Chandigarh, February 14
Besides genes, nutrition and environment play a major role in developing cleft lip and cleft palate disorder among newborns. The chances of having a child with deformities increase if patients suffer from the disorder, claims Dr R.K. Sharma, head of the department of plastic surgery, PGI.

Mr Sharma, addressing mediapersons, said over 300 delegates from all over India were expected to attend the sixth annual conference on “Expanding the Horizons of Cleft Care” to be organised by the Indian Society of Cleft Lip, Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies” to be held in the PGI from Friday. About 20 delegates from SAARC countries will also share their experiences in this four-day conference, he said.

He disclosed that birth defects were common in the world, the incidence of disorder in India was about 1 in 800 and it was estimated that about 35,000 new children were born with these defects every year.

Apart from the cleft lip and palate, certain other congenital anomalies, including misshaped skull, part of the brain protruding outside through skull, nose or eyes and widely set eyes were affecting the children. In addition to obvious cosmetic deformity, these conditions could also lead to serious problems with functioning of brain and might also lead to loss of eyesight, he added.

Awareness about the cause of deformities among suspecting mothers and couples, planning expansion of their families, could help in reducing the chances of babies with deformities.

The total management of the deformities needed a teamwork necessitating harmonious coordination amongst various specialists like plastic surgeon, oral surgeon, otolaryngologist, orthodontist, speech and language pathologist pediatrician, psychologists and social workers, claims plastic surgeons, Dr Surinder Makkar and Dr Atul Parashar.

Use of folic acid reduces the chances of having deformed-babies to a large extent. The doctors also laid stress on administration of folic acid to the pregnant women for avoid the risk of having babies with these deformities.

The PGI has tied up with “Smile Train Inc”, a New-York based charity organisation, for providing free treatment (surgical correction) to the cleft patients in the PGI. The services are likely to be operational from next month. This collaboration will also provide education to the public on as to how the incidence of these defects can be brought down.

Chandigarh, February 14
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have been emerging as a major challenge in the country. These have been adding to the mortality rate among patients post surgery. The HAIs are more difficult to treat that community related infections, claimed Dr Jagdish Chander, head of the Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32.

He disclosed that these infections come from people, objects, food, water and air in the hospital. Other factors are the use of antibiotics indwelling catheters and intravascular devices. The use of a nasogastric tube (tube inserted into the stomach) may increase the risk.

The diagnosis of the HIA and methods of their management would be taken up in the IXth National Conference organised by the Hospital Infection Society of India at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, from February 15 to 18.

Over 300 delegates from the country and 20 from abroad would participate in the conference and share their experience and views, informed Dr Varsha Gupta, treasurer of the organising committee of conference. — TNS

Chandigarh, February 14
In a hard fought final, played at Athletics Stadium, Sector 7 here, the Central Revenue Sports Board, Chennai team defeated CCE Delhi by 25-17 and 25-19 to lift the winners’ trophy in the Central Revenue Sports Board Inter-State Invitational Volley-Ball Tournament today.

Former international players Shard Kaushik, R.K. Malik and Satish Chaudhary represented CCE, Delhi whereas Jose Thomas and V. Manohar were part of the Chennai team.

In the veterans’ section for men, CCE, Delhi emerged winner defeating CRSB Chennai by 25-17 and 25-20 while Income-Tax, Guwahati won the title in the womens’ section.

Mr D.S. Sra, Chief Commissioner, Central Excise(CZ), Chandigarh gave away the medals and certificates to the winner and runner-up teams. 

Chandigarh, February 14
The Department of Personnel, Chandigarh Administration, in a communication to the heads of department of institutions, boards and corporations, has sought implementation of the assured career progression (ACP) scheme.

The scheme of the Punjab Government has been adopted by the Chandigarh Administration with effect from November 1. The scheme is applicable to the clerks, senior clerks and junior assistants.

The orders have been issued following a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to adopt the Punjab pattern in following the scheme. Though the scheme had been initially implemented from November 1, 2006, the heads of department have again been asked to intimate the scheme to all concerned.

It has been said that the scheme of career advancement will apply on completion of four, nine and 14 years of service, both in case of UT employees and deputationists from Punjab. The scheme was announced by the Punjab Government recently.

As per the document, the scheme is optional. An employee, “including those having less than four years service,” will have either the option to continue in the existing scheme of 8, 16, 24 and 32 years or to opt for 4, 9 and 14 years for career advancements. All employees have been asked to fill in their preferences within two months from November 1.

Under the new scheme, after the fixed number of years in a post, an employee, who is not promoted on account of non-availability of a vacancy, shall be granted the pay in the higher pay scale. An employee shall be entitled to a maximum of three placements in the next higher scale with the benefit of one increment at each placement.

An employee shall be entitled to a maximum of three placements in the next higher scales in the hierarchy of pay scales with the benefit of one increment at every placement. An employee, who opts for the scheme but has already availed of the benefit of two placements in the higher scales of hierarchy and two proficiency set-ups, will have to loose the benefit of increment granted after 32 years. His pay will be refixed from November 1.

The placement in the next higher scale shall be allowed only to employees whose track record is ‘good’. ‘Good’ means more than 50 per cent annual confidential reports of the employee were good and last three year’s report should also be ‘good’.

On placement in the next higher scale, an employee will continue to do the same work and there will be no need for creation of any separate post. An employee, who was dismissed from service, is under suspension or on leave, will be allowed to exercise his option within two months of his joining duty.