No privacy in Omandurar Medical College, even to relieve oneself

No privacy in Omandurar Medical College, even to relieve oneself

As the number of Covid cases has been reducing, the male and female units have been merged, both in the general Covid ward and the Covid ICU, patients said.

Published: 30th June 2021 04:35 AM |

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: 70-year-old Valarmathi (name changed) who is bedridden due to a Covid-related illness at the Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, has been relieving herself in front of other patients and their attendants, including men, for the past week.

As the number of Covid cases has been reducing, the male and female units have been merged, both in the general Covid ward and the Covid ICU, patients said. The hospital’s dean, Dr R Jayanthi, said male and female patients are lodged separately, but photos from patients suggest otherwise.

“Only two screens are provided to cover the patient. So, at least one person can see the patient at all times. This is the case in both ICU and general Covid ward. This adds to the emotional trauma and suffering,” said Valarmathi’s attendant.

Only two screens are provided to cover the patient, so at least one person can see  the patient at all times, said an attendant;

Besides, attendants are again being allowed in Covid wards though the government has prohibited this. Photos shared by patients in the Covid ward show attendants sitting on the beds along with patients.

Valarmathi’s attendant added that the body of a patient who died was only taken away one-and-a-half hours later.

P Ravi, whose father was admitted to the hospital, said the washrooms are seldom cleaned. “There is an unbearable stench, and this adds to the patients’ suffering. When the patient beside my father died, my father started panicking as his body remained there. Though the doctors are doing a great job, the facilities are poor.”

Another patient, on condition of anonymity, said the oxygen concentrators were not working. “They had to check three or four concentrators before finding one that works. But even them the flowmeter knob was not working. Before the number of cases rises again, the government should repair the equipment,” he said.

The dean said she would assess and address the situation.

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'ரஜினிக்கு மட்டும் என்ன ஸ்பெஷல்?'

'ரஜினிக்கு மட்டும் என்ன ஸ்பெஷல்?'

Updated : ஜூன் 29, 2021 07:08 |

சென்னை : 'அமெரிக்கா செல்ல இந்தியர்களுக்கு தடையுள்ள நிலையில், ரஜினி மட்டும் சிகிச்சைக்காக சென்றது மர்மமாக உள்ளது' என, நடிகை கஸ்துாரி கூறியுள்ளார்.

அண்ணாத்த படப்பிடிப்பை முடித்து, அமெரிக்காவுக்கு சென்று சிகிச்சை மேற்கொள்ள திட்டமிட்ட ரஜினி, இதற்காக மத்திய அரசிடம் அனுமதி கேட்டிருந்தார். அனுமதி கிடைத்த நிலையில், கடந்த வாரம் ரஜினிக்கு சிகிச்சை நல்லபடியாக முடிந்துள்ளது. சில வாரம் ஓய்வுக்கு பின், இந்தியா திரும்ப உள்ளார்.

இந்நிலையில், ரஜினி அமெரிக்கா சென்றது குறித்து, நடிகை கஸ்துாரி, 'டுவிட்டரில்' கேள்வி எழுப்பியுள்ளார். அவர் கூறியுள்ளதாவது: கொரோனா காரணமாக, இந்தியர்கள், மே மாதம் முதல் நேரடியாக அமெரிக்கா செல்ல தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மருத்துவ விதிவிலக்குகள் எதுவும் வழங்கப்படவில்லை.

பின், எப்படி இந்த நேரத்தில் ரஜினி பயணம் செய்தார்? அவர் அரசியலில் இருந்து விலகியது உள்ளிட்ட எதுவும் சரியாகப் படவில்லை. இதை ரஜினி தான் தெளிவுபடுத்த வேண்டும். அமெரிக்காவில் பணிபுரியும் இந்தியர்கள் அல்லது படிப்பவர்கள் மட்டும், அமெரிக்கா திரும்ப அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறது. அதுவும் மற்ற நாடுகளின் வழியே தான் அனுமதி கிடைக்கிறது.

ரஜினி, இந்திய அரசிடமிருந்து மருத்துவ விலக்கு பெற்று பயணித்து இருக்கலாம். இந்தியாவில் சிறந்த மருத்துவமனைகள் உள்ள நிலையில், ரஜினிக்கு சிகிச்சை தர முடியாத அளவுக்கு என்ன பாதிப்பு உள்ளது என்பதையும் அவர் தெளிவுபடுத்த வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

Univ bags 2 patents in 2 months

Univ bags 2 patents in 2 months

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:29.06.2021

Bharathiar University has bagged two patents for its innovative projects in the last two months.

While a patent is for identifying and isolating compounds with anti-diabetic potentials from wild jamun fruit tree, the other is for standardizing a method for recovery of metals from metal bearing solid wastes.

