HEALTH

Data centres for diseases remain on paper
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 27
Despite a WHO proposal for setting up a centralised data collection centre for various diseases in every state, the proposal has been gathering dust as the UT Health Department has failed to tabulate the statistics for malaria, dengue, cholera, tuberculosis and other ailments.

The matter came up for discussion at a WHO-sponsored workshop held at Bhopal on May 8.“It was pointed out at the workshop that every state must have an updated data collection centre for all diseases, its prevalence and the vulnerable areas,” said a senior health official.

Some of the states have in fact started the process of compilation of the data as per the WHO recommendations. A senior doctor from the UT Health Department also attended the workshop at Bhopal.

Under the national surveillance programme for communicable diseases a number of disease have been listed for which there should be complete data with the health authorities. The diseases covered under this programme includes malaria, blood dysentery, acute diarrhoea, plague, anthrax, chicken pox, typhoid, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue and haemmoragic fever.

Though there had been a proposal to have a data collection centre at the UT Health Department, but the proposal remained on paper only. “During crisis i.e. during the outbreak of a disease, we face a lot of problems as we do not have data for the previous years,” admitted a senior doctor of the department.

The Director, Health Services, Dr C.P.Bansal, said the procedure for setting up a centralised data collection centre would be possible only once computerisation starts. “We are trying our level best to get the computerisation project through as only after that we can think of having a data collection centre,” he stated. He added that having such a centre would prove to be very beneficial in case of framing policies, fund allocation and taking of preventive measures in case of an outbreak of a disease.

At present the system adopted by the health authorities has all hospitals and dispensaries and all programme officers sending all information to the nodal officer. “It is often seen that there is a delay in the sending information and at times when the Union Health Ministry asks for data we face problems,” said a senior doctor.

Under the old proposal it had been decided to entrust the responsibility of date collection to a senior doctor, who would be assisted by statisticians.

DC chairs meeting on pulse polio
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 27
A meeting of the District Coordination Committee was held today under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Satwanti Ahlawat for discussing preparations for the sub-national round of the Pulse Polio Campaign, to be held on July 1.

The DC said 69,400 children up to the age of five years would be administered polio drops in various parts of the district. A total of 308 booths have been set up all over the district and 11 mobile teams and six transit teams will be formed to cover all children in this age group.

Polio drops will be administered from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Around 1,200 workers, including health workers, ICDS workers, teachers and NSS workers and 52 supervisors from the Health Department have been employed for the effective implementation of this programme. Ms Ahlawat said 55 government vehicles had been requisitioned for the purpose.

The polio drops will also be administered at entry points from Zirakpur, Housing Board and T- point at the Mansa Devi complex from June 1- 3.

GMCH sweepers stage dharna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh May 27
Members of the Contractual Sweepers Union of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) today staged a dharna in protest against the retrenchment of some members by the private agency which had hired them.

Over 40 safai karamcharis have been retrenched by the Prehari Security Detective Services. The union alleged that despite the agreement with the contractor, none of the retrenched staff had been taken back.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Labour Commissioner has summoned union members for a meeting on May 30 to resolve the matter.

SPORTS

Two leave for Germany meet
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 27
Chetan Preet Kaur and Navdeep Dhillon today left for Suhl (Germany) for international shooting competitions which will begin from May 28. The three-member shooting team is lead by Meena Kumari, another star shooter of the country.

Navdeep is the daughter of Mr T.S. Dhillon, a former international shooter and now DIG in Srinagar. When contacted, Mr Dhillon said in this meet, many countries would take part. Mr Dhillon, who is also a member of the National Rifle Association of India, said Chetanpreet had won the bronze medal in the team event in the same competitions held in 2000. Dhillon further expressed hope that these girls are scoring 390-392 and Meena Kumari can even hope to score 395-396 , thus chances of winning a medal for the country. Chetanpreet had earlier taken part in the Czech Republic and Finland.