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BODY & MIND
Ministry gears up to nip plague rumours in the bud
Tripti Nath
As the alarming news of the plague-like cases spreads, the Union Health Ministry has started a fire-fighting exercise. The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur, has allayed fears on the break-out of plague in some villages of Himachal Pradesh and
Uttaranchal.He said while the clinical presentation resembles plague-like fever, it is to be confirmed before the next 48 hours. The minister said that the very fact that no fresh case had been reported since February 8, indicated that the things were under control. Till date, two persons with plague-like symptoms died at Harkoti and Rohru while the third died at the PGI. Sources in the Health Ministry said that the PGIMER, Chandigarh, where nine persons with plague-like illness were under medication, had conducted a biochemical test of the bacterial growth to ascertain whether it was plague or not. Sources in the PGI said that they would know the results only on Monday afternoon. They said that the bacteria was yet to be identified as the culture had not grown fully. Besides, the result of the autopsy done on a woman who died of plague-like symptoms was also expected on Monday. It is noteworthy that all the nine patients, seven in the isolation ward and two in the paediatric ward are either family members or attendants. The National Institute of Communicable Disease has sent a team comprising an
epidemiologist, Dr Avdesh, a microbiologist, Dr Dipesh Bhattacharya, and a biochemist, Dr Arvind Rai. The team is expected to return to the Capital on Monday. The institute will start processing samples on their return. The processing of the samples takes 48 to 72 hours and this alone would help ascertain whether the infection has resulted in the much-dreaded plague. Sources in the Health Ministry said that the PGIMER, Chandigarh, was carrying out the tests. The NICD team is also monitoring the situation in Hatkoti and Rohru in Himachal Pradesh and Bhanpur in Uttaranchal to check the spread of the infection.
Medical meet Cidex Trade Fairs Private Limited, a joint venture of Messe Duesseldorf and KoelnMese International is organising a five-day event at Pragati Maidan. HOSPIMedica India 2002, India’s premier international show for the medical fraternity, is being organised in conjunction with the IXth International multi-faculty medical conference. The Indian participation is very impressive. While the
Healthcare division of BPL Ltd will showcase ECH machines, bedside monitors, ultrasound scanners, Cognate India will exhibit their electro-hydraullic/hydraullic operating tables and the Department of Atomic Energy will exhibit the latest on nuclear medicine and technology for sterilisation of medical products by exposure to radiation. Apart from this, Germany, Austria and DEnmark have confirmed their participation. The event will be inaugurated by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. A series of sessions conducted by leading hospitals and associations will throw light on the latest advances in the medical sector. While the All India Institute of Medical Sciences will hold sessions on cardiology and orthopaedics, the DGAFMC and Army Hospital will hold a session on disaster management. The Indraprastha Apollo Hospital will hold a session on critical care. This is the first time that the Army is participating in the exhibition. In his message, the Director-General, Armed Forces Medical services, Lt-Gen R K Jetley, said that that military medicine had become more relevant today in the prevailing global scenario of terrorism.
Breaking shacklesThe National Human Rights Commission has taken steps afresh to protect the interests of mentally ill persons. It has issued directions to the states and the union territories to certify that no mentally ill patients are kept in chains in any mental hospital/institution. The commission had taken up the issue on a complaint regarding the plight of mentally ill patients staying in Sultan Alayudeen Durgah, Goripalayam, Madurai (Tamil Nadu). It also sent a committee to inspect the durgah and make recommendations for the management of such patients. In mid-January, the commission sent a copy of the committee’s report to the Tamil Nadu government for implementation in early May and July-end. The efforts clearly proved futile after 28 chained inmates of Badhusha private mental asylum in Erwadi in Tamil Nadu were charred to death last August.
Cancer threat

Noted danseuse, Padma Shree Shovana Narayan, performing at a cancer awareness function, organised by the Indian Cancer Society at India Habitat Centre. |
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram stressed the need for greater awareness for early detection and treatment of cancer. Speaking at a fund-raiser, organised by the Indian Cancer Society at India Habitat Centre here this week, Mr Chidambaram said that the worst victims were those living in semi-urban and rural India where people were not so informed and suffer as cancer was not detected in the early stages. Padma Shree Kathak dancer Shovana Narayan and Ghazal singer Kavita Seth contributed to the success of the fund-raiser. Although the entry to the function was by invitation, visitors could leave donations on the desk. The proceeds will be used for the ICS activities on cancer awareness and detection. According to ICS, the threat of cancer looms large. While seven lakh cases of cancer are detected every year, the projections are thought-provoking. One in every eight Indians is likely to suffer from some kind of cancer. The incidence of cancer among women is doubly alarming. Statistics indicate that every 12 minutes, a woman dies of breast cancer. The number of cases of cervical cancer has also increased due to unhygienic conditions and lack of awareness. Referring to ignorance and poverty as main carcinogens, he said that the inability of the poor to afford treatment in the advanced stages of cancer led to higher incidence of deaths.
President-electFor the first time, the Delhi Medical Association has elected a government doctor as President-elect for 2003-2004. Dr Anil Bansal, Chairman of the anti-quackery cell of DMA who works in the NDMC dispensary, contested as an independent candidate. He will take over in April 2003. The President-elect for 2002-2003, Dr S.C.L Gupta, a cancer surgeon at Batra Hospital, will take over from Dr V.K. Monga on March 31. Dr Vinod Khetarpal and Dr H.S. Kukreja have been elected Senior Vice-President and Vice-President respectively. An apex body of Delhi doctors, the DMA was founded in 1914. Its 8000 members comprise private practitioners as well as doctors serving in the government and private hospitals. The main objective of DMA is to protect the interests of the members, organise Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes, help government organise various programmes like family welfare programmes, tuberculosis control and AIDS control. The DMA also organises health melas, blood donation camps, eye camps and mass awareness through exhibitions. 
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