Education for the Handicapped

The Home for Blind at Firozpur was established in December 1956. It has made all-round progress in various activities, and has developed  into a full fledged institute in the State. It is managed by the Deputy Council for the Welfare of the Handicapped, with the Deputy Commissioner as its Chairman. It imparts training in music (vocal and instrumental), crafts (cane and bamboo works, cycle basket-making, soap-making), breilly, and handloom- weaving. Arrangements are also made for higher education in colleges. The main object of the institution is the uplift and rehabilitation of the blind. The number of the students varies from 45 to 50.

  This institution is affiliated to the National Association for the Blind, Bombay, and the District Red Cross Society, Firozpur. Admission is open to the blind in the age-group of  6-11 years, irrespective of caste, colour and creed. The inmates are given free training, boarding, lodging, clothing, medicines, raw materials and the welfare amenities during their training period. The existing number of the inmates is 40 (39 boys and 1 girl) belonging to various States

  For the rehabilitation of the blind, the management has taken steps to provide the more trained  among them with work by expanding the existing workshop. The workers are paid wages according to the market rates and are provided with free board, lodging, clothing etc. The Home for the Blind is mainly financed by contributions from the local bodies, the grant from the Central Social-Welfare Board, the donations from the Public and from the sale of articles made by the inmates of the Home.

            (i )    Adult Literacy, Social Education and measures for the Diffusion of  Culture among the masses.

A scheme of Social (Adult) Education for spreading literacy and diffusing culture among the masses was introduced into the District in October, 1968. It is organized by the Circle Social-Education  Officer, Jullundur Circle, who is under the overall charge of the Director of Public Instruction, Punjab, Chandigarh.

The work in the field is organized and supervised by the Supervisor, Social Education Mobile Squad. The female centres function during daytime, whereas the male centres work after dusk. The literary work at these centres envisages knowledge of 3 Rs. (reading, writing and arithmetic) up to the second or third primary stander, besides such  aspects of social education, as current affairs, agriculture, general science,  health, hygiene,  and good citizenship. The female centres invariably  cater for craft work related to sewing and embroidering, which are designed to serve as a focal point of attraction for the illiterate adults.

            Social education is give free at these centres and even books are supplied free of cost to the adults. There is also a mobile cinema unit, which occasionally arranges film shows in the villages where such centres  are located. On 31 March 1980, there were 30 Social-education centres (15 for males and 15 for females) in the District. These centres are looked after by supervisor, who function under the Circle Social Education Officer, Jalandhar Circle, Jalandhar.

            In addition, a vigorous programme, called the Rural Functional Literacy Project, has been launched in the District with effect from 1980-81. Under this scheme, 300 centres are to be started. The scheme is looked after by a Project Officer and 10 supervisiors. The objective of this scheme is to seek the upliftment of the rural people in economic and social spheres together with the spreading of literacy among them.

(h)                     Cultural and Literary Societies and periodicals Cultural Societies.

Among the cultural societies  functioning in the District, mention may be made of the following

(1)                   Tagore Kal Kendar, Firozpur  :-  Started in 1944 in the H.M. Higher Secondary School, Firozpur City, it aims at providing the students with healthy atmosphere for developing their personality. The activities of this society include speeches, debates, fancy dress, folk-dances and action songs, etc.

(2)                  Adarsh Dramatic Club, Firozpur :-  Started in 1958 in the Hindu Girls High Secondary School, Firozpur City, it aims at providing the students with self-expression, aesthetic sense and other qualities of expression. The activities of this society comprise speeches, debates, plays, songs, dances, ect.

(3)    Kala Kendra Dramatic Club, Firozpur Cantonment :-  Started in 1958  in the Decent Children Modern School, Firozpur Cantonment, it aims at inculcating artistic tastes in the students, in particular, and in the public, in general. It prepares students for the Allahabad Sangeet Samiti Examination. The special  features of the Club are dramas, plays music and dance.

 

(4)  Mitra Kala Mandal, Firozpur :-  Started in 1950 in the S.D. Higher Secondary School, Firozpur City, its object is to revive the ancient Indian culture and to crate national feelings in the minds of children.

