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Trauma centres need a health dose The trauma centre at Doon Hospital in Dehradun that is being run sans surgeons. A Tribune photograph
Bora tops again, this time in AIEEE |
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Sword of Honour for Reddy
First multi-parametric geophysical observatory
9 states to emulate Rajaji jumbo project
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Trauma centres need a health dose
Dehradun, May 31 But as always there is a flip side to it. The state witnesses a number of casualties in road mishaps during the pilgrimage. The accident cases usually occur on highways or remote areas where medical help is hard to come by. The concept of trauma centres well-equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services was first mooted by the state medical authorities to fill gaps in the medical infrastructure that has yet to reach the remotest areas. Despite clearance for 16 trauma centers, these have remained non-functional in the absence of manpower. A holistic trauma centre with specialists round the clock remains a pipe dream. The government is gradually learning that running these centres is not only extremely expensive but non-availability of medical staff may come a cropper, despite the best intentions of the government. Most centres are dandified as Level 1(highest) and Level 3 (lowest). The health authorities had cleared proposals for the construction of 14 trauma centres in the state. Construction work at six centres is complete. These are at Kashipur, Rishikesh, Almora, Vikas Nagar, Roorkee and Gopeshwar. Only the trauma centres at Doon Hospital and Base Hospital, Srinagar, are functional. While the centre built at Gopeshwar has not begun to function due to Even the trauma centre at Doon Hospital claimed to have been built on the lines of a multi-specialty centre does not have neuro surgeons, plastic surgeons and radiologists. At best, it is a make-shift arrangement, aimed more at ISO certification. “We have dearth of medical and paramedical staff at the moment, but our doctors in the Emergency are equipped to handle any case. I think the centres located a distance from hospitals may pose a problem as staff cannot be easily deployed there,” said Dr PL Joshi, DG, health. In Uttarakhand, most deaths are caused by accidents and trauma deaths are mainly due to crashes and suicides. Health experts say a dedicated trauma centre on the highway should have been the top priority but the government has failed in a holistic approach. “A well-equipped trauma centre fulfills the role of timely care. Though accidents and emergency departments are widely available in larger cities, there is considerable variation in quality and accessibility,” said Dr HG Manral, joint director, health directorate. Not only are the trauma centres poorly equipped, but care providers poorly trained too. No laws have been made for quality of ambulances and qualification of personnel. A well-organised system of emergency care is the need of the hour. To reduce trauma-associated mortality, the Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project in 2007 suggested documentation of the location, nature and types of accidents related to travel, injury and active sports. However the government is yet to take any steps. In 2006-2007, money was allocated for four trauma centres to be built at Rishikesh, Vikas Nagar, Ranikhet and Kashipur.The following year, two more centres were sanctioned at Almora and Gopeshwar . For the one at Uttarkashi, the sanctioned amount is Rs 69 lakh, for Tanakpur Rs 70.6 lakh, for Bageshwar Rs 51.60 lakh, Champawat Rs 71.72 lakh, Kashipur Rs 62.8 lakh, for Ranikhet Rs 67. 67 lakh and Karan Prayag Rs 85.08 lakh. The average cost on construction is between Rs 69.70 lakh-Rs 80 lakh. The proposed centres at Lohaghat will be built at a cost of Rs 64.29 lakh, at Rishikesh Rs 42.8 lakh, Almora Rs 59.70 lakh, Khatima Rs 92.94 lakh, Vikas Nagar Rs 55.82 lakh, Roorkee Rs 69.80 lakh and Gopeshwar Rs 58.60 lakh Health experts say that besides establishing trauma centres, certain additional steps must be taken. During the pilgrimage, acclimatisation is necessary. As we go up the hills, the quantity of oxygen decreases, even the haemoglobin levels go down. A person may experience breathlessness, impaired vision and lack of coordination, which are major causes of accidents. “In severe cases, water gets filled in the lungs. If these symptoms are ignored, death may occur,” said Dr Alok Tevatia. During the British rule, the soldiers would undergo acclimatisation exercises, spacing journey to the Joshi Math, Chamoli, into three days. This ensured gradual acclimatisation and allowed the body’s compensatory mechanism to set in. “The government needs to push a policy that makes it mandatory for those undertaking journey through the mountainous routes to make halts. Even drivers need to take time off after a certain distance as the body begins to experience fatigue. “If the drivers ignore signs of fatigue and do not pay heed to the double vision syndrome, chances of accidents may arise,” cautioned Dr BC Ramola, an eye surgeon.
