(c) Diseases common to the District
There are many diseases, which occur in the district. Out of those,
there are some diseases, which occur more frequently and effect more persons as
compared to others, which occur less frequently and effect less people. The
diseases which occur more frequently are called common diseases. These common
diseases are briefly described below:
(i) Fevers. Fevers are the main cause of deaths in the
district. These include ordinary fevers, typhoid, influenza and other seasonal
fevers, including malaria. These fevers are the result of infections, unhealthy
living and imbalanced diet, leading to low resistance. The causes of these
fevers have become almost chronic and it is extremely difficult to eradicate
them. In the past, these fevers were cured with various medicines, including
quinine. But, at present, their place has been taken by sulpha drugs and
antibiotics, which have been found to be very effective. Healthy living and
better diet would lessen to a considerably extent the incidence of general type
of fevers. During 1992, there were only 32 deaths in this district due to
typhoid and para-typhoid fevers, while deaths with pneumonia were 197 in the
district during the same year. Malaria has been brought under control with D.
D. T. Sprays which destroys mosquitoes.
(ii) Respiratory Diseases. Respiratory diseases, which are next in importance only to fevers, are also responsible for deaths in the district. These are caused by different types of smokes, fumes vapors of chemical gasses releases by the burning of charcoal, coke, etc. these gasses pollute the surrounding atmosphere all the time, thus affecting the health of the people. Smoke irritates the eyes, the throat and the lungs constantly. The insanitary conditions in the slums also cause the outbreak of these diseases.
In order to check the spread of such disease the Factories Act, 1948
lays down that there should be a proper disposal of gases entering the
atmosphere and any harmful effluents should be removed to far-off places, where
they do not adversely affect the health of the people.
Proper diagnostic facilities available in dispensaries and at the
public health centers, hospitals, provision of institutional facilities,
domiciliary treatment and follow-up of cases from diseases such as tuberculosis
and chronic bronchitis have brought down the mortality figures considerably.
The number of deaths in the district due to bronchitis and asthma were 281
during the year 1992.
(iii) Malaria. It is caused by blood parasite called
`plasmodium` which is present in the blood of the most important public health
problem in the State. It is essentially a rural problem and general poverty and
backwardness of rural area are a hurdle, which, the people of affected areas
are cannot be expected to surmount as they have no means to do so. It was
dreadful disease for years together and took a heavy toll of lives in the
district. Malaria epidemics occur from year to year after excessive monsoon
rainfall. Quinine, the only remedy for malaria was distributed in rural areas
through various agencies. It no doubt lowered the incidence but could not
eradicate the disease. It was only after the Independence that steps were taken
to control and ultimately to eradicate malaria.
At the time of Independence, malaria was considered as one of the major public health problem and to bring down the incidence of disease, National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) was started in the country in 1953 as a centrally sponsored scheme. To eradicate malaria this programme was converted into National Malaria Eradication Programme (N M E P) in 1958 on the advice of World Health Organisation (WHO). The main function of the NMEP was to detect malaria positive cases by collecting the blood smears of al the fever cases through the multipurpose health workers from house to house visits and to eliminate the disease altogether by thorough and effective attack on mosquitoes and human reservoir by application of insecticides and administration of anti-malaria drugs. The blood slides collected by the workers/passive agencies, etc. were examined in the laboratories of the respective medical institutions and the cases declared malaria positive by the microscopic examination were given radical treatment.
The malaria unit in Faridkot District is manned by 1 District
Epidemiologist (P. C. M. S.), 1 Assistant Malaria Officer, 1 Inspector
Vaccination, 3 Swasth Sahaikas, 2 Health Supervisors, 14 Laboratory
Technicians, 201 Multipurpose Health Workers besides other ministerial Class
III and miscellaneous Class IV staff.
Malaria Clinics. There are 45 malaria clinics in the district.
