Jalandhar, January 14
Though the Jalandhar civil hospital on an average gets 30 patients suffering from dog bite every day in its OPD, there has been no supply of anti-rabies vaccination in the hospital for the past one year. 

The problem has assumed a serious proportion now as most of the patients are poor and find it difficult to bear the cost of the vaccination.

It is to be noted that the incubation period of rabies virus varies from three weeks to two years and the patients bitten by dogs are administered five vaccinations in a few weeks’ time. The total cost for the vaccination comes out to be around Rs 1,200, which is close to the monthly income of many poor families. Even the number of poor patients requiring the vaccination daily within the district is far high as several persons visit the rural government dispensaries and health centres.

The patients rue that while the government is getting huge funds for eradicating diseases like tuberculosis, polio and AIDS, there are no funds to tackle the dreadful disease where death is almost certain if the patient is bitten by a rabid dog. A government practitioner said, “The World Health Organisation is spending huge amounts on HIV positive patients despite the fact that they cannot be saved from the jaws of death. However, rabies vaccination can ensure complete immunity from the disease and the money spent on it will be worthwhile.” He added that the international agencies were concentrating more on programmes for communicable diseases like TB and AIDS, which were harming their own populations, instead of targeting more deadly diseases.

Interestingly a few months back, four-and-a-half-year-old girl Cherry and 56-year-old Baijnath died of rabies near Jandu Singha. Both of them reportedly hailed from poor families and never approached the health authorities. Besides, they were not even aware of the treatment available and the persons looking after them are yet to be vaccinated.

Sukhdev, a resident of Malhian Kalan in Nakodar, said “Both my buffalo and its calf died of rabies recently. As my family members use to take care of them and consumed its milk, I had to administer vaccination to them. I spend around Rs 10,800 to buy 45 vaccinations. I really pity those who cannot afford it and fail to seek government help.”

Talking about vaccination, civil surgeon Dr J.P. Singh said, “There is no supply of vaccination since the central government stopped manufacturing it in a plant at Kasuali.” However, he said he was trying to help those patients who had yellow cards. Meanwhile, the municipal corporation too is unequipped to tackle the dog menace in the city. The officials put the blame on veterinary doctors suggesting that it is rather a failure on their part to sterilise and immunise dogs. 

Jalandhar, January 14
The civil hospital here is facing an acute shortage of house surgeons, which is hitting the medical services. Doctors and the paramedical staff complain of lack of coordination among the employees in the hospital.

According to information available from the hospital, there are 20 sanctioned posts of house surgeon, of which only four are filled.

This has led to mismanagement in the hospital. A cross section of the senior and junior doctors in the hospital pointed out that the main reason behind the shortage of house surgeons was less salaries being paid to them. At present, a house surgeon is earning only Rs 4,800 per month.

They said the health authorities must understand that it was difficult for a medical graduate to survive on a meager sum of Rs 4,800 and that too for performing round-the-clock duty.

“We work round the clock and get a meager amount of Rs 4,800 as salary. Even a class IV employee is earning more than us. It is difficult for us to manage due to the fact that there are only four house surgeons for this 400-bedded hospital one each in the departments of anaesthesia, gynaecology, medical and surgical,” said Dr Gopal, house surgeon in the surgical department.

Earlier it was mandatory for the house surgeon to attend the house jobs as they use to get marks for their future PG admissions to the MD and MS courses. However, now in the absence of the system, a majority of the students have already joined the PCMS posts under the zila parishad.

Says Dr Vikram, “The house surgeons working in government hospitals, 
Chandigarh, are earning Rs 9,600 per month but we are made to work at low wages. We have raised this issue many times but to no avail.”

Interestingly, even last year only two house surgeons joined the job and that too in the surgical ward. Medical superintendent Dr Ranbir Singh said, “There are 20 sanctioned seats meant for the post of house surgeon but due to lukewarm response of the doctors, 16 seats are still lying vacant. This has virtually hampered the smooth functioning of the hospital.”

Jalandhar, January 14
Education system in the state needs to be revamped totally to enable students to compete with their western counterparts. Dr Ajit Singh Bhart, mayor Bicester Town Council, UK stated this while interacting with mediapersons at the Press Club here today. He was in city on a personal visit.

The mayor said the government is yet to introduce skill and vocational subjects to help the youth to begin their own enterprises or meet the demand for such workers in foreign countries. Youngsters abroad either land with jobs or start their own business immediately after graduation, he said.

“I am pained to see that even after decades the curriculum has not changed and we are still insulated against changes around us,” he said. The learning process is largely traditional and does not serve any purpose both for the students and the society at large. We are churning out simple graduates by the thousands who are worthless in the job market, he added.

Commenting on the NRI Sammelan organised by the government, he regretted that only the well- heeled and well-connected NRIs were sent invitation cards. “The organisers should realise that not everyone in the diaspora is affluent. While the rich among them could afford to live for longer periods in India to get their problems redressed, it is the common NRI who is at the receiving end,” he said.