Besides the above, the following cultural societies exist in the District. The school and colleges also draw up interesting cultural programmes and participate in the national functions :

        1       Firozpur dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

        2.      Ram Natak Dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

        3.      Ram Leela Natak Anaj Mandi, Firozpur.

 

        4.      Loco-Shed Dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

        5.      Newton Hospital Dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

        6.      Basti Tankanwali Dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

        7.      Bazami-i-Adab, Firozpur.

 

        8.      Cantonment Dramatic Club, Firozpur.

 

9.      Naween Sahita Sabha, basti Tankanwali, Firozpur.

 

        10.     Azad Dramatic Club, Firozpur Cantonment.

 

Literary Societies

Among the literary societies functioning in the District, the following deserve mention :

(1)  Punjabi Likhari Sahitya Sabha, Firozpur :-  Established in 1951, it aims at encouraging the writing of stories, poems, essays, etc. its meetings are conducted regularly and rich and constructive criticism is offered to the members with respect to their write-ups. The society is affiliated to the Kendari Likhari Sabha (Regd.), Jalalandhar.

(2)  Sahitya-Dhara, alamwala :- Establish in 1967, this society aims at publishing literary  works of high merit produced by young writers. It is making a useful contribution to the development of literature and language.

Besides the above societies, the following literary societies are contributing much to the promotion and encouragement of literary activities in the District :-

 

        1.      Punjabi Sahitya Sabha, Abohar.

 

        2.      Hindi Sahitya Sadan, Abohar.

 

        3.      Sahitya Sangam, Abohar.

 

        4.      Punjabi Sahita Sabha, Talwandi Bhai.

 

        5.      Punjabi Shitya Sabha, Kot Ise Khan.

 

        6.      Sahitya Sabha, Zira.

 

        7.      Sahitya Sabha, Jalalabad.

 

Periodicals

For particulars regarding the periodicals, etc. published in the District, refer to pages of Chapter XVIII, ‘Public Life and Voluntary Social Service Organizations.

 

(k)  Libraries

Libraries play a vital role in spreading education among the masses both in urban and rural areas. With a view to co-ordinating and rationalizing the existing library facilities and providing more facilities for  the proper functioning of libraries and reading-rooms  run by various Government departments and local bodies, the Punjab Government set up in 1950 a central body called the ‘Central Library Committee’, in which the Punjab Library Association is also represented by its President. The Committee did excellent work in implementing the plan, known as the Randhawa Plan, which envisaged the setting up of new libraries in beautiful surroundings and furnishing them with well-designed furniture, picture and paintings and furnishing them with well-designed furniture, picture and paintings, concerning the Punjab and its people. Under this scheme, new public  libraries were started in urban and rural areas of the State. These are  doing useful service to the public by spreading education among them

.

The following types of libraries are functioning in the District .

The District Library, Firozpur

 

The District Library, Firozpur, was set up in December 1979. It has provision for 60 seats in its reading-rooms and 20 seats for the separate Children Section. It has a lot of reference books o0t give adequate reference service to its readers. It has also a good collection for its children Section. The membership which is open to adults as well as to children ha risen to 400 during this short period.

Panchayat Libraries :-  Generally, every Panchayat in the District maintains a small library for the promotion of education and general knowledge among the masses in the rural areas.

Municipal and Cantonment Board Libraries :- All the municipalities in the District, viz. Firozpur, Guru Har Sahai, Talwandi Bhai, Zira, Dharamkot Fazilka, Abohar and Jalalabad, maintain libraries and reading-rooms for public use. Out of them , the Mahesh Chand Memorial Municipal Library, Firozpur, is quite old. it was established in 1934 by Dr. Sadhu Chand Vineyek in the memory of his father . It has good collection of books on various subjects.

Established in 1956, the Cantonment Board Library, Firozpur Cantonment also has a large number of books on various subjects.

School and College Libraries :- All the high/higher secondary schools and colleges in the District have their own libraries meant for the use students and teachers.

Badri Parshad Library, Firozpur Cantonment :-   Started by Badri Parshad in 1930, the Library is rendering very useful service to the Public. It has a good deal of books on various subjects.

Jain Library, Firozpur Cantonment :-   Started in 1946, it is managed by the local Jain  Mandir Prabandhak Committee. It contains books mostly on Jainism.

Jain Library, Zira :-  Established in 1958, it contains books on Jainism and ancient Indian literature.

Guru Singh Sabha Library, Abohar ;-     Established in 1946, it contains books, mostly on Sikh history and religion.

Besides the above libraries, the Sukhmani Sewa Sabha Society, Firozpur Cantonment maintains a library. The Public Library Trust, village of Shahzadi (Firozpur Tehsil) and Shahid Gurdas Ram Memorial Library, Zira also cater for the needs of the reading public, in general.

 

CHAPTER  XVI

MEDICAL AND  PUBLIC  HEALTH  SERVICES

 

(a)  Public Health and Medical Facilities in Early Times.

