Vishnoi demands Rs 50 cr package for diseases

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Health Minister Ajay Vishnoi has demanded special package of Rs 50 crore from Centre to fight against the diseases of Dengue and Chikungunya. He has also requested to open a modern laboratory like Delhi and Pune, at Bhopal for testing samples of such diseases. Vishnoi, who had returned from New Delhi after participating in a meeting of health ministers from different states facing Dengue and Chikungunya menace, was talking to media persons on Wednesday evening.

 

Polio case detected in Bhind

Bhopal: The pulse polio campaign of Madhya Pradesh government suffered a major setback with the identification of fresh polio case in Bhind district despite the fact that the victim had been administered the drops during five of such campaigns. A Mumbai based research institute, on Tuesday confirmed the presence of poliovirus in 14-month old Shivani, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) KM Ojha stated. He confirmed that the child had been administered the drops for five times.

 

Facilities at Hamidia hospital

Bhopal: Hamidia Hospital of Gandhi Medical College (GMC) would be allocated sufficient funds for facilities like elevators, generators and high masks. Besides, medical research would also be promoted at the institute, said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan during a national seminar on TB and respiratory diseases held here at the college premises on Saturday. The Chief Minister also asserted that increasing the retirement age of medical experts would be considered so that people may benefit from their experience. Dr D Bahera from PGI, Chandigarh was special guest on the occasion.

 

'Janani Sahayogi' scheme with private-sector participation

Bhopal: With an objective of promoting institutional delivery, the Madhya Pradesh government will launch a 'Janani Sahayogi' scheme with private-sector participation, from October 15. Health and Family Welfare Minister Ajay Vishnoi while talking to reporters here on Wednesday said, “The scheme is for those belonging Below Poverty Line (BPL) and the initial provision of Rs 10 crore has been made in the budget for the scheme. This is the first state to implement the scheme for reducing maternal and infant mortality.”

 

54.3 percent women anemic in MP: Survey

Bhopal: More than 54.3 percent women of Madhya Pradesh are anemic. The findings of National Family Health Survey II are reveal that the women are living under pathetic condition in the state. The only scheme being run by Centre is National Anemic control programme, under which medicines are provided to the women in rural areas. Besides, the State Government through its Anganwadi programmes, supply iron tablets to the women.
 

Male-female ratio declining in MP

Bhopal: Alarmed with the declining male-female ratio in Madhya Pradesh, the State Woman Commission has launched a special drive to create awareness among the people in different parts of the state.
The State Woman Commission is conducting camps in different parts of the state to improve the sex ratio in the state. Commission member Ms Rajo Malviya said that the Commission is conducting special camps to redress the problems of common people. "We basically, redress the problems related to child marriage and caste disputes, but making attempts to strengthen the women," he added.
The situation of female feticide is worse in the caste-dominated areas like Morena, Bhind, Gwalior and Guna district. As per government records, the sex ratio in Madhya Pradesh is 933 women for every 1000 men, while in these districts the ratio is just 833. Official sources claimed that the ratio is much better in the tribal dominated districts. In Jhabua, there are over 900 females in comparison to 1000 males.
The Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act (PNDT Act) states that its violation is punishable with a jail-term of up to five years and a fine of Rs 5 lakhs. The State Government issued strict directives imposing ban on sex determination test, but it still continues in the far-flung areas. Mr Yogesh Sharma of NGO 'Samarthan' said that the social issues play important role behind the decreasing sex ratio. The main factor is dowry, because people have to arrange for the dowry for marriage of the girl and thus they count the girls in terms of money they have to spend.
The other reason is the protection of girls during adolescence. As the law and order situation is deteriorating in the state and cases of rape and molestation are on rise, the parents find it difficult to take care of daughters, he added. It is surprising, but Mr Sharma stated that the tribals are more aware towards the sex ratio. They consider the females equivalent to the males and thus the sex ratio is far better in tribal areas, he added.
 

Herbal Cure for cancer in the offing

Believe it, vermillion—a symbol of mutual trust, dedication and lifelong companionship--used by married women in India can actually prolong one's life. The plant's seeds have medicinal properties that would be used to treat deadly cancer tumors and ulcers. Not only this, turmeric leaves and Custuta Reflexa (Amar Bel) would be used to treat bacterial diseases and even pneumonia, which inflicts children quite easily. In a paradigm shift from intricate and side-effects prone allopathic treatment, the researchers at Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital of Bhopal have been undertaking pathbreaking research in herbal medicines, and would soon be presented to the government of India, formally.

"Cancer treatment is expensive and when we find people hard-clutched by the disease in absence of financial resources, it is unfortunate for entire humanity. That's why we are striving hard to come out with herbal medicines that cost negligibly and even do not cast any side-effects," the Research Head of the hospital N Ganesh shared the basics behind the researches. The laboratory is one-of-its-kind to study cancer genetics, in Madhya Pradesh.

 Though vermillion plant, Anato, profoundly exists in southern parts of the country, it is also seen intensively at the Budhni belt of Madhya Pradesh. Coincidentally, at one end its seeds are used to extract natural vermillion, the same would be utilised to treat cancer tumors and ulcers as well. Notably, every second day, a new case of cancer comes to fore in Bhopal and the city has second highest incidents of mouth cancer in the country, director of cancer hospital KV Pandya said. Inhaling of Methyl Iso Cynate (MIC)—Bhopal Gas Tragedy 1984-- is also deemed as the biggest cause of cancer in the city.

"If such kind of treatment is made available for cancer patients, it would be a breakthrough and the caretakers of the patients will not be under pressure as present," said Gurubhajan, whose 56-year old mother is suffering cancer. The unit is also on the last stages to introduce Adhosa herb, which could be used as an anti-radiation element during the radiotherapy. Nevertheless, the natural extract of turmeric leaves and amar bel has been duly proved as a cure for bacterial infections, pneumonia, and wound healing. The extract would be specifically useful for children and soldiers, who do not have access to instant medication on getting wounded. "Anyone can keep a small bottle of the extract with him, and use it as per his own will," Dr Ganesh said. However, on the question of patenting these processes, Dr Ganesh finds his unit helpless since it is already crumbling with lack of required resources.