Kashmiris are literally living in a Dark Prison:now this is grave: Curbs in place, cancer patients

[Shamain]

Curbs in place, cancer patients unable to reach SKIMS

File PhotoWith curbs on public movement in place across Kashmir, cancer patients are unable to reach the tertiary-care SK Institute of Medical Sciences here for treatment and surgeries, doctors said on Sunday. The restrictions, they said, have also resulted in a steep dip in cancer surgeries and treatment, a scenario which could add to the mortality rate.





Officials said over 50 percent patients dated for cancer surgeries could not make it to hospital since the unrest began in Kashmir on July 8. As a result, the vital surgeries that could mean a lease of life for the patients could not be carried out, they said. Similarly, hundreds of patients have also missed their radiation doses.

Cancer specialists at SKIMS said many patients who needed immediate surgeries for malignancies could not be brought to hospital. They are losing out on chances of survival and recovery, a senior onco-surgeon said.

Recognizing the gravity of matter, SKIMS recently had an emergency meeting with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti wherein a proposal was presented to allow the extension of SKIMS and make it mobile through outreach services.
People are not able to come to SKIMS. We are planning to reach them now, Dr AG Ahangar, the newly-appointed Director of SKIMS Soura said.

The surgical oncology department of SKIMS operates gynecological cancers on two days a week at Trust Hospital Operation Theatre. In the past three weeks, not a single patient has been operated upon there, according to sources.
Officials said movement of vehicles with sick and injured and the hospital staff should be allowed freely.

No situation should stop sick from seeking treatment, a senior Cancer Specialist at SKIMS pleaded.

Doctors said they were admitting and operating anyone who came these days for cancer surgeries. We are not even considering whether the patient has been dated or not. We are trying to operate anyone who needs a surgery, they said.
A doctor said the outreach services would be clubbed with telemedicine department of the institute but expressed concern over the prevalent scenario where it is difficult for hospital vehicles to ply on roads.

As part of the initiative, the SKIMS administration said it has tied up with the Directorate of Health Services to dole out essential drugs needed by cancer patients. Some cancer patients need to take some essential drugs as part of their treatment. We have kept these available at some district hospitals, Dr Altaf Gauhar Haji, HoD Surgical Oncology at SKIMS said.

The SKIMS administration said palliative drugs like morphine were also being delivered to registered patients.
Morphine as a pain killer is essential for terminally-ill cancer patients and sudden stoppage of this drug can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, said doctors at Regional Cancer Centre of SKIMS.

Doctors said over the past three weeks, a drop of more than 90 percent has been witnessed in cancer OPD.

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/...er-patients-unable-to-reach-skims/224417.html

 

[Shamain]

[h=1]So much loss.....


Kashmir: AIIMS last hope as they fight for sight[/h]

Hospitals in Kashmir are overwhelmed, with hundreds of wounded patients pouring in as it reels from days of clashes. Image for representational purpose.TILL JUST the other day Firdous drove an auto-rickshaw in Sopore town in Kashmir Valley to earn his living. He was the sole earner in his family. The 25-year-old was injured during a protest at Mazbugh, Sopore, on July 15, and is now one of the five patients from the Valley undergoing treatment at AIIMS with severe eye injuries.
“He is still a little restless; he wants to talk,” says Firdous’s cousin, who has accompanied him to Delhi. He adds that Firdous understands this may be his last chance — “if he does not recover his sight here (at AIIMS), he will never get it back”. Firdous interrupts: “I have been driving an auto for five years. I can’t do that when I can’t see.”
His medical report says he has severe injuries from metallic pellets in both eyes.
A few paces down, in another room of Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences at AIIMS, school students Junaid, from Qazigund in south Kashmir, and Zahid, from Sopore in north Kashmir, lie opposite each other in a darkened room. Zahid was injured by pellets fired at protesters in Sopore town on July 19.
Junaid was brought by his family to AIIMS since there was no way of taking him to Srinagar for treatment amid the protests.
His attendants, who refuse to be identified, say that after spending some time at Srinagar’s SMHS Hospital, they were referred to Delhi on priority. Junaid sits up in his bed, attentive, but does not join the conversation.
“The (Srinagar hospital) HoD told us that we were being referred to Delhi, and they arranged the flight. We came here on July 23 and, since then, they have been under observation and treatment,” one attendant says.
At the AIIMS Trauma Centre, Insha, 15, is scheduled to undergo a surgery in the next two days. “She is doing well. We plan to conduct the surgery either tomorrow or the day after. We need to repair the wound and it will be reconstructive surgery. Otherwise she is stable,” Dr Deepak Aggarwal, Professor, Neurosurgery, AIIMS, says.
Insha has a pellet injury on her forehead and has developed an infection after her family reportedly tried to remove the pellet by hand before she was taken to a hospital.
AIIMS spokesperson Dr Amit Gupta says the others have been under investigation and undergone minor procedures. “They will be admitted for a week more to study their progress. They are doing well,” he says.
The youngest, Asif, 14, from Khanabal, Anantnag, underwent surgery on Tuesday. His father comes to check up on the other patients from the Valley as doctors removed pellets from his son’s body. “Asif has several pellets in his upper body and one eye. Please pray for him,” the father says.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kashmir-aiims-last-hope-as-they-fight-for-sight-pellet-gun-injury-2937812/

 

[BengaliBaboo]

The international community led by Pakistan has already condemned this in human behaviour. And urge human rights organizations to bring this suffering of humanity to the foray of world discussions. We hope the aspirations of the kashmiri people will be met through a free and fair plebescite.

 

[Asim Jabar]

All Kashmir major cities have no internet or mobile connection they are carrying out a genocide in the dark