kumar (110 kg)1, Hari Krishnan (95 kg)2, Rohtash (92.5 kg)3. (Clean and Jerk): CPL Ramesh Kumar (127.5 kg)1, Naresh Kumar (125 kg)2, Rohtash (120 kg)3. (Total): CPL Ramesh Kumar (227.5 kg)1, Naresh Kumar (215 kg)2, Rohtash (210) 3. |
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Swimming day
Panchkula, July 19 Tiny tots had a gala time splashing water to beat the scorching heat. The children also enjoyed dips in water for a long time. It was fun and frolic for the toddlers in the swimming costumes, informed the school principal, Mrs Sharda Gupta. |
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Dharamvir to attend U-18 camp
Chandigarh, July 18 According to his coach Jasbir Singh Bajwa, the one-month camp will be conducted in Chennai to prepare players for the 4-Nation International Challenge Tournament to be held in Singapore from August 3 to 6. |
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