The blood slide of every fever case is prepared and is examined immediately. If
found positive for the presence of malaria parasite, then radical treatment is
given immediately on the same day. Data regarding surveillance and spray for
the year 1980 and 1985 to 1993 is given below:
|
Blood slides Cases found positive |
||||||
|
Year |
Collected |
Examined |
p. Vivex |
p. Faleipa- rum |
Radical-treatment |
API |
|
1980 |
1,78,875 |
1,78,875 |
8,548 |
180 |
7,966 |
6.0 |
|
1985 |
2,67,484 |
2,67,484 |
13,263 |
2,403 |
15,102 |
9.8 |
|
1988 |
1,54,322 |
1,54,322 |
1,836 |
5 |
1,798 |
1.2 |
|
1989 |
1,47,345 |
1,47,345 |
1,030 |
1 |
1,027 |
0.6 |
|
1990 |
1,44,787 |
1,44,787 |
712 |
781 |
708 |
0.4 |
|
1991 |
1,47,345 |
1,47,345 |
533 |
1 |
532 |
0.3 |
|
1992 |
1,64,128 |
1,64,128 |
405 |
2 |
406 |
0.2 |
|
1993 |
1,63,044 |
1,63,044 |
354 |
--- |
354 |
0.19 |
(Source: Director Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh)
(iv)
Communicable Diseases. Plague, Cholera and
small Pox are the main communicable diseases. A brief description of each of
these with particular reference to the district is given below:
No case a plague has been reported in the district during the last
thirty years. However, anti-plague measures are adopted every year. Sanitary
Inspectors and Swasth Sahikas are deputed to destroy rats by cynogassing the
rat holes, baiting with zinc phosphide and by laying rattraps. In one or two
extensive D. D. T. sprays, rats and fillies are also killed along with
mosquitoes. As a result of these measures, the district is free from this
infectious disease.
Cholera is an epidemic caused by infected food, water and drinks.
Symptoms of cholera are profuse and painless diarrhoea and vomiting. No death
with cholera has been reported in the district during 1986 to 1992. Incidence
of cholera has been low due to various preventive measures taken by the medical
authorities. These comprise proper arrangements for the disposal of refuse and
of human excreta, protection of eatables and supply of safe drinking water,
pollution, anti fly measures and mass inoculation of hospitals and
dispensaries. Similar preventive measures are taken on the eve of various fairs
held in the district so that the contagious diarrhoea is not imported from
outside.
Small pox used to be one of the leading cause of death and disfigurement of face in the past. The virulence of disease has been successively reduced by vaccination under National Small Pox Eradication Programme (N. S. E. P.), which was launched in the country in 1962-63. As a result of intensive vaccination drive, the disease has been completely eradicated from the State as well as from the country. In April 1977 India had been declared small pox free country and on 8 May 1980 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the global eradication of small pox. In May 1981 the Inter-national Health Regulations were amended by the 34th World Health Assembly to delete all references of small pox and small pox vaccination. All member States of WHO had officially discontinued compulsory small pox vaccination by 1982.
(v) Tuberculosis. India has accepted, District Tuberculosis Control Programme especially for the rural areas. This Programme envisages integration of specialized T. B. Service at the district headquarters with the general medical services at the periphery in the rural areas. All cases having cough, fever and weight loss from quite a long period are examined in T. B. Treatment Centre. The B.C.G. is an effective vaccination against tuberculosis. The District T. B. Officer, supervises the set-up to eradicate tuberculosis from the district. During the year 1992-93 there were 20 Microscopy Centres and 5 T. B. Treatment Centre in the district which give treatment to T. B. patients and distribute anti- T. B. patients were given treatment in Faridkot District up to 31 March 1993.
(d) Medical and Public Health services
At the district level Surgeon-cum-Deputy Director is the administrative head of the Health Department. He is also ex-officio District Registrar, Births and Deaths. Assistant Civil Surgeon, District Health Officer, District Family Welfare Officer, District Immunisation Officer, District T. B. Officer curative, preventive, family welfare, immunisation, tuberculosis and training work, respectively.
At the block level, the administrative control in the Department vests in the Senior Medical Officer of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and he looks after the implementation of various National Health Programmes in the Block. He also ensures proper curative services to the community.
