The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

BODY & MIND
Not looking far for better eye care
Tripti Nath

DR Mahipal Sachdev, medical director of Centre for Sight and senior consultant, Ophthalmologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, has introduced ultra-modern cataract surgery and glaucoma treatment at Centre for Sight in Green Park, East Delhi and Faridabad.

The new centre in East Delhi (81, Defence Enclave) will be inaugurated by the Union Health Minister, Mr Shatrughan Sinha, on October 29. Dr Sachdev has already done 200 Phacoknit, the latest revolution in phaco emulsification for treatment of cataract.

He claims that the Centre for Sight has taken the lead in the National Capital Region (NCR) to start Phacoknit. “People had to travel out of Delhi for quality care. So, we decided to offer the latest technologies in the NCR region. While Phaco emulsification results in heat generation, Phacoknit uses a new software called cold phaco or white star. Thermal generation is less in Phacoknit. In normal phaco, the size of incision is 3.2 mm.

In Phacoknit, the size of the incision is reduced to 1 mm. This expedites recovery and restoration of sight. The surgery costs Rs 20,000,” says Dr Sachdev.

The new centres will also offer Excimer Laser technique for treatment of glaucoma. According to Dr Sachdev, the Centre for Sight is the first in India to get this unit at a cost of Rs 50 lakh. The Excimer Laser started in Europe about two year back and is used to do trabeculotomy-to make a hole in the trabecular meshwork so that the pressure of the eye goes down.

The trabecular meshwork is an outlet for the drainage of the eye fluid. In glaucoma, the pressure of the eye goes up because of the decrease in the outflow of the fluid. Glaucoma is called a `silent thief of vision' and can result in irreversible blindness. The new Excimer technique costs Rs 25,000.

Having done Excimer Laser on 32 eyes and 22 patients with encouraging results, Dr Sachdev says that the quantity of drugs prescribed for glaucoma can either be eliminated or reduced considerably.

Dr Sachdev started the first Centre for Sight in Green Park in 1996 after resigning from RP Centre, AIIMS, as Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology. He was the first to introduce Wave Front Guided Lasik, fourth generation lasik laser for removal of glasses.

One of the first to use phaco emulsification in 1991, Dr Sachdev is credited with popularising the technique of `no injection, no pad, no stitch' cataract surgery or instant sight cataract surgery.

Workshop on visually disabled

The All India Confederation of the Blind in collaboration with Danish Association of the Blind and the Asian Blind Union is holding a five-day workshop on management of associations for blind instructors at Samrat Hotel here. Scheduled to begin on October 28, the workshop will be inaugurated by Arne J. Husveg, first vice-president of the World Blind Union. The objective of the workshop is to prepare a core group of blind instructors from 11 countries belonging to Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia and utilise their services in organising similar workshops in the coming months in Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Yemen. Of the 20 blind instructors participating in the workshop, three are from India (Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai). The other instructors are from Iran, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Health insurance for mechanics

In a meaningful corporate endeavour aimed at helping auto mechanics meet their health expenses, Delhi based Valvoline Cummins Ltd. has tied up with United India Assurance Co. Ltd.

The mediclaim policy, `Valvoline Suraksha Uphaar', announced by the company recently assures mechanics monetary assistance worth Rs 25,000, besides payment of premium in the first year.

The policy will be effective from the time of admission to the hospital. Mechanics interested in availing of the policy can pick up the forms from the sales staff and field force of the company in Okhla Industrial Area.

The CEO of Valvoline Cummins, Naveen Gupta explains, “We have constantly observed that mechanics, an integral part of our Valvoline family, can rarely afford the kind of medical expenditure that even a small illness entails. The mediclaim policy will enable us provide mechanics a healthy lifestyle and facilitate frequent interaction with them. The mechanic will be entitled to the best medical facility.''

Hi-tech linear accelerator

Cancer patients under medication at Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Research Centre at Vasundhara Enclave near Noida, can now look forward to better results from radiation. The 100-bed cancer hospital claims to be the first in the private sector in North India to install state-of-the-art digital, dual energy linear accelerator.

The machine, Primus from Simens, USA, will be inaugurated by President A.P.J Abdul Kalam on October 30.

Dr Dinesh Singh, Head of the Department of Radiotherapy at Dharamshila Cancer Hospital said that they were treating about 50 patients on radiation everyday.

“The hospital also has a Cobalt machine for radiation. The new machine is based on solid state switch technology. The output of radiation from this machine is very precise and stable,” says Dr Singh. Linear accelerator provides highly controlled radiation as per the computer plan. It delivers two types of radiation, X-ray protons and electrons with variable energies ranging from 6 Me V to 21 Me V. Before starting the radiation, three dimensional planning system directly acquires images of the patients tumour from a spiral C.T. scanner which leads to the exact mapping of the tumour. Depending on the location and specifications of the tumour, the most appropriate parameter is chosen for every patient to deliver radiation to the mapped tumour while saving normal surrounding tissues of the body. This helps in increasing cure rates and minimising the side effects of radiation.

Congress of child psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh is organising an international congress of child and adolescent psychiatry and allied professions in the National Capital.

The congress will be held at Hotel Ashok from October 29 to November 2. Delegates from the specialities of Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Psychology, Social Work (Psychiatric and General), counsellors, vocational guidance instructors and play therapists are expected to take part in the conference. The inaugural plenary lecture on `Humanism and the Child: Indian Experience', will be delivered by the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. This will be followed by two lectures by Dr A. Venkoba Rao and Dr V.K. Verma.

