HEALTH

Dengue situation reviewed
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 20
The Health Department today carried out an intensive review of the situation arising from the outbreak of dengue in some of the city localities and patients from other towns of Punjab and neighbouring states seeking treatment in local hospitals. The measures aimed at creating awareness about preventive steps against the mosquito-borne diseases were also discussed in detail.

Dr M.K. Khullar, Deputy Director in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, while presiding over the meeting, confirmed that 26 positive cases of dengue had been admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in the city since January. While 14 other dengue patients had reported from other towns of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

According to Dr Khullar, the Health Department had already initiated necessary preventive steps in vulnerable areas where anti-mosquito sprays and fumigation were organised. At the same time, people were educated about breaking the breeding circle of mosquitoes by clearing stagnating water in room coolers and other containers through awareness camps and pamphlets.

The local health officials informed Dr Khullar that an awareness rally against mosquito-borne diseases, especially dengue, was organised. The Civil Surgeon led the rally. In addition, more than 100 health education camps were held at 28 dispensaries in the mega city.

Later, Dr Khullar visited both DMCH and CMCH where most of the dengue patients had sought treatment and one patient brought to the DMCH from Jalandhar had died during last week. He held discussions with the medical superintendents of the two institutions before claiming that dengue had not assumed the form of an epidemic in Ludhiana.

However, he made a fervent appeal to the city population, as also people in other parts of the state to scrupulously follow all preventive measures against the breeding of mosquito and make sure that water did not stagnate in containers, air coolers, flowerpots, drains or potholes. As a further safeguard, mosquito repellents should be used and such dresses should be worn that properly covered the whole body.

ENT surgeons’ conference from Oct 28
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 20
The 30th Northwest Zonal Conference of the Association of Otorhinolaryngologists (ENT surgeons) and Head Neck Surgeons of India will be organised by the ENT and Head Neck Surgeons Forum, Ludhiana, at Christian Medical College and Hospital here on October 28 and 29.

It is for the first time that the conference of such a magnitude will be hosted by the forum under the leadership of Dr Naresh Malhotra, who is also the organising chairman and president of the forum. He will be assisted by Dr A.S. Khurana, co-chairman, and Dr Vineet Gulati, organising secretary.

According to Dr Malhotra, the conference is an opportunity to learn the latest in research and surgical techniques of the specialty as well a platform to share experience with others in academic and clinical fields.

Nearly 400 delegates are expected to attend the conference, including some guest speakers from foreign countries. Invitations have also been extended to ENT surgeons in Pakistani Punjab in a bid to increase people-to-people contact for further cementing the friendly relations with the neighbouring country.

The scientific session will include guest lectures, orations, panel discussions, free papers and award papers. Live surgical workshop on otology and other field will be conducted by national and international faculty.

Dr Alan Kerr from the UK, Editor of Scott Brown, an internationally accepted reference book of the specialty, will be guest speaker on reconstructive surgery of the ear to improve hearing defects. The selected papers will be published in the Journal of ENT and HN Surgery to be launched shortly.