AIDS Spreading Its tentacles in rural areas

AIDS Spreading Its tentacles in rural areas

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Feb 13: With the detection of increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases from rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to involve cultural organisations and theater groups to reach out to ruralities and create awareness among them about the preventive measures against the deadly virus.

According to the officials, the State AIDS Control Society has invited youth clubs and NGOs to start awareness campaigns about the deadly disease and provide consultancy services to the rural population, who are mostly unaware about the threat.

Sources said that the step has been taken after the health officials conveyed the alarming situation after the detection of some cases in far-flung areas from where the people work as labourers or drivers in different parts of the country.

“Although we have been listed among the topper states in launching a successful campaign against the AIDS, but so far it has remained concentrated to cities and a few towns with the rural areas receiving less attention”, said an official.

As per the records, there are 1800 full blown AIDS cases registered with the society, but their number could be in thousands as many affected persons are unaware about the infection.

Each event will be of three hours duration comprising of folk songs on AIDS awareness followed by a drama, skit and a lecture- interaction by a doctor or a counscellor attached with each group. The selected groups will be paid Rs 3000 on account of performance for each programme at village, block and tehsil levels.

“The aim of these performances is to disseminate information to the rural population through folk media about the disease which possesses a serious threat to society. For rural population seminars and debates have little meaning”, said an official from the society.

Director, AIDS Control Society, Dr. Wasim Qureshi said that though the state falls in low prevalence zone but many full blown cases have been detected in the state.

“Our main worry is the people who don’t come forward and they have to be identified so that medical help could be provided to them”.

19 killed in matador accident in Gandoh, one airlifted

Tragedy again struck Doda

19 killed in matador accident in Gandoh, one airlifted

Yash Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 10: In a tragic road mishap nineteen passengers were killed while one person was critically wounded, when a passenger Matador in which they were travelling in skidded off the road and rolled down into a deep gorge at Manoi under the jurisdiction of Police Station Gandoh of district Doda this morning.

The ill fated vehicle bearing registration No. 2169/JK06 was on its way from Gowari (Gandoh) to Thathri when the mishap occurred at Manoi Gandoh. The ill fated vehicle fell into a 200 feet deep gorge.

On receipt of the information Police rushed to the spot and launched rescue operation. The occupants of the vehicle have been evacuated and rushed to nearby hospital (E.H Thathri) where nineteen passengers have been declared as brought dead, while one critically wounded person namely Riaz Ahmed son of Mohammad Ramzan resident of Sarlia has been airlifted to GMC Jammu for specialized treatment after giving the First Aid treatment at EH Thathri.

The deceased have been identified as Amit Singh son of Om Prakash resident of Bunecha Gandoh, Age 22 yrs, Noor Mohd son of Ali Gujjar resident of Drie Gandoh, Age 20 yrs., Abbas Ahmed son of Gh. Ali Gujjar resident of Drie Gandoh, Age 14 yrs., Devi Chand son of Jagat Ram resident of Alni Gajote Gandoh, Age 45 yrs., Raj Mohd son of Mohd Shafi resident of Charalla Thathri, Age 32 yrs., Mohd Shafi son of Mohammada Ganai resident of Amrithgarh, Charalla Thathri , Age 60 yrs.

Sunehlata Devi daughter of Bhagat Ram resident of Sumie Gandoh, Age 30 yrs, Kamaldeep Singh son of Bhagat Ram resident of Sumie Gandoh, Age 19 yrs., Noor Mohd son of Atta Mohd resident of Dudwar Gandoh, Age 55 yrs., Naseema Begum wife of Noor Mohd resident of Dudwar Gandoh, Age 50 yrs,, Mohd Imran son of Mohd Ramzan resident of Kilothran Gandoh, Age 20 yrs., Driver Liaqat Ali son of Jaan Mohad resident of Changa Gandoh, Age 32 yrs., Shafkat Ali son of Ab. Rashid resident of Bisran Gandoh, Age 14 yrs., Fatima Begum wife of Rehmatullah resident of Kilothran Gandoh, Age 35 yrs.

Jabeena Begum Wife of Mohd Amin resident of Huja Beoli Gandoh Age 35 yrs., Nasreena daughter of Mohd Shafi resident of Amrithgarh Chiralla Thathri, Age 25 yrs., Sunil Kumar son of Balwant Singh resident of Bunela Gandoh, Age 21 yrs., Ashiq Hussain son of Rehmatullah resident of Thaloran Gandoh, age 12 yrs. and Rajinder Singh son of Basant Ram resident of Kota Gandoh, age 21 yrs.