In addition to the preventive and curative health services, the Civil Surgeon is responsible for the implementation of various National Health Programmes in the district i.e. National Family Welfare Programme, including Maternity and Child Health, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, National Malaria Eradication of Food and Drugs Act, Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, etc.
The civil Surgeon is assisted by 245 Medical Officers 2 Chief Pharmacists Grade I, 2 Chief Pharmacists Grade II and 208 Pharmacists and miscellaneous Class III and class IV staff.
Hospitals, Primary
Health Centres/Subsidiary Health Centres and Dispensaries
The main objective of the Department of Health and Family Welfares to provide positive health to people of the State. Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity. In order to achieve this objective, an integrated structure of health services was involved in the state integrating the curative and preventive services at all levels under one Chief Executive i.e. Director Health and Family welfare. The Department is committed to implement the national policies on health and population which aim at achieving health for all by 2000 A. D. During 1992-93, Rs 9.62 crore was incurred on health services.
Allopathic Medical Institutions. As on 1 April 1993, there were 182 allopathic institutions in the district. Their tahsil-wise and area wise break up is as under:
|
Tahsil |
Rural |
Urban |
Total |
|
Faridkot |
30 |
10 |
40 |
|
Moga |
65 |
5 |
70 |
|
Muktsar |
45 |
1 |
46 |
|
Malaut |
21 |
5 |
26 |
|
Total |
161 |
21 |
182 |
The management wise break up to the above allopathic institutions is 172 State Public, 9 State Special and 1 Voluntary Organisation, the List of hospitals, primary Health centers, subsidiary health centre and dispensaries in the district is given in Appendix II on pages 505 to 513.
Ayurvedic and Unani Medical Institutions. There were 26 ayurvedic and 2 Unani Government Institutions functioning in the Faridkot District during 1992-93. In each institution there was one Ayurvidic/Unani Medical Officer, 1 Dispensary and 1 Trained Dai. All these institutions were under the control of the Director Ayurveda Punjab, Chandigarh. Out of these 28 institutions, 23 were functioning in the rural areas and 5 in the urban areas. The tahsil-wise break up of institutions is as under:
|
Number of Institutions |
||
|
Tahsil |
Ayurvedic |
Unani |
|
Moga |
5 |
-- |
|
Muktsar |
8 |
2 |
|
Faridkot |
9 |
-- |
|
Malaut |
4 |
-- |
|
Total |
26 |
2 |
The number of patients treated in these dispensaries during 1992-93 was 1,41,901. The list of these dispensaries functioning in the district is given in Appendix III at pages 514 to 515.
Homoeopathic
Medical Institutions. Directorate of
Homoeopathic has been separated from Ayurvedic Department with effect from 1
May 1980. As on 1 April 1993, there
were 7 homoeopathic dispensaries in the district at Faridkot, Ena Khera, Virk
Khera, Giddarbaha, Bir Chaluwala, Moga and Kot Kapura. These dispensaries are
functioning under the administrative control of joint secretary, Health, who is
head of the Homoeopathic Department, Punjab. In each of these dispensaries
there is one physician, one Dispensary and one Dai, besides Class IV staff.
During the year 1992 the number of patients given treatment in these
dispensaries was 8,220.
Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, Faridkot. It was established by the rulers of the erstwhile princely State of Faridkot. After the Independence, with the formation of PEPSU, the hospital was designated as Civil Hospital. After the establishment of Guru Gobind Singh medical College at Faridkot the hospital was handed over to the Medical College in July 1979. It was made a fullfledge teaching hospital with 450 beds (225 for males and 225 for females). The hospital was manned by 9 Medical 1 Assistant Dental Surgeon, 2 Matrons 14 Nursing Sisters, 80 Staff Nurses besides miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff during 1992-93. In addition to this, a large number of doctors work in the hospital from Medical college side. The hospital provides specialized treatment in surgical, medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, eye, skin, radiology, dental and blood transfusion, etc. a blood bank also functions in the hospitals. The number of indoor and outdoor patients given treatment in the hospital during 1992-93 was 13,606 and 1,39,504, respectively.
