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Health services need a checkup
Rain gods may quench forest fires |
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Batch of 59 relive academy days
One held for brawl at Civil Hospital
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Health services need a checkup
Dehradun, May 4 Some of the health centres in villages are without water supply, electricity connection, sanitation facilities and equipment. Independent studies indicate most sub-centres are located away from villages, especially when compared to such such centres in the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab where these are located keeping in mind the convenience of nearby villagers. In a state that is battling high maternal mortality rate, communicable diseases and nutritional deficiency, the nearest sub-centre would mean trudging along several kilometres from home. A facility survey undertaken in 2003 points out that only 27.8 per cent of primary health centres (PHCS) are adequately equipped with infrastructure, 40.5 per cent with staff, 27.1 per cent with equipment and 7.6 per cent have adequate trained staff. Also, only 13.2 per cent of the PHCS have the emergency obstetric kit. The health infrastructure report for 2007-2008 says only 23 per cent newborn cases are tackled at the primary health centres, 41.7 per cent of these centres have referral services for pregnancies and deliveries and only 20 per cent of the community health centres have blood storage facilities. “Since the creation of the state, we have made tremendous improvement but more needs to be done. Blood storage facility needs to be privided in the hills but before equipping the CHCs, we need to ensure that norms are being followed. “Even if we get modern equipment there are no para- medics to operate these,” said Dr PL Joshi, DG, health. The health department authorities have also been calling for redefining the parameters for establishing primary health centres and community health centres, keeping in mind the scattered population of the state, a decision that can only be taken by the central government. As part of the urban health infrastructure, there are nine revamped urban health posts and two urban family welfare centres, all in Dehradun. Two new additional primary health centres have been created at Kunja and Raiwala. Other institutions include health units providing services for infectious diseases. These include 14 TB hospitals and three leprosy hospitals. There are 1,765 sub-centres in the state, 197 additional primary health centres, 55 community health centres, 55 primary health centres, 37 rural women hospitals and 33 multi-facility hospitals. In urban areas, there are 24 post-natal centres, 10 functioning at the district headquarters, and the remaining at the subdivisional headquarters. “The Ayush centres created under the integrated system of medicine have begun to function by fits and starts. “ The appointment of ayurvedic doctors in villages is aimed at strengthening the medical infrastructure in the state,” said Dr HG Manral, joint director (admn), health. The helplessness of people becomes further compounded with no medical and paramedical staff to tend to them at the health centres. Even the strength of medical officers and paramedical staff does not present a good picture. Against the sanctioned number of 66 junior doctor, only 37 are working in the state, while a total of 29 posts are vacant. There is a requirement of 259 senior medical officers but only 195 such posts are filled and 61 are vacant. Against the requirement of 255 nurses, only 143 have been appointed and 112 posts are vacant. The situation regarding the paramedical staff is equally bleak. Against the requirement of 60 dental doctors in the state, only 17 are working and 49 posts are vacant. Against the requirement of 266 laboratory technicians, only 132 posts have been filled. On the paucity of medical staff, Dr DP Joshi, general secretary of the Provincial Medical and Health Services Association, Uttarakhand, said: “The bright young medical students do not see their career going forward. There are too few avenues and since the state has placed CHCs and PHCs directly under the control of a panels headed by district magistrates, the matters have worsened. The doctors resent being answerable to district magistrates and take briefing from them. In certain villages the pradhans disburse salaries. This too is not liked by medical officers. The workload of doctors has increased as they have been made in charge of a number of programmes when they should be looking after patients.
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Rain gods may quench forest fires
Dehradun, May 4 The state meteorological department had on April 20 sounded that rising temperatures may cause forest fires. In the wake of the warning, the forest officials had claimed that they were bracing themselves for any eventuality. They also claimed to be taking contingency steps for the purpose. But this turned out be hollow claims with five youths being killed in the fire that broke out in Pauri Garhwal three days back. Even as fires are raging in the forests, the department has done little as its field staff is ill-equipped to control the fires. “The staff does not even have binoculars to spot fire on the hillsides, “ said a forest guard working in the Mussoorie division. All the department has done so far is to issue appeals in newspapers and put up banners at various places in the hills. The situation is grim and perhaps rain alone can provide immediate relief. “Light showers are expected in the next 24 hours in the higher reaches. This may help bring down the mercury and hopefully contain the fires,” observed Dr Anand Sharma, director, meteorological department. Met department officials say the situation may turn for the better as temperatures have come down this week from 7 degree Celsius above normal recorded last week. It was 33.1 degree Celsius on Sunday, 2 degree below normal. One hopes the forest department will come up with some concrete plan to tackle the situation, especially in the wake of the letter written by Governor BL Joshi to the government suggesting a joint strategy by the disaster management department and forest experts. He has also asked the government to seek the services of outside agencies.
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Batch of 59 relive academy days
Dehradun, May 4 Participating at the re-union of 1959-62 Indian Forest College Course here at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Ramesh said it was all the more important to ensure the participation of common people in the works of forestry. The former DIG Environment and Forests described global warming as a big challenge before the world and said the increase in forestry cover stood as effective medium to negate its adverse impact. He also recalled his days at the Academy, which prominently highlighted the city turn from a sleepy township to a big city. Some of former principal chief conservator of forests from different states also took the opportunity to discuss at length state specific issues with the IFS trainees. Former Uttar Pradesh PCCFs MS Bisht and RS Bhandari, former Orissa PCCF NC Patnaik and other former top forest officers Sujan Singh, RP Singh and SK Kapoor participated in the deliberations. Earlier, Dr RD Jakati director Indian Gandhi Institute of Forest spoke on the challenges confronting the present generation of Indian Forest Service officers. Representatives from central government institutions like Forest Survey of India, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Wildlife Institute of India and State Forest Department gave their presentations. The reunion also proved to be a big opportunity for the top former forest bosses of the country who underwent the IFC course long back in 1959-62. The second day of the re-union on Tuesday, will witness presentation of thematic papers by the member of IFC
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One held for brawl at Civil Hospital
Roorkee, May 4 The brawl between the two parties started at around 9.30 pm following the alleged carelessness of the medical staff in attending two youngsters, Nitin and Pappu, whose motorcycle had collided with a Himachal Roadways bus at Saliyar village late yesterday evening. Another youth, Munna of Bahdrabad, lost his life in the accident. Several persons, including the hospital staff, got injured in the scuffle. The relatives of the injured, who turned up in large numbers at the hospital, alleged that the doctors on duty were missing from the hospital. “When asked, the hospital staff started misbehaving with us,” alleged a relative. On the other hand, refuting the charges, CMS, Civil Hospital Dr R P Badoni said no doctor was missing from duty. He alleged that some journalists from vernacular papers instigated the villagers, which caused the problem. “The journalists were asking for details of the accident from doctors on duty, who were busy attending the patients at that moment. Maybe this irritated them people,” alleged Dr Badoni. “I will take up the issue of this irresponsible behaviour by mediapersons with the authorities concerned,” said Dr Badoni. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case against Tehsim under Sections 332, 353 and 504 of the IPC at Gangnehar Police Station.
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ormer deputy inspector general, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ramesh Chandra has laid importance on social forestry in the wake of fast changing forestry scenario.