 

In early times, medicines for different diseases were prepared from  herbs. In course of time, the general use of herbal medicines developed into the Ayuvedic system of medicine. With the advent of Muslims, the Unani system was also introduced into the country and was  popularized. So both these systems existed side by side. However, during the medieval period , the Ayurvedic System declined to some extent because of the official patronage given to the Unani System, with the result that the latter became more popular in the urban areas, whereas the Ayurvedic System continued to develop in the rural areas. The Allopathic System was introduced into country with the advent of the British in the cis-Sutluj territory early in the nineteenth century.

At present, all the three systems of medicine, viz. Ayurveda Unani and Allopathy are practised. Of these, All pathy is much more popular on account of Government patronage enjoyed by it during the past more than a century and a half. Of late, Homeopathy is also becoming popular.

With the spread of education and scientific treatment of human ills coming within the reach of the people, the methods of faith-cure and quackery are practised by fewer people now. The Homeopathy is practised by a few practitioners in towns. The Ayurvedic and Unani systems are, however, liked by the people because  of the simpler and familiar medicines prescribed. The Government is according good recognition to these systems and the number of  Ayurvedic Dispensaries in the District increased from one  in 1953-54 to 18 in 1960-61 and 34 in 1979-80, each in the charge of a avid, and under the direct administrative  control of the Director of Ayurveda, Punjab. Besides there were 3 Unani Dispensaries in the District in 1979-80.

On 31 March 1980, there were 119 Allopathic Institutions in the District, comprising 22 hospitals (20 hospitals and 2 tuberculosis clinics), 9 primary health centres, 85 subsidiary health centres and 3 dispensaries. Out of these institutions, 110 were managed by the State Government, 7 were State special and 2 were private, besides some others. These institutions were provided with 1,376 beds (711 for males and 665 for females), out of which 1,089 were managed by the Government, and 287 by private bodies and others. During 1979, the number of patients treated was 7,22,477, comprising 14,403 indoor and 7,08,074 outdoor.

            The number of registered medical and para-medical personnel in the District in 1979 was 285 doctors, 348 midwives, 489 nurses and 1,204 dais.

  Because of dry climate, healthy environmental conditions and comparatively good income of the people in the District, the standard of health is good.

(b)   Vital  Statistics

The registration of vital statistics is compulsory. In the rural areas, the chowkidars maintain the birth-and-death registers. Similarly, these necessary records are maintained by the  municipalities in the urban areas. In addition to may other advantages, the procedure provides a dependable record of the growth of population and, at the same time,  helps to visualize the scope of measures to be taken to check the mortality-rate and also to devise ways and means to use family-welfare measures. The Civil Surgeon, Firozpur, complies these data. The birth-rate, the death-rate, and the rate of infantile mortality per thousand per annum in the Firozpur District, during 1972-1980, are given below :

 

   Year                    Birth-rate per          Death-rate per          Infantile

(Calendar Year)        thousand of                 thousand of                 mortality

                        population           population           rate of age

                                                                         per thousand

                                                                        live births.

1972                   26.89                            6.34                    51.09

1973                     25.32                           5.45                 46.49

1974                   27.08                           6.75                 39.02

1975                   27.08                           6.52                 39.34

1976                  24.33                           6.60                 60.82

1977                 25.39                        6.58                    44.37

1978                 25.02                        6.73                    38.36

1979                24.15                        6.17                    35.25

1980                23.50                        5.84                    31.95

                                (Source :  Civil Surgeon, Firozpur)

 

 

            Important Causes of Mortality :-  The important causes of mortality in the District are fever, dysentery, respiratory diseases and injuries. The table included  in Appendix I, 387, gives statistics regarding some of the important causes of deaths.

(c)  Diseases Common to the District

            Fevers :-  Fevers are the main cause of deaths. These includes 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 sulphadrugs and antibiotics which have been found to be very effective. Healthy living and better diet would lesson to a considerable extent the incidence of general types of  fevers. Malaria has been brought under control with D.D.T sprays used to destroy mosquitoes.

(i)         Respiratory Diseases :-  Respiratory disease, 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, vaporous of chemical gases released by the burning of charcoal, coke, etc. These gases 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 insaintary conditions in the slums also cause the outbreaks of these diseases.

In order to check the spread of such diseases, 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 centres, hospitals, provision of institutional facilities, domiciliary treatment, and follow-up of cases from diseased, such as tuberculosis and  chronic bronchitis, have brought down the mortality figures considerably.

(ii)          Malaria :-  A few decades back, malaria was without a rival among the diseases afflicting mankind. In India, hardly any aspect of life – social, agricultural and industrial-remained unaffected by its ravages. The epidemic of 1908 in the Punjab was of a great magnitude and a large number of people perished.

