HEALTH

Skin diseases are more common in city
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, October 3
People in this industrial city are more prone to different kinds of occupational skin diseases. The high risk people include those working in chemical industries, plating and polishing industries, leather tanning and fabricated rubber products.

Experts in the city feel that the labourers, industrial workers should be provided with better working conditions to avoid different kinds of skin diseases. Dr Alka Dogra, Head of the Dermatology Department of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital while talking to Ludhiana Tribune said people from lower strata of society and the industrial workers were more prone to the skin diseases due to unhygenic working conditions and allergic disorders. She said that a number of such patients visited the OPDs of the DMCH daily. More common of these diseases were contact and occupational dermatitis, chlorinated dermatitis and malano dermatitis.

According to Dr Dogra, individuals, when directly come in contact with solvents, soaps and detergents, can develop hand eczema. Oily skin, which is more resistant to the action of these agents, is susceptible to pimple-like eruptions. No doubt that there are barrier creams available in the market but they are quite expensive which the workers can not afford. She said,”We suggest the patients who are allergic to metals, rubber, chemicals and detergents etc, to be extra cautious while working in these industries. They should think of some other occupation if the disease persists”.

Dr Gurinderjit Singh, another city-based skin specialist, said in this industrial hub, the common industrial chemicals which caused allergy were metallic salts, compounds of nickel, chromate, cobalt and gold, organic dyes, biocides and germicides. The eruption can occur anywhere on the skin depending upon the site of contact. Contact with chromium vapours leads to skin rash which involves the forehead, eyelids, face, ears and neck.

Dr Y.C. Minocha, a prominent skin specialist, said exposure to ultraviolet rays leads to radiodermatitis and variety of cancers affecting thyroid, bones, blood and liver. The effect of these rays can be seen in workers of carbon arc, welding and cutting torches etc. The bakers, blacksmiths, electricians, foundry and furnace workers, iron workers and welders are exposed to infrared radiations, he added.

Dr Satinder Kaur, consultant dermatologist, Dr B.L.Kapoor Memorial Hospital, said she received 10 such patients everyday. Exposure to laser occurs in workers engaged in cutting and drilling metal, glass or the diamonds. She said to avoid allergies, specific gloves should be used for specific chemicals like rubber or plastic gloves to protect against water and liquid chemicals and leather gloves for dry materials. “Protective clothing including body suits, face shields, aprons, boots, etc can save a person from many air borne dermatitis to an extent”, said Dr Satinder Kaur.

Dr Dogra suggested that removal of fumes or powders in the industries and the use of fans and hoods can be helpful in removing gaseous substances from the environment.

Health workers flay govt
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 3
The Punjab State Senior Operation Theatre Assistants, OT Assistants, OT Supervisors and the Anaesthesia Technicians Union have condemned the state government for not implementing their long-pending demands.

A meeting of the union members was held at ESI Hospital yesterday where Mr Neel Kanwal, Senior OT, Assistant and chairman of the union said that a number of posts of OT assistant and senior OT assistant were lying vacant in various civil hospitals and primary health centres of the state. He said the government should immediately fill these posts.

Mr Kanwal said promotions should be based on some criteria and direct promotion should be stopped.

The OT assistants should be provided rent-free accommodation and allotted proper quarters. The selection grade due to Senior OT Assistants, and Assistants should be implemented immediately.

The meeting was attended by Mr Gurcharanbir Singh, Mr Bharat Bhushan, Mr Hardip Singh, Mr Harbans Singh, Mr Vikramjit Singh, Mr Gurnam Singh and Mr Joginder Singh.

SPORTS

SDP school emerge champions
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 3
Students of SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazoori road, emerged champions in the u-17 and u-19 categories in the Zonal-Level Inter-School Athletics Championship which was held here on the SDP College for Women campus.

Boys of GGN Senior Secondary School finished runner-up in the u-19 category while Nanakana Sahib Public School and Government Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University, jointly came third. In u-17 category, GGN Senior Secondary School and New Senior Secondary School finished second and third respectively.

In the girl’s section, GGN Senior Secondary School won championship in the u-19 category, followed by Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar and Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School.

The students of SDP Senior Secondary School who got positions were as follows: (u-19)800 m race — Lakhwinder Singh 1; 500 m race — Robin 1, 5000 m walk — Sanjeev 1, 400 m hurdles — Mohan Singh, pole vault — Mohan Singh 1, 4 x 400 m relay — 2, hammer throw — Dharam Paul 2; (u-17) 100 m race — Santosh Singh 1, 200 m race — Jagdev Singh 1, 400 m race — Jagdev Singh 1, long jump — Santosh Singh 1, 4 x400 m relay — 1, triple jump — Santosh Singh 1, javellin throw — Jagdev Singh 3.

Gymnastics meet

Government Girls High School, Divison No. 3, won team championship (u-19 ) in the District-Level Gymnastics Tournament which was held at Joseph’s School, Dugri Dhandra near here.

The host school finished second. In the girl’s section (u-17), Joseph’s School became the champions while Nav Bharti Public School stood second. And in the boys’ u-19 category, Sargodha National Public High School lifted the title and Joseph’s School got the second position. In u-17 category, boys of Joseph’s School got first position and Nav Bharti Public School, finished runner-up.

This tournament was conducted under the supervision of Mr Harbans Singh, president, High School Sports Committee, and Mr Avtar Singh, president, Ludhiana Zone, in which different high schools of the district took part.

SAMRALA

Training camp

A sports training camp for girls is being organised by Shahi Sports Centre, Samrala, from October 23 to November 21 in two shifts daily, according to Mr Gurbir Shahi director of the centre. He said the centre will make the arrangements of boarding and lodging for the participants in the camp.