CME at CMC on Neurological Diseases

Sun, Nov 17, 2013 at 4:00 PM
A Leading Cause of Disability in India

Ludhiana, 17th November, 2013: (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria): India, the world’s second most populous country, is facing the emergence of a “hidden” epidemic: disability due to neurologic diseases. The rapid economic, demographic, and social transformation of India in recent decades has already resulted in the double burden of unresolved epidemics of infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis) coupled with rising rates of chronic diseases (e.g., stroke, heart attack). This was stated by Professor Gourie Devi, former Director and Vice-Chancellor of National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore in the 31st Dr LH Lobo memorial oration. She said stroke, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injuries due to road traffic accidents are the major causes of disability in India.  She spoke also about the delivery of neurological services at different levels of care in India.

Dr LH Lobo memorial trust, Ludhiana has been organizing the Dr LH Lobo Memorial Oration and Scientific symposium for the last 30 years, in memory of the late Dr LH Lobo, an eminent and renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon and Former Head of Orthopaedic department and Principal of Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana.   This year the 31st Dr LH Lobo Memorial Oration was organised by the department of Neurology, CMC on November 16th in the hospital auditorium. The inaugural function and the oration were conducted by Shri Sukhpat Rai Wadehra, President, Dr LH Lobo Memorial Trust and Dr MK Mahajan, Secretary, Padma Bhushan Prof JS Chopra, from Chandigarh was the Guest of Honour. Dr S Chopra gave the vote of thanks.

After the oration a CME on ”Management of Central Nervous System Infections” was organised by the department of Neurology, CMC Ludhiana. Prof Satishchandra Director and Vice-Chancellor of NIMHANS Bangalore gave a talk on the neurological manifestations in HIV patients.  Dr S Prabhakar, Head of Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, updated the audience on the recent management of Bacterial meningitis. Prof Mathew Alexander HOD, Dept of Neurology, CMC Vellore spoke about the brain infection following measles virus. Prof Gourie Devi discussed about the various types of TB infection that can affect the brain.

Prof Yashpal Singh briefly talked about the common viral infection of the brain called Herpes simplex encephalitis. Prof Gagandeep Singh discussed various treatment options for Neurocysticercosis(tape worm) affecting the brain. Dr Jency Koshy gave a lecture on neurological complications that can occur due to Dengue fever. Dr DivyaDeodhar spoke about the current treatment of TB infection affecting the brain. Dr Vikas Loomba talked about the emerging infection called Scrub Typhus and its neurological manifestations. A PG Quiz on the Neuroinfections was held during the program. More than 200 delegates attended the program. The CME was organised by Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian and Dr Yashpal Singh.        CME at CMC on Neurological Diseases

Global Bill of Rights for Stroke Patients and Carers

Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Face-to-face meeting on 20th September in Vienna

                                                                                                                                                                        Courtesy Photo

Ludhiana, 18th September, 2013:(Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria):Stroke or brain attack is the second leading cause of death. More than two-thirds of the deaths due to stroke occur in developing countries like India. In Ludhiana alone every year 140 new cases of stroke occur for a 1 lakh population.  Twenty five percent of the new stroke cases in Ludhiana are below 49 years of age which is highest in the country.

File photo

DrJeyaraj D Pandian, Professor and Head of Neurology at CMC Ludhiana stated that about half of the patients with stroke are left disabled.  Stroke in a young patient will lead to devastating results like loss of job, income and finally poverty. In our country there is no social support for the stroke survivors.
DrPandian who chairs the World Stroke Campaign of World Stroke Organization (WSO) said that the WSO has taken an initiative to develop a stroke survivor/carer Global Bill of Rights. Six stroke survivors and one carer from the following countries are lending their support to WSO: Australia, Brazil, India, Norway, Singapore, South Africa and the United States. The first face-to-face meeting of the core group will be held on 20th September in Vienna, Austria along with the 2013 World Congress of Neurology.
From India, DrJeyaraj D Pandian through the World Stroke Campaign will be overseeing the development of the Bill. MsShefali Chopra, Manager, Tata Motors Limited, Ludhiana will be representing India in the core group. Dr Erin Lalor, CEO of National Stroke Foundation of Australia will be leading the discussions.

Ms Chopra in her statement mentioned that “It is a really a great initiative by WSO and it will be beneficial for people living in developing countries. There is lack of awareness of stroke in our country.  My mother suffered stroke and we got it recognized after 48hours and by that time her vision got hampered. The best part is that WSO is taking inputs from stroke survivors and carers across the world and hence the final bill would cater to the actual needs of the patients particularly in developing countries.” 
Dr Pandian added that the Bill will cover the rights of stroke patients in acute care, prevention, rehabilitation and long term care including social support. This Global Bill of Rights will be used across the world to improve the awareness of stroke and also to influence the policy makers.