 

The National Malaria-Control Programme was started in the State in 1953 and a number of malaria-control units were established. One such unit was established in the Firozpur District in the same year to undertake the malaria-control operations. This programme continued for five years, reducing the number of malaria cases considerably.

After the decision of  the Government of India, on 5 December 1957 to eradicate malaria from whole of the country, the National Malaria-Control Programme was switched over to the National Malaria Eradication Programme (N.M.E.P.) during 1958. Under it, a number of units, including thereon in the Firozpur District, were started. For this purposes, the State was divided into two zones, viz. Patiala and Jullundur. The Firozpur District falls in the Patiala zone.

Owing to the occurrence of positive cases and focal outbreaks, some areas of the State were temporarily reverted to the attack phase for spraying in 1968 and 1969. This step led  to the rephasing of the programme in the State. Most of the area, reverted to the attack phase, was from  the districts of  Patiala, Firozpur, Sangrur and Bathinda.

The claim made in 1965 that the mosquito menace had been eradicated from the country was only partially true. There were several pockets in the country where no real break-though had yet been achieved. In some other areas as well, there was slide-back because of the lack of the follow-up measures or because of   the non-supply of insecticides.

The campaign, know as the Urban Malaria Scheme has, thus, been launched, for it is generally recognized that if the mosquito menace has become serious again, it is partly because the civic bodies in large parts of the country have not played  their part in the anti-malaria drive  which was launched  in 1958. The National Malaria-Eradication Programme launched with  the active  support  to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was confined mainly to the rural areas, whereas the local bodies in the urban areas were instructed to implement the malaria control measures through their own efforts. The local bodies showed little enthusiasm for launching this campaign, with the result that the Director of the National Malaria-Eradication Programme complained  in 1970 that malaria had begun to spread to the rural areas from the towns.

The Malaria Department is taking healthy steps to eradicate malaria from the District. From 1977 to 31 March 1980, as many as 7,95,544 slides, 7,06,720 houses in 4,360 villages were sprayed and 3,46,849 kg. of BHC was used.

(iv)  Communicable  Diseases :-            The communicable diseases are plague, cholera, smallpox, etc. A brief reference to each of these, with particular reference to the District is made below :

Plague

            Plague, at present non-existent, was the most-feared of pestilences. Ever since it broke out in 1857, it had never been totally eliminated  from the State till 1937. Since the partiton (1947), as in other districts of the State, this pestilence has not been noticed in Firozpur, because of  the extensive and repeated use of DDT and  Gammexdane in the treatment of rat burrows and flea harborages in the endemic areas. vigilance is  also maintained to the utmost in order to detect plague among rats or in the human population and every possible precaution is taken to apply preventive measures, including the  anti-plague inoculation, wherever human cases occur.

Cholera

It is an epidemic, generally associated with mass gatherings, especially at the Kumbh Fair at Haridwar and at solar-eclipse fairs at Kurukshetra where pilgrims collect in large numbers. This disease used to spread when the pilgrims carrying infection returned home.

The Health Department makes special arrangements to combat epidemics on such occasions. All the dispensaries are directed to inoculate the persons visiting the meals. Besides, medical-inspection posts are established at all the important railway or road stations where strict vigilance and supervision are exercised. At places where meals are held, special  conservancy arrangements, provisions of safe water-supply, satisfactory collection and  removal of night-soil are made. Specific arrangements to attend on cases of infectious disease and rendering medical aid to the pilgrims are also made.

Small Pox

 

         Despite persistent efforts, the District has never been free form smallpox. However, owing to the existence of increased facilities for vaccination and re-vaccination, there has been a remarkable reduction in the incidence of this  disease and the details of preventive measures taken in the district against it during 1961 to 1970 are given in Appendix II at page 388.

(v)  Tuberculosis :-  This disease is a national problem and is required  to be at the national level, To root it out, emphasis  is being laid on the preventive side of  the control. The B.C.G. Programme has now been integrated with the other health activities of the primary health units/centres. The B.C.G. vaccination is a preventive measure against tuberculosis. The measure was taken up in the Punjab in 1949. At that time, mobile B.C.g. teams were set up.  In 1951, a mass B.C.G. vaccination campaign was started in the entire State . Since 1959, a scheme has been introduced to fix up teams at the district level and, under this has been introduced  to fix up teams at the district  level and, under this  scheme, the Firozpur District was taken up in April, 1962. At present, there are two anti-tuberculosis clinics, one at Firozpur and the other at Abohar.