Gurmeet
Singh Civil Hospital, Muktsar. The hospital
was established by the Municipal and it was taken over by the Government in
1970. It is a 50 bedded hospital (25 for males and 25 for females). During
1992-93 the hospital was manned by 9 doctors, 10 nurses, 3 pharmacists and
miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff. The hospital has an X-ray plant,
operation theatre and clinical laboratories.
During 1992-93, the number of indoor and outdoor
patients treated in the hospital was 2,087 and 46,224 respectively.
Civil
Hospital Giddarbaha. -- This hospital was
opened in 1942. It has 50 beds (25 for males and 25 for females). The hospital
is manned by 4 Doctors. 9 staff Nurses and miscellaneous Class IV staff. The
number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in the hospital during 1992-93
was 603 and 20,335 respectively.
Civil
Hospital Kot Kapura. This medical
institution was established in 1935. It is 50 bedded hospital (25 for males and
25 for females). It is manned by 4 Doctors, 3 Pharmacists, 10 Staff Nurses, 1
Nursing Sister, 1 Radiographer besides miscellaneous Class IV staff. The
medical facilities available in the hospital are surgical, obstetrics and
gynaecology, dental eye and ENT, etc.
The number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in the hospital during 1992-93 was 2,029 and 24,780 respectively.
Civil
Hospital, Jaito. Established in 1928, the
hospital has 10 beds (6 for males and 4 for females). It is manned by 1 Senior
Medical Officer, 1 Medical Officer, 3 Pharmacists, 1 Radiographer, 1 Trained
Dai and 1 Ophthalmic Assistant and miscellaneous Class IV staff. The hospital
provides medical facilities to the patients.
The number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in
the hospital during 1992-93 was 409 and 13,268 respectively.
Mathura
Dass Civil Hospital, Moga It was established in 1927. The hospital has 100
beds (50 for males and 50 for females). The Hospital is manned by 20 Doctors,
26 Nurses and miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff. The hospital provides
medical, surgical, gynaecological & obstetrics, eye, ENT, X-ray, ECG,
ultrasound, laboratory and blood transfusion facilities. There is also a blood
bank in the hospital.
The number of indoor and outdoor patients treated in
the hospital during 1992-93 was 4,036 and 52,970 respectively.
District
Jail Hospital, Faridkot. The hospital has
been functioning since 1932. It has 12 beds. In 1992-93, the hospital was
manned by 1 Medical Officer and one pharmacist. All general medical facilities
are available in the hospital. The number of patients treated in the hospitals
during 1992-93 was 44 and 11,346 respectively.
Shri
Satya Sai Murli Dhar Hospitals, Moga. The
hospital was established in 1973 and has 150 beds (75 males and 75 females).
The hospital has Out-Patient Department, Indoor Ward, Operation theatre,
Laboratory and Labour Room. It provides facilities like medicine, surgical,
paediatrics, gynaecological and obsteric, eye, ENT, X-Ray, ECG, etc. The
hospital is manned by one Medical Superintendent, 15 Doctors and 10 Nurses,
besides miscellaneous Class III and Class IV staff.
The number of indoor and outdoor patients treated
during 1992-93 was 1,406 and 7,608 respectively.
Two blood banks has been functioning in the district, one at Civil
Hospital, Moga and the other at Medical College, Faridkot. Blood donation camps
are organized in the district and people are persuaded to donate blood
liberally fort the suffering humanity.
In Faridkot District the number of blood units collected and transfused by blood banks from 1990 to 1992 are given below:
|
|
No. of Blood Units
|
|
|
Year |
Collected |
Transfused |
|
1990 |
1,745 |
1,729 |
|
1991 |
1,908 |
1,838 |
|
1992 |
1,642 |
1,548 |
(Health Information of Punjab issued by Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh)
The rapid growth of population is the main obstacle in the way of
economic development of the State. The rapid growth of population in our
country is mainly due to medical discoveries and adoption of improved health
and sanitation measures, with the result the death rate has come down sharply
against the birth rate. Hence this gap in death rate and birth rate has
resulted in the high growth rate. To curtail this high birth rate, the National
Family Welfare Programme was launched in the country in 1952.
