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No way to treat the mentally ill
Nano jam at Roorkee
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Wipe away your wrinkles with laser technique
Tiger-jumbo confrontation on rise
70 colleges participate in education fair
Forest fires rage on
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World Mental Health Day
Dehradun, March 6 There are countless men and women like her for whom the World Health (Mental) Day tomorrow will be just another day, making no difference to their lives.
With no rehabilitation institute in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand, where mental illness continues to be a taboo, disturbed men and women are often discarded. In Uttarakhand with a population of 80 lakh, at least 10 per cent of the people may be suffering from serious mental illnesses. In the absence of government hospitals catering exclusively to such patients, the problem in the hills is acute. Illnesses often remain undetected for long. The patients are sent to district hospitals where there is no facility for a diagnosis. Family members of such patients dependent traditional healers; those suffering from epilepsy are usually confined to separate rooms or taken to seers or hakeem for treatment. Some get lucky and catch the attention of doctors holding health camps in the hills. In Doon Hopital there is an ever-growing population of patients suffering from anxiety and depression in the age group of 20-40. The problem may be biological with changes in neuro transmitters. t could also be on account of urban isolation and modern-day lefestyle. “If there is a history of chronic depression in one of the parents, the child may be afflicted too. It can also occur due to substance abuse. “In the last 10 years, a great deal of research in the field of psychiatry has led to emphasis on newer and more humane forms of treatment. However, the discovery of cost-effective drugs has opened a number of options for the mentally ill beyond imagination earlier. “So, in most cases patients respond to treatment. Cases of resistant schizophrenia and depression if not diagnosed in the initial stages become chronic,” explained Dr JS Bisht, Government Doon Hospital. The mental health programme was kickstarted in 2005-06 under which resources were allocated for establishing a mental health authority in the state. An amount of Rs 106.61 lakh was allocated for the setting up of a building at Selaqui. In June 2005, Uttarakhand constituted the State Mental Health Authority (SMHA), which is yet to start regular functioning The National Health Policy envisages a decentralised mental health services, laying out a unified protocol for treatment under which prescribed drugs comprising anti-psychotic, anxiolytic, anti-depressants, anti-epileptic and mood stabilisers are given to patients. Suggestions were made for standard treatment guidelines and a referral system to streamline community-based care. The hospital began functioning only last year. Earlier, patients were sent to the asylum in Bareilly while some underwent treatment at the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) at Jolly Grant that gives mental health outpatient and drug treatment services. There are no training institutions for training psychiatrists and for undertaking epistemological studies in the state. A recent Supreme Court ruling advocates a more humane approach towards the mentally ill. All mental hospitals have to compulsorily make provisions for family wards and studies have proved that a patient’s response to treatment is far greater when in the company of family members,” said Dr Alok Teotia, senior physician, Doon Hospital. Though the hospital has begun functioning in the state, it continues to be ill-equipped and requires manpower to not only look after patients but also take up research activities. As per norms, for a 35-bed hospital, a minimum of four psychiatrists are required. The hospital has just two, one of whom has been employed on a contractual basis. The hospital has so far not appointed a psychologist. “There is legislation and financial provisions for the welfare of persons with mental disorders under the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and full participation) Act, 1995. These include free education, employment financial assistance and social security. However, impetus needs to come from society. “Families do not come forward with the disease. They continue to feel a sense of shame and for women it becomes all the more complicated as they feel if they come out with any disclosure, it may harm family members, especially young marriageable girls,” said Dr B Pratibha Sharma, psychologist. She said efforts should be made to reintegrate mentally ill once they have sufficiently recovered. “It is an cute problem as the population is ever-growing and requires more resources for treatment than other diseases.
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Nano jam at Roorkee
Roorkee, April 6 The curious passersby parked their vehicles on the road to have a look at Nano while it was being unloaded on the highway in front of local Tata agency, IS Motors, at around 2 pm. The car, which has been in news for a while now, was taken into the showroom by chairman of IS Motors, Rajeev Mittal, after completion of the traditional rituals. “This is not a car but a dream for us. We have been waiting for this ‘small wonder’ for the past six days,” said Mittal, adding that Nano was scheduled to reach here on April 1 but due to some minor error, the programme got delayed. Rajesh Sharma, a local engineering student, who came to see the car along with his friends, said, “This is a beautiful car. I bet it will beat all the small versions of the cars of other companies. I will come with my father to book it in the evening.” Manoj Mittal, managing director of the agency, said they already have as many as 50 bookings in two days. “The booking will be on till April 25,” said Mittal. Test drive of Nano will begin next week. Mittals, who are also distributors of the car in Haridwar, said Nano would be launched there on April 10.