(d)  Medical and Public Health Services

 

Previously, medical services were divided into tow wings, viz. medical and health. The District Medical Officer was responsible for the functioning of hospitals and dispensaries, and medical and surgical work in the District, besides being the medico-legal expert of the Government. The District Medical and Health Officer  was in charge of the health wing and as responsible for sanitation, disease-prevention and health-promotion services in the District. He was also to advise the  municipalities on public-health matters. Both the wings worked under the administrative  control of the Director, Health Services, Punjab. In April, 1964, these tow wings were merged. Under the new arrangement,  the Civil Surgeon is in charge of both the medical and health services in the District. The Medical Officer, employed by the zila parishad, has also been put under his  control. The staff employed by the zila parishad, works under   the Civil Surgeon, but they  draw their salaries from the zila parishad . This system has been enforced for the smooth and efficient working of medical and health services.

In the District, the Civil Surgeon is assisted by 16 medical officers (Class 1), 105 medical officers (Class II), 151 nurses, 140 midwives and auxiliary nurses-midwives, 47 nurse dais, 24 technicians and radiographers, 115 dispensers, 40 senior malaria inspectors and sanitary inspectors, 38 field workers, 9 block extension educators, 102 basic health workers, 31 lady health workers, etc. besides ministerial staff and miscellaneous Class IV staff.

On the health side, the Malaria Officer, vaccinators and medical officers (in charge of dispensaries) also assist the Civil Surgeon. Similar functions are performed by the zila parishad. The municipalities also assist the Civil Surgeon in the Public health field. In order to check the adulteration of foodstuffs, the Civil Surgeon has delegated powers to medical officers of hospitals/dispensaries. They can take samples of foodstuffs.

 

Hospitals, Primary Health Centres, Dispensaries, etc.

The expenditure incurred by the State Government on Allopathic, Ayurvedic and Unani hospitals, health centres, dispensaries and other  health services in the District in 1979-80 was Rs. 97,53,135. All the allopathic medical institutions are under  the control of the Civil Surgeon, Firozpur. The Ayurvedic and Unani institutions are under the control of the District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Firozpur.

Allopathic Medical Institutions :-  On 31 March 1980, there were 119 medical institutions (allopathic) in the District. Their tehsil-wise and area-wise break-up is given below :-

Tehsil/District                       Total               Rural               Urban

Firozpur Tehsil              46                    34                    12

 

Zira                                          31                    30                      1

 

Fazlika                                     42                    36                      6

                                                --------------------------------------------------

 

Firozpur District             119                  100                  19       

            (Source : Directory of Medical Institution in Punjab State, 1980,PP 26-30)

 

                       

The management-wise break-up of the above 119 medical institutions (allopathic) is : 110 State public, 7 State special and 2 private non-aided. The list of hospitals, primary health centres, subsidiary health centres and dispensaries in the District is given in Appendix III on page 389-395.

The particulars regarding the family welfare unit/clinics and maternity and child health centres are given in Appendixes IV and V on pages 396 and 397, respectively.

Ayurvedic and Unani Medical Institutions :-  The indigenous systems of medicine, viz. Ayurvedic and Unani, are quite cheap and suit the local needs. The medicines used have to adverse after-effects. However, owing to the lack of patronage by the British, these systems lost their popularity. After independence, the Government devised means to popularise them aging.

On 31 March 1980, there were 33 Ayurvedic, 1 Homeopathic and 3 Unani medical institutions in the District. Their tehsil-wise and area-wise break-up is given below :

            Tehsil/District                        Total               Rural               Urban

 

            Firozpur Tehsil             12                      11                    1

 

            Zira Tehsil                           6                         6                    --

 

            Fazilka                                     19                      19                    --      

 

            Firozpur District            37                      36                  1

                                    (Source : District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer, Fzr).

 

All these institutions are managed by the Government. Their detailed list is given in Appendix VI on pages 309-399.

Blood Banks

 

The use of blood as a therapeutic measure in on the increase in all branches of medicine and surgery. There are two blood banks in the District at the Civil Hospital, Firozpur and at the Frances Newton Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment. The work done by them  with respect to the collection and transfusion of blood is given in Appendix VII on page 400.

Prevention of Adulteration of Foodstufs

 

To prevent the adulteration of foodstuffs, the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was passed in 1954. It replaced the Punjab Pure Food Act of 1929. Under the Act, samples are taken by staff appointed for purpose and the duly sealed samples  are sent to the Food and Health Laboratory at Chandigarh for analysis. The persons whose samples are not found up to the mark are challenged.