Additional Director (Family Welfare) is officer in charge for the
implementation of Family Welfare Programme in the State. He is under the
administrative control of the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab.
District Family Welfare Officer, Faridkot is responsible for effective
realization of objectives of this programme in the district. As on 1 April
1993, there were 17 Family Welfare Centres (6 urban and 11 rural) functioning in
Faridkot District. A list of these centers is given in Appendix IV at page 516
to 517.
The major components of Family Welfare Service provided under the
cafetaria approach of the programme are: sterilization, I.U.D., conventional contraceptives
and oral pills.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP-Act) was enacted in 1971
and later on, the Government of India introduced MTP rules, 1975. The Punjab
Government notified these rules on 7 April 1976. Under these rules, the Government
hospitals do not require any certification, these are considered approved
places for MTP, provided MTP trained/qualified doctor is posted there and
necessary medicines, equipment, etc. are available there. The private hospitals
are required to procure the approval of the Government before these start
functioning as MTP Centre.
The progress of sterlisation operations, IUD insertions, conventional
contraceptive users and MTP in Faridkot District during the years 1975-76,
1980-81 and 1985-86 to 1992-93 is shown in the table given below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Progressive
Total |
|
|
Year |
Sterlisa-tion |
IUD Insertio-ns |
Conven-tional contra-ceptive users |
Number of medical
termina-tion of Pregnancy |
Sterlisa-tion operatio-ns |
IUD Ins-tions |
MTP |
|
1975-76 |
3,521 |
3,124 |
9,524 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
1980-81 |
2,718 |
2,628 |
3,901 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
|
1985-86 |
8,026 |
22,442 |
26,322 |
915 |
1,03,500 |
1,25,942 |
7,686 |
|
1986-87 |
9,052 |
27,649 |
30,318 |
959 |
1,12,552 |
1,53,591 |
8,645 |
|
1987-88 |
12,390 |
31,069 |
37,383 |
948 |
1,24,942 |
1,24,660 |
9,593 |
|
1988-89 |
8,641 |
30,264 |
43,062 |
745 |
1,33,583 |
2,14,924 |
10,338 |
|
1989-90 |
4,386 |
36,639 |
54,580 |
649 |
1,37,969 |
2,61,563 |
10,981 |
|
1990-91 |
6,639 |
34,699 |
45,704 |
803 |
1,44,604 |
2,86,262 |
11,790 |
|
1991-92 |
6,470 |
33,471 |
47,053 |
858 |
1,61,078 |
3,19,733 |
12,648 |
|
1992-93 |
9,341 |
35,723 |
43,633 |
971 |
1,60499 |
3,55,456 |
13,619 |
(Source: Director
Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chandigarh and Statistical Abstracts of
Punjab 1986 to 1993)
National Programme for Control of Blindness
The National Programme for Control of Blindness was launched in 1976 and
incorporates the earlier Trachoma Control Programme started in 1968. The
ultimate goal of the programme is to reduce blindness in the country from 1.4
per cent of 0.3 per cent by 2000 AD and to provide comprehensive eye care
through primary health care. The cataract is major cause of blindness and more
than 30 per cent of the blind are affected by this disease. The cataract is
curable by simple operation. These intraocular operations are done at the
medical colleges, hospitals, district and tahsil level hospitals. Under this
programme, Government has set up an Eye Mobile Team having Eye Surgeons,
Ophthalmic Assistants and supporting staff with Mobile Vans which go from
district headquarter to different villages and far-off places where these
operations are done free of cost. Eye Mobile Team visited the Faridkot District
in 1986-87.
The voluntary organisations have been encouraged to organize eye
camps in remote rural and urban areas as per
guidelines issued by the State authorities. A number of such organisations are
functioning in the district and are active in providing eye, health education,
preventive, rehabilitative and surgical services for control of blindness.
In Faridkot District, 19 eye camps were held and 3,405 eye operations
were performed during 1992-93.