Experts in the field of Child Psychiatry including Dr N N Wig (India), Dr Sanya Glaser (UK) and Dr Stephen Scott (USA) will speak on issues such as child mental health in developing world, emotional abuse and neglect, conduct disorders and addiction. Symposia and presentations on other days will cover issues such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Epilepsy, transcultural issues, somatic problems, mood disorders, school mental health, chronic childhood physical illnesses, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autistic disorders, sexual exploitation, poverty and psychiatric morbidity.

The organisers are hopeful that the conference will provide trainees and experts from various fields of paediatrics, psychology, social work and other health related fields to update their knowledge on various aspects of childhood mental illness and other issues related to mental health.

Wanna check heart attack?
Keep your cool: Health gurus
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 26
Uncontrolled anger has been identified as a major risk factor for heart attack and paralytic stroke as negative emotions cause narrowing of arteries supplying blood to heart or brain in the long run, experts said here on Friday.

Eminent cardiologist and executive vice-president of Heart Care Foundation of India Dr K.K. Aggarwal, who is also presiding over the ongoing MTNL Perfect Health Mela in Talkatora Stadium said, “Angry thoughts and the resultant negative emotions circulate and react with every cell in the body instructing to constrict the arteries, increase the pulse rate and raise blood pressure.”

Repeated episodes of anger can lead to severe problems like heart attacks and paralysis and sometimes even sudden death, he said.

The Director Health Services, Dr R.N. Baishya, said that negative emotions like anger act as a slow poison which kills the individual over a period of time.

To control anger, the health experts suggested many exercises like observing silence for 20 to 30 minutes a day, speaking sweet and soft words and with every bout taking a brisk walk or drinking cold water, doing ‘pranayam’ and chanting of ‘Om’ for five to six minutes.

One should realise that during anger one loses the power of discrimination so it has to be controlled much before it becomes full-blown. The initial stage of the malaise is irritability and therefore its onset should be controlled at the earliest, they said.

Dr Aggarwal also cautioned people against running at a high speed while in a rage as it alarms the whole nervous system and chemicals such as adrenaline are released in large amount in the body.

People were also warned not to recall anger as that could also result in cardiac arrest.

The Health Mela, being organised by the Heart care foundation of India in association with NDMC, Department of Science and Technology and various other governmental and NGOs, also organised an inter-school quiz competition on Science and Health in which 25 schools participated. The mela would come to an end on October 27.

‘Men not taking enough AIDS prevention steps’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 26
The fast growing number of HIV positive cases is causing great concern to the government, AIDS-prevention organisations and medical professionals. Despite the awareness about AIDS prevention, the men visiting the red light areas are not in the habit of sufficient measures.

This was stated by the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government, Mrs Shailja Chandra, while inaugurating a seminar, ‘Safe Motherhood and Changing Scenario in High Risk Pregnancy’, organised by Kasturba Hospital and Maternity and Child Welfare Department of the MCD.

The Chief Secretary recalled the successful example of Bankok, which could achieve mind-boggling success in converting the country from one among the top in AIDS cases into an AIDS-less society. Sex education had been given from the school level to the student in Bankok while in India it was very difficult even to explain the term.

Mrs Chandra called upon medical professionals to improve the awareness of ordinary women so that during pregnancy and post pregnancy periods they were able to read the signs of distress. A number of risk factors were taken for granted and neglected therefore, information sharing was very important.

She emphasised the need for sympathy and compassion in handling pregnancy-related cases. There was a tendency to show irritation when poor and uneducated prospective mothers came for check-up and treatment. Such attitude discouraged women of lower strata discussing the problems with the doctors. She cautioned against the misuse of ultrasound machines for sex determination. This technique was of immense help if properly used, but its misuse should definitely be discouraged.

Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said that safe motherhood and effective management of high risk pregnancy could not be attained until and unless the entire population living in slums and JJ clusters was covered. Despite the successful implementation of India Population Project – VIII, the MCD had been able to cover only 12 lakh out of the 40 lakh population.

The Commissioner also stressed the need for bringing down not only the infant mortality rate but also the maternal morality rate. Both the rates were quite alarming by WHO standards.

Youngmen drub Hans in league
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 26
Youngmen drubbed Hans Club 3-0 in an A Division match of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Open Clubs Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital. Inside-right Mukesh opened the account in the seventh minute. Sanjay Sidhu scored two goals in the second half to complete the tally.

Panchkuian routed New Friends 9-1 in a B Division match. Surinder Bisht (2), Sumes Gosain (2), Ravinder Bisht, Kapil, Naresh, Rakesh and Rajeet were Panchkuian's goal-scorers. Balwant reduced the margin for New Friends. Paschim Heroes beat Rohini 2-0 in another match. D S Bisht and J Kumar were the goal-scorers.

NR win in DDA v'ball

Northern Railway downed Ruchika Club 25-19, 25-18 in the third DDA Invitational Volleyball Tournament at the Hari Nagar Sports Complex. Raj Rifles Regimental Centre beat Central Reserve Police Force B 25-17,25-20 and CRPF A beat Dhaka Club 25-13, 25-12 in other matches.

Northern Railway will take on Raj Rifles B and CRPF A will clash against Raj Rifles A in the semi-final matches.

PHD-GPI bridge tourney

The Godfrey Phillips India Ltd (GPI), in association with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), will organise the first-ever bridge tournament in India with a total prize money of Rs 6 lakh.

The tournament will be conducted in two categories-Team of Four Swiss League and Pairs. The three-day tournament will be held from November 8 to 11 at the PHD House in New Delhi. Leading bridge players will be vying for the Rai Bahadur GM Modi Centennial Trophy, instituted by GPI. Entries close on November 8 at 10 am.