The work done under the Act is detailed in Appendix VIII on page 401.

(a)       Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes

 

In  the Firozpur District, there is only one private hospital viz.  Frances Netown Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment, with a branch at

Guru Har Sahai. A brief account of the Hospital is as under :-

 

Frances Newton Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment :- The Hospital was established in 1894 by Dr. Frances Newton, wife of Rev. Dr.  Frances Newton. To begin with, the Hospital was meant only for women and children. Later on, male patients also began to be attended on.  Under Dorothy Ferris, it grew up to become a 300 beds (89 for males, 142 beds for females, 25 beds for children and 44 beds for infants) general hospital. During 1980, the number of indoor  and outdoor patients was 6,432 (1,698 males, 2,702 females and 1,942 children) and 37,791 (10,887 males, 17,901 females and 9,00,3 children, respectively.

The staff comprises of 27 full-time and 2 part-time doctors (specialists), 12 house surgeons, 7 interns, 78 nurses including sisters, student-nurses, etc. 10 paramedicals and 95 others.

The Hospital is equipped with  special departments. It runs a school of nursing, a school for laboratory  technicians, and a blood bank. It has  an intensive care unit, which has all types of equipment needed for post-operative emergency care.

This  hospital has also its 10 bed branch at Guru Har Sahai, know as D.L. Ferris Hospital. Its doctors and nurses attend on men, women and children coming there as outdoor and indoor patients.

(f) Medical and Public Health Educational Institutions.

There is no medical and public health educational institution in the District. However, the France Newton Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment, runs a school of nursing and a school for laboratory technicians on its own premises.

(g) Sanitation

(i) Public Health and Sanitation in the Urban Araa :- Before 1924, there were a few vaccinators in the District under the control of the Civil Surgeon, Firozpur. These vaccinations. In 1929, a separate health branch was established , and under it a sanitary inspector and a few naib-darogas were posted at the District Headquarters to look after sanitation. This  arrangement continued till 1944, when the sanitary inspectors, assisted by sanitary supervisors and sanitary beldars, were appointed at the tehsil, level.

Since the launching of the Five-Year-Plans and the Community Development Programme health units or centres have been set up to look after sanitation also in the rural areas. In the urban areas, the municipal committees attend to sanitation.

(ii) Rural Sanitation and Water-supply :- Previously, there was no regular body in the villages to look after the health  of the people. After Independence in 1947, the sanitary beldars were re-designated as swasthya sahaiks, of whom a few were posted in each district. Their main duty  was to improve the village sanitation along with certain other duties, such as anti-plague and anti-cholera  measures.

 

Since the launching of the First-Five-Year Plan (1951-56), the Community Development Organisation and primary health units/centres have been set up. The staff, posted in these organisations, were entrusted mainly with the work of sanitation. Much improvement has, therefore, been made in this field. Gramseviks and gram sevikas, under the block development and panchayat officers, and the staff of the Health Department, such as sanitary inspectors, lady health visitors, along with the medical officer, under thee guidance of the Civil Surgeon, attached to the health units or centres, have been paying necessary attention to the improvement of rural sanitation.

Health and sanitation cover the opting of new hospitals, primary health centres, the construction of drains, dry latrines and smokeless chullahs, the paving of streets, the installation of hand-pumps and the  construction of walls for drinking water.

Water-Supply

 

Out of the total number of 1,084 villages in the District, water scarcity exists in as many as 354. The problem of water-supply is being solved through the efforts of the Block Development Agency and the Health Department. They provide grants for the water-supply schemes under which a fairly large number of hand-pumps have been installed. By March, 1979, the water-supply schemes had been started in 126 villages.

The water in the District has a high content of flourid, resulting in damage to teeth, bones and spine.

Causes of , and specific death-rates with respect to different diseases per thousand of population in Firozpur District 1972-80

Year (Calendyear)

Cholera

Smallpox

Plague

Fevers

Dysenery and diarrohoea

Respiratory Diseases

Injuries

Other causes

1972

--

--

--

2.33

0.87

1.02

0.55

1.57

1973

--

--

--

2.03

0.85

0.98

0.52

1.07

1974

--

--

--

0.42

0.93

1.04

0.58

1.78

1975

--

--

--

2.38

0.90

1.02

1.56

1.66

1976

--

--

-

2.32

0.95

1.05

0.55

1.73

1977

--

--

--

2.35

0.92

1.03

0.58

1.70

1978

--

--

--

2.30

0.97

1.05

0.60

1.81

 