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Wipe away your wrinkles with laser technique
Dehradun, April 6 He said laser resurfacing, also known as laser dermabrasion, is a laser technique that is used for smoothening fine wrinkles on the skin. Various types of lasers are applied to the skin in short pulses to remove irregular contours, tattoos, discoloured areas and blood vessels. The laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) works by producing an intense beam of bright light that travels in a pinpoint direction. Lasers can produce one specific colour flight, called a wavelength, and can vary and intensify the direction of light. The CO2 Erbium-YAG laser is used for sun- damaged, ageing, wrinkled or scarred skin. It may also be used as a cutting instrument to remove moles and skin cancers. Pulsed dye lasers are used to treat vascular lesions, like spider veins, warts and stretch marks.
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Tiger-jumbo confrontation on rise
Dehradun, April 6 The elephant’s body had tiger-paw marks while the surroundings revealed signs of the struggle between the two beasts. Two more incidents of elephant deaths have been reported from the state in recent times including the killing of an elephant calf in Corbett this January. This has caused considerable concern among wildlife officials. While wildlife experts do not find tiger-elephant struggle a new phenomenon, they, however, maintain the incidence is very rare. “Tigers, at times, target elephant calves for prey and that too when it is away from the herd. However, such attacks are not very common in forests,” points out Dr Hem Singh Gehlot, Uttarakhand head of World Wide Fund for Nature Studies and who has been studying the behaviour of wildcats for long. Wildlife Trust of India’s Uttarakhand coordinator AK Singh said that being two of the most powerful animals of the forest, elephants and tigers generally avoid confrontation. “It happens rarely that the two enter into a confrontation. Mostly, elephant calves are the victims as an adult elephant proves to be on an equal footing to a tiger. Interestingly, elephant rides are very common in the protected areas of Corbett and Rajaji in the state for tiger sightings. These elephants are considered most safe for the tourists venturing out into forest areas. However, forest authorities, who use camp elephants for such rides, take them inside forest areas for long -term patrolling before introducing them into elephant rides for tourists.
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70 colleges participate in education fair
Dehradun, April 6 “This was the first time that we organised the show and the response was excellent. “Not only students, but even parents came forward to enquire about the latest methodology that is necessary for students to excel in today’s competitive world,” However, the attraction of the day was a fancy dress competition and an informative lecture ‘Create the life of your dream’ by Amitabh Walia, author of a book “You are a Superstar”. “This book was launched on April 4 by legislative assembly Speaker Harbans Kapoor during the education fair. The response I received has been very positive. Moreover, I know that if children go through the book they will definitely benefit a lot,” said Walia. A centre named ‘Promise’, which works for personality development, also received a good response. “Our centre works for the development of students from class III to X with an aim to develop their skill in academics and various other fields. I am happy that parents were forthcoming at the fair,” said Shagun Kapoor, Center Head, Promise. In addition, food stalls were a great hit. So were modeling and dancing programmes organised for recreation. “We now plan to visit interior regions of Uttarakhand to help students who are deprived of such opportunities and have no resources to step out of their villages,” added Jaiswal. The chief guest on the occasion was state chief secretary Indu Kumar Pandey. Earlier during the fair, a blood donation camp was organised by IMA blood bank. As many as 30 students participated in the camp. “The sole motive behind the camp was to encourage students to participate in the social cause as well to spread awareness. “We are glad that students and their parents came forward to donate blood,” said Amardeep Jaiswal, vice-president, Nidan.
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Forest fires rage on
Dehradun, April 6 Meanwhile, the principal chief conservator of forests had some time back conducted inspections at various areas to take stock of preparations to meet forest fires. The Mussoorie forest authorities have also set up a control room at Malsi to promptly deal with any instance of fire.
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Dehradun, March 6
Roorkee, April 6