All the dead bodies have been handed over to legal heirs for last rites. Development Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Doda was camping on the spot till late hours.

Police refuses to file FIR against the accused officer, who beat up driver on Feb 6

Driver beating case
Police refuses to file FIR against the accused officer, who beat up driver on Feb 6

Yash Khajuria                                                                          2/9/2012 10:02:59 PM
JAMMU, Feb 09: Even after three days since a Probationary Sub-Inspector (PSI) beat up a driver of CID wing of Jammu and Kashmir, police has refused to file FIR against the officer.

In turn the poor driver is being harassed to compromise with PSI to hush up the case, showing another face of the police department, where corruption has reached its peak.

The inhuman face of the police can be gauged from the fact that the driver was mercilessly beaten up by the officer in presence of other police personnel in clear violation of the rules and norms.

“Police has refused to file FIR and is putting pressure on me for compromise. But I will not budge from my stance and want action against the officer, who beat up me in full public view”, said the victim Ashok Kumar.

Ashok who also lost a tooth in the incident said that despite his pleas to stop beating him, the officer even used filthy language against the family members of the victim.

What makes the incident shocking is that the PSI had just passed out from PTA, Udhampur, the highest temple where officers are taught to the highest traditions of the police force.

“The officer lost his temper on trivial issue when PSI Sushil Choudhary asked Ashok Kumar, to stop smoking cigarette outside the Radio station, Panjirthi”, he said.
He said that after the incident, he spoke to SP (CID CI) Joginder Singh, who was holding the charge of SSP CID in the absence of Rajinder Gupta who was on leave.

Singh said due to some misunderstanding over cigarette smoking, Ashok was taken by the PSI to the Pacca Danga police station and beaten severely as a result of which he lost his one tooth.

“Because I am just a driver, that is why no action is being taken against the officer. But I will not stay silent against the excesses committed against me”, said Ashok.

Bio medical waste

Bio medical waste
Few hospitals in J&K have waste disposal plants
Yash Khajuria	7:39:22 PM
JAMMU, Jan 29: As most of the health institutions in Jammu and Kashmir are openly ‘defying’ the Bio-Medical Waste Disposal norms and have failed to install treatment plants, state government has issued a fresh warning to them, threatening their closure. In a warning issued by State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), it has asked nearly 200 nursing homes and health centres to comply with the orders issued by the government from time to time, or be prepare for the closure of their units. “After taking action against the private nursing homes that does not have proper health infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, government will now take action against those who does not have proper disposal facilities”, said a senior officer from the Pollution Control Board. In accordance to rule 5 (2) of Bio Medical Waste Management and Handing Rules 1998 (Amended 2003 it is mandatory for every occupier to set up bio medical waste treatment facilities like incinerators, autoclave, microwave system for the treatment of waste or ensure treatment of waster at a common waste treatment facility or any other treatment facility. But in J&K very few Health institutions have installed this facility. It has been observed in some of the health care centres the bio medical water generated is not managed and disposed off in accordance with the Bio-Medical Waste (BMW) rules and no proper records regarding quantity of infectious waste, the method of treatment and disposal are being maintained. As per the warning issued by the PCB, “All health care establishments have been advised to pursue the BMW rules or else the authorization granted by the J&K SPCB will be withdrawn cancelled under he rules. Defaulters are liable to be prosecuted under he provisions of the environment protection act 1986 which may include closure of the centre”. Officials said that there are clear directions that those health centres who have tied up with any of the Common Bio Medical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) in the private sector must ensure that the waste collected by CBWTF is actually being disposed off scientifically and in BMW rules and does not find its way into any water body or is not illegally sold off to scrap dealers or mixed with municipal solid waste. It is pertinent to mention here that nearly 60 private nursing homes operating in Jammu and Kashmir had faced the heat of government, after the Health Department has constituted an inspection committee with directions to submit a detailed report to the government. Sources said that report has been submitted to the government and action is likely to be taken in next few weeks. Sources said that Health Department was waiting for the report as the Supreme Court had asked the state government to give time to these nursing homes to improve their infrastructure after they have approached the SC in month of April, following ultimatum for their closure. When contacted Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma said, “Though we may again face some bottlenecks as Private Nursing Home act has not been amended since 1963, but we are determined this time to act tough”. Majority of private nursing homes are functioning in gross violation of the directions of the apex court on the issue. “Most of the nursing homes were allegedly money minting shops which besides charging the patients exorbitantly fail to provide proper treatment due to lack of required equipment and other facilities.