1979

--

--

--

2.25

.090

1.03

057

1.42

1980

--

---

--

--

--

--

--

--

                                                                (Source : Civil Surgeon, Firozpur)

 

Incidence of smallpox and preventive measures taken against it in the Firozpur District, 1972 to 1980

 

Year (Calendar year)       Number of    Number of        Primary        Re-vaccinations

                                         cases   Deaths                                                Vaccinations

1972                                                2                            1                        64,288                          4,48,566

1973                                                --                        --                         38,741          2,58,896

1974                                                1                            --                         39,604           2,34,723

1975                                              --                         --                           38,711            2,12,618

1976                                             --                            --                              46,474                     2,20,498

1977                                            --                            -                                40,599      1,71,534

1978                                            --                            --                               38,034                    1,54,608

1979                                           --                            --                                38,516                     1,12,549

1980                                        --                              --                               30,221       69,087

                                                (Source : Civil Surgeon, Firozpur)

 

 

Sr.

No.

Name and location

Number  of beds

Rural/  Urban

Type of

Manag-

ement

 

Area of                                       Location

Male

Female

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tehsil

Block

1

Civil Hospital, Firozpur

64

36

Urban

State Public

Firoz pur

Firozpur

2

Mobile Eye Hospital, Firozpur

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

3

T.B. Clinic Firozpur

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Do

4

Central Jail Hospital, Firozpur

30

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

5

Canal Dispensary, Firozpur

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

6

Cantonment General Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment

14

18

Do

Do

Do

Do

7

Police Hospital Firozpur Cantonment

13

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

8

Railway Hospital, Firozpur Cantonment

50

42

Do

Do

Do

Do

 

9

Francis Newton Hospital Firozpur Cantonment

100

175

Do

Private Aided

Do

Do

 

10

Nehru Civil Hospital, Abohar

31

25

Do

State Public

Fazilka

Abohar

11

Government Maternity Hospital, Abohar

--

12

Do

Do

Do

Do

12

TB Clinic, Abohar

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Do

13

E.S.I. Dispensary, Abohar

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

14.

Civil Hospital , Fazlika

44

12

Do

Do

Do

Fazlika

15

Rural Hospital, Mamdot

15

15

Rural

Do

Firopur

Firozpur

 

16

Primary Health Centre, Mamdot

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

17

Subsidiary Health Centre, Arifke

2

2

Rural

State Public

Firoz pur

Firozpur

18.

Subsidiary  Health Centre, Gatti Rajoke

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

 

19

Subsidiary Health Centre, Katora

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

20

Subsidiary Health Centre, Jhoke Hari Har

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

21.

Subsidiary Health Centre Khai Pheme Ki

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

22

Subsidiary Health Centre, Mamdot

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

23.

Subsidiary Health Centre Mahalam

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

24.

Subsidiary Health Centre, Noorpur Setha

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

25.

Subsidiary Health Centre, Rukne Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

26

Subsidiary Health Centre Sherkhan Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

27

Subsidiary Health Centre Tibbi Khurd

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

28

Rural Hospital Mudki

15

10

Do

Do

Do

Ghal Khurad

29

Primary Health Centre , Ferozeshah

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Do

30

Subsidiary Health Centre Talwandi Bhai

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

31

Subsidiary Health Centre, Kailash

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

32

Subsidiary  Health Centre Lalleh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

33

Subsidiary Health Centre Malwal

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

 

34

Subsidiary Health Centre Mana Singh Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

35

Subsidiary Health Centre, Sadhu Singh Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

36

Subsidiary Health Centre, Sande Hasham

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

37

Subsidiary Health Centre, Sayan Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

38

Shakur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

39

Subsidiary Health Centre, Sodinagar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

40

Subsidiary Health Centre, Salhani

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

41

Subsidiary Health Centre, Sher Singh Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

42.

 

Primary Health Centre, Guru Har Sahai

4

4

Urban

Do

Do

Gur Har Sahai

43

Subsidiary Health Centre, Guru Har Sahai

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

44

Subsidiary Health Centre, Chak Somean Wala

2

2

Rural

Do

Do

Do

45

Subsidiary Health Centre Jiwan Ariayee

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

46

Subsidiary Health Centre, Koer Singh  Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

47

Subsidiary Health Centre, Panje Ke Uttar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

48

Suibsidiary Health Centre Ranjit Garh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

49

Subsidiary Health Centre Sohan Garh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