National AIDS Control Programme
AIDS is a very deadly disease and spreading from one country to
another. The commonest mode of spread of this disease are: the extra heposexual
contact, through contaminated needles and infection through blood transfusion.
The individual once infected remains infected throughout his life. To control
the spread of AIDS, the Government of India, in 1985 constituted a task force
to look into this matter and established an AIDS Cell in the Directorate
General of Health Services, New Delhi. The Government has launched a
comprehensive scheme during Eighth Five Year Plan with financial assistance
from World Bank and WHO. National AIDS Control Organisation has been set up to
implement and closely monitor and various components of the programme.
The National Strategy has the following important components:
establishment of surveillance centers to cover the whole country;
identification of high risk groups and their screening; issuing specific
guidelines for management of detected cases and their follow-up; formulating
guidelines for blood banks; blood product manufactures, blood donors and
dialysis units; information, education and communication actives by involving
mass media; research, etc.
AIDS Control Programme has been launched in Punjab State during 1992-93
as a 100 per cent Centrally Sponsored Scheme. AIDS Control cell has been
created in the Directorate headed by Deputy Director, AIDS. Civil Surgeons have
been directed to designate one of their District officers as Nodal Officer.
Information about AIDS has been disseminated to the people through health
Education Camps.
The Government of India has established surveillance centre at
different places for screening persons practicing high risk behaviour and Zonal
Blood Testing Centres in large cities for screening all pooled plasma for HIV
infection and for screening blood samples received from blood banks. Three such
Zonal Blood Testing Centres has been established in the State one each in the
medical colleges at Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana.
Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme
In the National Health Policy (1983) main thrust has been put on the
maternal and child health. This is clear from the fact that nine out of the
seventeen goals relate to the maternal and child health. This programme has
been introduced as a part of the overall strategy for reduction of infant
mortality, child mortality, reduction of low birth weight babies, and maternal
mortality. To achieve the above mentioned objectives, child Survival and Safe
Motherhood (CCSM) Programme has been started in the State in August 1992 with
financial assistance from World Bank and UNICEF. The health measures relating
to women and children prior the launching of this scheme has been included in it
besides widening its scope in this
respect. The important schemes being run under this programme are detailed
below:
Universal Immunization
Programme. The success achieved by the
Smallpox Eradication Programme has proved that immunization can be used as a
weapon against vaccine preventable diseases. In 1974, the WHO launched its
`Expanded Programme on Immunization, (EPI) against six most common, preventable
childhood diseases, viz. Diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus,
Polio, Tuberculosis and Measles. The Government of India launched its EPI in
1978 with the objective of reducing the mortality and morbidity resulting from
vaccine-preventive diseases of childhood, and to achieve self-sufficiency in
the production of vaccines. Universal Immunization Programme was started in
India in 1985. It has two vital components: Immunization of pregnant women
against tetanus and Immunization of children in their first year of life
against the six EPI target diseases. The whole of the Punjab State has been covered
under this programme upto 1989.
The immunization services have been provided in the State through the
existing health care delivery system, i.e. MCH centers, primary health centers,
subsidiary health centers, hospitals and dispensaries. Achievement under the
`Universal Immunization Programme` in Faridkot District during the year 1991-92
and 1992-93 is given hereunder:
|
|
1991-92 |
199293 |
|
1 TT (Pregnant Women) |
39,390 |
44,609 |
|
2 DPT (Infants) |
41,969 |
42,423 |
|
3 Polio (Infants) |
41,164 |
42,890 |
|
4 BCG |
42,533 |
47,873 |
|
5 Measles |
41,395 |
43,940 |
|
6 D. T. (5 Years) |
37,128 |
37,278 |
|
7 T. T. (10 Years) |
31,640 |
31,548 |
|
8 T. T. (16 Years) |
25,111 |
28,813 |
(Health information of Punjab 1994
Series No. 3 publication No. 62 issued by the Directorate of Health and Family
Welfare Punjab, Chandigarh)
Prophylaxis against
Nutritional Anaemia amongst Mothers and Children.