According to a statement from the university, patent application for the former project was filed on September 9, 2015 and after the screening process by the patent committee, the patent was granted on June 25 (Friday). Similarly, the patent application for the latter project was filed on October 1, 2020 and patent was granted on May 18, 2021.

Patent officer and professor T Parimelazhagan said this is the first time that compounds with anti-diabetic properties are found in wild jamun fruit tree, scientifically known as Syzygium mundagam, in the Western Ghats. A professor in the department of botany, Parimelazhagan started to explore the scientific biological properties of the tree. The research in this field was carried out by research scholar Rahul Chandran, who is currently working as a research coordinator in Laser Research centre at the University of Johannesburg.

Parimelazhagan said, “We have identified four compounds that are rich in anti-diabetic properties from the paste of the tree’s bark. We have standardized the process as well.”

The statement said it could be a natural medication with less side effects for treating diabetic patients, cost effective and would benefit a lot of people. Farmers can also gain benefit by cultivating the plant based on the demand and therefore in turn can improve their socioeconomic status.

Another research was done by K Ramachandran, associate professor, department of physics, along with his research scholars R Saravanakumar and PV Anathapadmanabhan.

The statement said their research involved reduction of metal oxides and recovery of metals from the heterogeneous waste of complex oxide mixture containing elements like aluminium, magnesium and iron. It is typical composition of the chromium bearing solid waste dumped in Ranipet district.

“This process is superior and efficient when compared to the conventional bio, hydro and other pyrometallurgical processing of metal bearing wastes. It is fast, environment-friendly and single step process. This process could be used to recover metals such as iron, chromium, nickel, cobal, zinc, manganese and silicon from metal beating wastes,” the statement added.

INNOVATION AT WORK: Bharathiar University got a patent for identifying and isolating compounds with anti-diabetic potentials from wild jamun fruit tree, and another for standardizing a method for recovery of metals from solid wastes

Saveetha installs GPS-like system for complex surgeries

Saveetha installs GPS-like system for complex surgeries

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.06.2021

Saveetha Dental College has installed a dynamic navigation system that guides surgeons in faster planning of complex surgeries with high precision and also minimise complications for patients. The college signed an MoU with the University of Glasgow, UK, to conduct research and gather scientific data on the performance of the device.

Dr Abdul Wahab, head of OMFS, Saveetha Dental College said the device, which looks like an ultrasound machine, helps surgeons in the removal of a tumor or a bullet lodges deep into the layers of the face that require a bigger incision. “It works like a GPS for vehicle navigation. Using the machine requires a smaller incision and a monitor will show the movement of the probe in the form of a CT scan,” he said. The device can be used for maxillofacial surgical procedures, endodontic procedures and for dental implant procedures.

The probe, which goes into the patient’s body, is attached with a sensor to link it to another device mounted on the patient’s head.

Rly plans to link passengers’ identity card to IRCTC site

Rly plans to link passengers’ identity card to IRCTC site

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.06.2021

The railways is speeding up implementation of tech-oriented initiatives to make travel hassle-free and safe when services return to normal.

It plans to link passengers’ identity cards to tickets to crack down on touts; expand the centralised CCTV camera network so that live footage from stations and trains can be monitored in zones and at railway board level under a good surveillance and response mechanism; and create an app for railway staff and passengers to upload complaints on board trains.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is looking at the possibility of linking government issued identity cards like Aadhaar card or PAN cards to IRCTC site for online booking to ensure only genuine passengers travel and to crack down on touts.

Work is also on to have centralised CCTV surveillance of all stations at zonal level and also at railway board level, said RPF director general Arun Kumar.

The railways is working to create a network for linking the cards with the ticketing site. As part of the initiative to increase surveillance at stations and on trains, CCTV networks are being expanded with a central monitoring system at all railway zones, he added.

In Southern Railway, work began long ago and the CCTV network in 43 stations is linked to a central monitoring facility in Chennai where staff watch the footage for better response to needs of passengers and to prevent crime.

The monitoring facility at zonal level has been set up at MGR Central railway station. The initiative started with 33 stations including Thirumailai, Pazhavanthangal, St Thomas Mount, Chengalpet, Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai, Kovilpatti Tuticorin, Tirupur, Salem and Erode in TN and others in neighbouring states.

An official said it would be expanded in the coming months.

The surveillance will be complemented with an easy-to-use app for passengers to register complaints with railway staff and RPF on trains.

The rail suraksha app will soon be launched using which TTE or RPF or railway police will be able to upload the complaint of passengers for registering at the appropriate location.

This is aimed at eliminating hassles faced by passengers in filing complaints, leading to crime going undetected, Arunkumar.

As part of the initiative to increase surveillance at stations and on trains, CCTV networks are being expanded with a central monitoring system at all railway zones, he added.said RPF director general Arun Kumar