Vikas Vaidya

By Vikas Vaidya SHE had always wished to donate her organs after death. Never was she aware that death will catch her unexpectedly at a young age. Deepali fell to destiny’s sudden blow but her wish, shared in a casual conversation with her husband Chandrakant, was fulfilled. In death, she gave life to two people. Deepali Zoting, aged 37 a lecturer at Ramdeobaba College of Engineering and Management (RCOEM), suddenly fell ill and became unconscious on last Thursday (November 6). She was brought to Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) and then to the Neuron Hospital at Dhantoli where Dr Chandrashekhar Pakhmode, well-known neurosurgeon checked her. The doctors tried their best but Deepali’s condition kept worsening and after two days she was brain dead. “The blood supply to cerebellum and brains stem had completely stopped. She was brought unconscious to our hospital,” Dr Pakhmode said. He further explained the cause behind this sudden occurrence. “Hyperhomocysteinem...

By Vikas Vaidya A study conducted Lifespan D-MYTH 2014, to map people’s perceptions along with behaviour-related outcomes of diabetes management, revealed that a whopping 50% of diabetics in the country are at risk of developing heart diseases, 63% are at risk of getting microvascular complications and many have an enhanced risk of developing eye problems, especially retinopathy. The study brings to light poor diabetes management amongst Indians which it links to ignorance and to the prevalence of myths. The unique diabetes myths and truths highlighter (Lifespan D-MYTH 2014) study, conducted by LIFESPAN, a thought leader in the management of diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders, made several disconcerting revelations regarding people’s perceptions about the disease, their practices and its effects in terms of mortality and morbidity. The Lifespan D-MYTH 2014 study was conducted among 5065 Indians in 16 cities on a one-to-one basis, and the data collected was compared with cumulat...

           By Chandana Roy In a candid chat with Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ‘The Hitavada’ got to know the “Mrs CM”. Other than being the CM’s wife, she is a mother and a successful banker - Associate Vice-President of Axis Bank in Nagpur. Excerpts of the interview: Q: How do you and the Chief Minister feel about the grand reception received on Devendra’s arrival to the city? A: It was an overwhelming experience. I realized how much people love Devendra. Their affection was genuine. Happiness was definitely there. Because people have loved and believed in him so much, voted for him, given him this position, even his party senior leaders also… it’s love of people, each BJP activist up to the top senior leaders … so it’s a feeling of responsibility that they have so much faith in him and so many expectations. He has to fulfill them. So, it’s a testing time for him. I have full confidence that Devendra wi...

 By Vikas Vaidya Executive Committee of the Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided to return the application recommending disapproval of the scheme for establishment of new medical colleges at Nandurbar, Chandrapur and Baramati. The proposals of all three colleges were sent by Government of Maharashtra under the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik under Section 10A of the IMC Act, 1956 for the academic year 2014-15. While refusing the permission to Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) at above three places, MCI has pointed out, since there was no provision for keeping the application pending assessment of the physical and the teaching facilities available for establishment of a new medical college. The committee considered the council assessor report and noticed some loopholes. In the same meeting, MCI has given approval to the application of increased intake from 100 to 150 to NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (NKPSIMS) and Lata Mang...

By Vikas Vaidya The decline in child sex ratio is a cause of concern nation-wide. In Maharashtra also, child sex ratio is declining steadily over the past decades. Among regions, Vidarbha is better placed in sex ratio compared to Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, and Rest of Maharashtra. However, in isolation, child sex ratio in Vidarbha also is on a steady decline over the years. “The main reason behind the decline in child sex ratio is use of Ultra Sonography (USG) for sex determination,” said Dr Prakash Deo, Chief of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Madhya Pradesh. Dr Deo, who hails from Nagpur, was talking to ‘The Hitavada’. He was in the city recently to receive late Dr V N Wankar Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contribution to the field of medicine. Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur branch gives the award. An expert, who was involved in a project to improve child sex ratio, Dr Deo said that the decline in child sex ratio first took place...

By Vikas Vaidya Everything about him is sure to make Nagpurians feel proud. He stays in the US, but works for the cause of Indians. He runs on one principle -- if one does not raise his voice, he is never heard. He is a staunch supporter of the Republican Party in America. According to him, this party believes in family values, open society, less government control, and less wastage. And, many of these values can be seen in this man’s persona. He constantly studies, upgrades, and updates himself to compete with the younger generation; is in the know of advances in technology and maintains his utility value. This medical degree holder is the Chief of Staff at St Tammany Parish Hospital and is the President of Board of Trustees of Lakeview Hospital at New Orleans, USA. He is the Assistant Professor of Surgery at Tulane Medical School. He has received the highest award in American healthcare -- Healthcare Heroes, the Dr Frist Award and has been conferred the Medal of Freedom by the R...