Anaemia is quite common during pregnancy because the existing nutritional
deficiencies have been aggravated by demand of pregnancy, nursing of children
and prevalence of high incidence of worm infestation. To prevent and counter
the adverse effects of these deficiencies Iron and folic Acid tablets are given
to the mothers and children for 100 days.
Prophylaxis against
Blindness caused due to Vitamin `A` Deficiency.
Xerophthalmia (nutritional blindness) is attributed to nutritional deficiency
of vitamin `A` Keratomalacia has been the major cause of nutritional blindness
in children usually between 1-3 years of age. To prevent blindness among the
children caused due to vitamin `A` deficiency, highly concentrated solution of
vitamin `A` is administered to the children at an interval of 6 months till the
age of 3 years.
Reduction in Child
Mortality Rate. Diarrhoea, vaccine
preventable diseases, respiratory infection and inadequate new born care are
the main causes of child mortality. Oral rehydration therephy, treatment to
acute respiratory infections (Pneumonia) and essential new born care are
provided to control the child mortality. To control the infection among the new
born, breast feeding is encouraged.
School Health Programme
School Health Programme is one of the most important component of total
health care delivery system in the State for school going children. The entire
State of Punjab has been covered under this programme, and one School Health
Clinic has been functioning at Faridkot since 1986.
Under the School Health Programme, medical check-up of all students upto meddle classes (both Government and recognized private schools) is conducted. A team of doctors visit the schools, examine the students and provide them necessary medical aid. Health education on various health topics is given to the students and teachers. The doctors also advise the school authorities about proper water supply, good sanitation, cleanliness and help them to observe health fortnights. In Faridkot District, 2,39,275 students were examined under this programme during 1992-93.
Prevention of Adulteration of Foodstuffs
The Punjab government passed the prevention of the Food Adulteration
Act in 1954 for checking the adulteration foodstuffs. This Act replaced the
Punjab Pure Food Act, 1929. The Food Adulteration Programme is implemented in
the State under the supervision of Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab,
who has been notified as Food (Health) Authority. He is assisted by Additional
Director health (Food & Drugs). At the District Level, Civil Surgeon has
been notified as Local (Health) Authority and is responsible for the
implementation of prevention of adulteration Programme. He is assisted by 1
District Health Officer, 1 whole-time Food Inspector and a number of designated
Food Inspectors.
By the Municipal committees/Corporations. All concerns dealings in
sale, stock and preparation of edible articles are subject to inspection by the
team of Food Inspectors. In order to ensure preparation and sale of genuine and
pure foodstuffs, edibles and drinks, special powers have been entrusted to the
inspecting staff to seize samples. These samples are sent to the Food and
Health Laboratory at Chandigarh for chemical examination analysis. Those found
guilty of adulteration are prosecuted.
During the years 1992 and 1993 the number of samples seized, samples
found adulterated and prosecutions launched in the Faridkot District are given
as under:
|
Year |
Samples seized |
Samples found adulterated |
Prosecution launched |
|
1992 |
360 |
14 |
7 |
|
1993 |
377 |
4 |
11 |
(Source: Director,
health and Family Welfare, Punjab Chandigarh)
Environmental hygiene has great bearing on the health of the people.
The sanitation of towns and villages, streets and lanes, the disposal of the
kitchen wastes and human excreta are some of the major health problems.
Sanitation and conservancy arrangements in urban and rural areas received sufficient attention of the authorities after the Independence. Even prior to that this aspect was given due attention by the local administration. In the areas then falling in the Faridkot State, the sanitation work was looked after by the Faridkot Municipal Committee and the Local Officers appointed by the State. In the areas then governed by the Britishers, the sanitations work was looked after by the Sanitary Inspectors at the tahsil level who were assisted by the Sanitary Supervisors and Sanitary Beldars. After the Independence Government of India launched the National Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in 1954. It envisages to prevent spread of water-borne communicable diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid; to check contamination o food, water and milk due to insanitary disposal of human excreta; to provide tapped water supply and replacement of dry latrines with flush latrines; and to free the sweepers engaged in sub-human system of collecting, handling and transporting human excreta from this unhygienic and humiliating practice.