Moreover, there are certain issues confronting them abroad that could be solved with Indian government’s intervention. “For them their problems begin at the Indian airports and corrupt officials harass them for getting even routine work done in government offices,” he alleged.

The government should announce such measures that would encourage their children to travel to India more often. “This would not only bring the youth closer to their roots but also provide an opportunity to children of NRIs to discover their rich cultural heritage,” he added. 

Jalandhar, January 14
Dr Yash Sharma has been unanimously declared president-elect of Punjab chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for the year 2009-2010.

Hailing from the city, Dr Sharma has been a member of the Punjab Medical Council that took up various problems being faced by the medical fraternity.

Dr J. S. Gill, election observer for the poll, said in the absence of any opposing candidates, Dr Rakesh Vij and Dr Jagbir Dhillon were also declared elected as the vice-president for the year 2008-2009. Dr Amrik Singh has already been elected as president for 2008-2009. It is after many years that the over 5000 strong fraternity has sank their differences to forgo elections and go in for unanimity, he added.

Dr Sharma said one of the major challenges before them was the revocation of Section 304-A of the IPC. Under the present provisions, the police can arrest a doctor in case of any negligence. The cops under public pressure many times misuse this provision, he added.

He said the state government should follow Andhra Pradesh that has brought in an ordinance making any attack on a doctor on duty as a non-bailable offence attracting an imprisonment up to three years. Besides, the loss caused to the hospital property will be recovered from the assailants under the Revenue Recovery Act.

The AP Medical Service Persons/Medical Institutions (prevention of violence and damage to properties) Ordinance 2007 is applicable to both the government and private hospitals, nursing homes and maternity clinics and cover doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, medical and nursing staff. The AP government has also declared to treat postgraduate students working in teaching hospitals as public servants, he pointed out.

Nawanshahr, January 14
An alleged attempt to illegally connect the sewer pipes of a PUDA approved colony, situated at Sloh Road here, with the main line on Saturday and then uprooting the laid sewer pipes on Monday, has brought to the fore the issue of illegal sewerage and water supply connections in the town.

Though the alleged attempt of illegally connecting sewer pipes, which could have caused a loss of revenue amounting to Rs 9 lakh, has been foiled by the municipal council authorities, they are evasive over the queries of punitive action against the errant colonisers.

It is worthwhile to mention here that a PUDA approved colony is being developed in nine acres here by some colonisers with political clout. On Saturday, an attempt to connect the colony sewer with the main sewer line was made. When the issue was brought to the notice of the municipal council authorities by some persons, it turned out to be an attempt of illegal joining the colony’s sewer pipes with the main sewer line.

Municipal engineer Sat Pal Sharma, when contacted, said he visited the site and got the illegal work stopped on Saturday. As no permission was taken by the colonisers for the same, the colonisers were asked to take the laid pipes out. However, the municipal engineer evaded a question on imposing a penalty on the errant colonisers, stating that the post of the executive officer of the municipal council was lying vacant for a few weeks. “As soon as the new executive officer takes charge, the issue would be brought to his notice,” he added.

The dilly-dallying approach by the municipal authorities has become a cause of concern for the residents who are demanding a high-level inquiry into the matter.

Jalandhar, January 14
The fourth all-India Balwant Singh Kapur memorial hockey tournament for schools (under-17) would be held at Burlton Park here from January 16 to 23.

Tournament committee president Harbhajan Singh said the matches would be played on league-cum-knockout basis. “This is an effort to revive hockey at the grassroots level. We wish to create a competitive hockey culture so that the youngsters can come forward,” he added.

The winners would be given a prize of Rs 1 lakh, followed by runners-up award of Rs 60,000 and the second runners-up Rs 40,000.

The panel would also honour six best players of the tournament - best goalkeeper, best fullback, best halfback, best forward and the highest scorer. Besides, the most promising player of the tournament would be honoured with a prize of Rs 5,000.

As many as 16 teams would take part in the hockey championship out of which eight teams are seeded directly in the league phase. The other four teams will qualify from the preliminary round and two teams from each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals. The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has deputed eight international and national umpires for the smooth conduct of the tourney. — TNS

Jalandhar, January 14
Capital Local Area Bank celebrated its eighth anniversary at a function held here on Sunday. Sarvjit Singh Samra, managing director, said the bank has crossed the Rs 600 crore mark, up from Rs 463 crore last year, and will open 44 new branches by March 31, 2010 with a projected business of Rs 1500 crore and net worth of Rs 100 crore. 

The bank presently has 16 branches, nine in the rural areas and five in the semi urban ones, he added.The bank has initiated measures for 100 percent financial inclusion, including door- to- door surveys and compiling data of financially excluded households, opening of Suvidha Bachat accounts and providing credit through general credit card scheme, added Samra.

The bank has adopted 129 villages and 50 municipal wards for this objective, informed Samra. The bank pioneered in bringing modern banking practices in the rural areas at nominal costs, he added. The services include ATMs, seven day banking, full money transfer and life and general insurance services.