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Bora tops again, this time in AIEEE
Dehradun, May 31 A pass out of St Joseph’s Academy, Bora has already cleared the entrance test conducted by BITS, Pilani. Bora has had a brilliant academic record. He passed Class XII with 96.5 per cent marks this year. He attributes his success to consistency. He says he studied three to four hours daily during school days and six hours during holidays. Bora’s father Hari Singh Bora is a manager in the State Bank of India in Rishikesh. His mother, Anita Bora, is a housewife. He is the only child. “I want to become a software engineer. My parents never imposed their wishes on me and simply backed me in pursuing a career of my choice,” he said. A beaming Bora said he preferred the IIT, Mumbai, because it offered better avenues in higher studies. Besides the best faculty, it provided a highly competitive atmosphere. “So to achieve academic excellence, I wish to be there. And I love challenges,” he adds, smiling. It is a measure of his academic performance that he never took tuition while in school. But for the highly competitive all-India entrance examination, he felt that private coaching was a must. “Since the stakes are very high in these exams, a good institute can help guide students about the right method to tackle the exams which are different from the school board exams. The mock tests help students know about the question paper pattern. Moreover, the presence of other aspirants promotes a sense of competition which finally adds to confidence,” he said. But Bora has a word of caution: “The aspirants should choose a coaching institute with care. They would do well to look at its past performance. Getting in touch with its past students would be the right thing to do,” he suggests. Meanwhile, Chief Minister BC Khanduri has congratulated Pantnagar resident Ayush Aggarwal who has stood first in the state. He has also congratulated all others who have performed well in the examination.
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Sword of Honour for Reddy
Dehradun, May 31 He was addressing a gathering at the 165th graduation ceremony of the Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC). Dr Kalam administered oath to the cadets, which stressed on integrity, character and national pride. Welcoming Dr Kalam, RIMC Commandant Col H.Dharmarajan said: “We are indeed honoured to have Dr Kalam, a scientist of true eminence, an inspiring human being, an extraordinary intellectual as our chief guest.” The Commandant highlighted the achievements of the RIMC.This was followed by giving away of awards and parchment certificates to the passing out cadets. The running trophy for best performance in English among the seniors was awarded to Cadet NCO Bhupendra Chand. The running trophy for best performance in Science up to Standard X was awarded to Cadet Archit Gupta. Cadet Sec Com Rohit Reddy was awarded Gen Manoharan Trophy for proficiency in computers. Cadet Capt Avaneendra Thakur was awarded the Wavell Sword as well as the most prestigious Sword of Honour. The celebrations ended with a cultural show. Other dignitaries present on the occasion were Lt Gen Gautam Dutt, RC Singhal, Maj Gen SDMohanty, Col Arun Mamgaim, Col Prem Prakash, parents of cadets and the elite Rimcollians.
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First multi-parametric geophysical observatory
Dehradun, May 31 Shailendra Nayak, secretary, Earth Sciences, said five such observatories would also come at five different places across the country. He said that as Ghuttu falls on the ‘Central main thrust’, it was best suited to study the tectonic movement of plates. Nayak held that the observatory has been equipped with the latest gadgets. He also lauded the Dehradun-based Wadia Insitute for coming up with a state-of-the-art Multi-Purpose Geophysical Laboratory.
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9 states to emulate Rajaji jumbo project
Dehradun, May 31 These states include Assam, Jharkhand and West Bengal that account for 86 per cent of train hits that take place in the country and also the states of Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The beginning has been made in Assam which alone accounts for 36 per cent of the total elephant train-hit incidents. “After a through survey, we identified all affected stretches and started implementation of train-hit mitigation model a few months back,” Dr AK Singh said. The model was implemented after financial assistance came from ‘Elephant Family’ and coordinated efforts were made by the Assam Forest Department and the Railway Division in the North East.The area of operation included affected stretches in Assam that fall in the Guwahati Wildlife division, Karbi Anglong wildlife division, Naugaon south forest division, Digboi, Sonepur, Gwalpara and Dhorang forest division. A similar project will roll down in Dudhwa, Uttar Pradesh, from next month. Train-hits cause the highest casualties at this protected area. Other states too have approached the WTI for its expertise in taking up similar challenges.“We will be working in these states with the forest departments and other stake holders and come up with working plans taking into account the region-specific requirements,” Wildlife Trust of India’s Dr AK Singh, the brain behind Rajaji’s success, said. As many as 40 trains run every day on the stretch that crosses Rajaji National Park. Deaths of elephants in train-hit incidents had been quite common in the region. But after the WTI’s train-hit mitigation model was implemented in 2002, there has been no incident of train-hit elephant death at Rajaji.
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With pilgrims beginning their ascent to the hills for Char Dham pilgrimage, the tourism industry and local traders are poised for a manifold increase in business.
IIT/JEE a week back, Siddharth Bora of Dutt and Verma Coaching Classes has earned yet another distinction, topping the AIEEE in the city and securing the third place in the state merit list.
Dehradun, May 31