(i) Public Health and
Sanitation in Urban Areas. The sanitation
work in the urban areas is looked after by the municipalities. These are
responsible for the payment of the streets, construction of drains and
arrangements for cleanliness of the towns and removal of town refuse. The
municipal councils have kept tractor-trollies and refuse carts to remove the
rubbish. Hydrolic-trollies have also been put in operation to remove the refuse
in a quick and scientific way. Besides, a number of scavengers and sweepers
have been engaged for sanitation purposes. District health Officer takes
preventive measures to check the occurrence and reoccurrence of epidemics and
seasonal fevers. Municipal Councils and Health
Department performs the preventive measures to check the outbreak of the
diseases. Sewerage system in Faridkot, Kot Kapura, Muktsar and Bagha Purana has
been introduced. To make further improvement in the sewerage system, Punjab
Water Supply and in the sewerage system, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board has been set up by the
Government. In the Faridkot District the sewerage work was taken up by the
Board in 1992-93. Moga Giddarbaha, Muktsar, Malaut and Faridkot towns were
taken up by the Board under the Low Cost Sanitation Scheme. In these towns 410
sewerage connections were provided during 1992-93.
(ii) Rural Sanitation and Water Supply. In the rural areas, sanitation work is looked after by the block development staff and primary health centers. The main functions of the Public Health Department are to provide better quality of Life through improved environment and sanitation package in rural areas by way of construction of drains and disposal of sullage water, construction of compost pits, provision of soakage pits with platforms for handpumps construction of latrines, improvement of cremation grounds and flaying yards, etc. in order to provide better hygienic conditions in the rural areas bio-gas plants have been set up by the Government. The plants save the people from eye disorders and lung diseases. Linking of sanitary latrines with bio-gas plants also help in betters sanitation. As on 31 March 1993 Faridkot District was having 454 bio-gas plants.
Gram Panchayats also look after the sanitation of villages. For
providing better and hygienic living conditions in the villages `the Model
Village Scheme` was introduced in the district, in 1969-70. Under this scheme
payment of streets and construction of drains, were taken up. The name of the
scheme was changed to `Sunder Gram Scheme` in 1991-92. In the same year, the
scheme was renamed as `Unnat Gram Scheme`. The work under the scheme was in progress
in the district during 1992-93.
APPENDIX I
Deaths registered from various diseases in the Faridkot District during
1975, 1980, 1985 and 1988 to 1992
|
|
1975 |
1980 |
1985 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
||||||||
|
Total Deaths |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Males |
4035 |
4964 |
4637 |
5602 |
6010 |
6430 |
5767 |
5286 |
||||||||
|
Females |
3040 |
3943 |
3453 |
3406 |
3568 |
4091 |
4110 |
3637 |
||||||||
|
Total |
7075 |
4907 |
10181 |
9004 |
9578 |
10621 |
9877 |
8923 |
||||||||
|
Specified Diseases |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Cholera (001) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Typhoid and paratyphoid fever (002) |
|
|
|
38 |
43 |
40 |
42 |
32 |
||||||||
|
Specified infections Salmonella (003) |
|
|
|
--- |
-- |
-- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Food
poisoning (005) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Diphtheria (032) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Whooping cough (033) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Measles (055) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Malaria (084) |
|
.. |
... |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Diabetes (250) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Diseases of the nervous system (320-322) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Diseases of blood and blood forming organs
(280-289) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Inchaemic hypertensive chronic pulmonary Heart
diseases (401-429) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Pneumonia (480-486) |
|
|
|
264 |
223 |
209 |
186 |
197 |
||||||||
|
Influenza (487) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||
|
Bronchitis and asthma (490-493) |
|
|
|
309 |
319 |
297 |
305 |
281 |
||||||||
|
Jaundice (782.4) |
|
|
|
49 |
45 |
39 |
37 |
42 |
||||||||
|
Chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis (571) |
|
|
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
||||||||