50

Subsidiary Health Centre, Assal Mohan Ke

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

51

Francis Newton Dispensary , Guru Har Sahai

--

12

Urban

Private Non-aided

Do

Do

52

Civil Hospital , Jalalabad

16

8

Do

State Public

Fazlika

Jalalabad

53

Rural Hospital , Jhand Wala Bihme Shah

15

15

Rural

Do

Do

Do

54

Primary Health Centre,

Wala Bihme Shah

--

-

Do

Do

Do

Do

55

Subsidary Health Centre, Chak Khere Ke

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

56

Subsidiary Health Centre, Kariana Wala

2

2

Rural

State Public

Fazlika

Jalalabad

57

Subsidiary Health Centre Ladu Ka

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

58

Subsidiary   Health Centre, Ladu Wala Uttar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

59

Subsidary Health Centre, Lamochar  Kalan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

60

Priamary Health Centre Sitto Gunno

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Abohar

61

Subsidiary Health Centre, Balluana

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

62

Subsidiary Health Centre Dharang Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

63

Subsidary Health Centre, Jhumian Wali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

64

Subsidary Health Centre Kandh Wala Amarkot

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

65

Subsidary  Health Centre, Kullar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

66

Subsidiary Health Centre Kundal

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

67

Subsidary Health Centre

Malookpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

68

Subsidiary Health Centre Ramgarh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

69

Subsidary Health Centre Rohoerian Wali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

70

Subsidary Health Centre Rukan Pura @ Khui Khera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

71

Rural Hospital , Dabwala Kalan

15

15

Do

Do

Do

Fazlika

72

Primary Health Centre, Dabwala Kalan

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

73

Subsidary Health Centre, Islam Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

74

Subsidary Health Centre, Kamal Wala

2

23

Do

Do

Do

Do

75

Subsidary Health Centre, Karni Khera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

76

Rural Hospital Kilanwali

15

10

Do

Do

Do

Khuian Sarwar

77

Rural Hospital, Panj Kosi

15

10

Do

Do

Do

Do

78

Primary Health Centre, Khui Khera

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Do

79

Subsidary Health Centre Diwan Khera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

80

Subsidary Health Centre Dalmir Khera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

81

Subsidary  Health Centre, Ghallu

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

82

Subsidary Health Centre, Jand Wala Mira Sangla

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

83

Subsidary  Health Centre Kheo Wali Tabb

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

84

Subsidary  Health Centre, Khuian Sarwar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

85

Subsidary Health Centre, MaujGarh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

86

Subsidary Health Centre, Pani Wala Mala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

87

Subsidary Health Centre, Rup Nagar

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

88

Subsidary Health Centre Waryam Khera

2

2

Do

Do

Do

DO

89

 Civil Hosptiat Zira

25

25

Urban

Do

Zira

Do

90

Rural Hospital , Bhindar Kalan

15

10

Rural

Do

Do

Do

91

Rural  Hospital Kasoana

15

15

Do

Do

Do

Do

92

Primary Health Centre Kaso

--

--

Do

Do

Do

Do

93

Subsidary   Health Centre, Baharwali

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

94

Subsidary Health Centre Bandkhandi

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

95

Subsidary Health Centre, Behak Gujran

2

2

Rural

State Public

Zira

Zira

96

Subsidary   Health Centre kassoana

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

97

Subsidary Health Centre, Khos Dal Singh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

98

Subsidary Health Centre Kosa Randhir

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

99

Subsidary Health Centre Kundi Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

100

Subsidary Health Centre Longo Deva

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

101

Subsidary  Health Centre Mallan Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

102

Subsidary Health Centre Malsian

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

103

Subsidary Health Centre Raode Jale Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

104

Subsidary Health Centre, Thata Kishan Singh

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

105

Subsidary Health Centre Wakilan wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

106

Primary  Health Centre, Kot Ise Khan

4

4

Do

Do

Do

Dharmkot

107

Subsidary Health Centre Dharmkot

8

4

Do

Do

Do

Do

108

Subsidary Health Centre Amir Shah Wala

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

109

Subsidary Health Centre Chak Kaniya Wala Kalan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

110

Subsidary Health Centre Fatehgarh Korotane

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

111

Subsidary Health Centre Fateh Garh Panjtoor

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

112

Subsidary Health Centre Jalalabad

2

2

Do

Do

Do

Do

113

Subsidary Health Centre Kishanpur Kalan

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

114

Subsidary Health Centre, Khuranj

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

115

Subsidary Health Centre, Makhu

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

116

Subsidary Health Centre Mubarkpur

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

117

Subsidary Health Centre, Pir Muhamad

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

118

Subsidary Health CentreTalwandi Malian

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

119

Canal Dispensary, Makhu

2

2

Do

Do

Do

 

 

 

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