Archive for category: News

New Delhi: In a heartfelt display of benevolence and selflessness, the family of Kanchan, a 53-year-old woman from Faridabad, has made the courageous decision to donate her organs after she was declared brain dead.

This selfless act has the potential to save multiple lives and is a powerful demonstration of the family’s compassion towards society.

Kanchan was involved in a road traffic accident on December 1 of this year in Faridabad. Following the incident, she was initially admitted to a local hospital in Faridabad and later referred to the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), AIIMS. Despite receiving comprehensive medical care, she was declared brain-dead on December 19.

Dr Aarti Vij, Prof In-Charge, ORBO, AIIMS, expressed gratitude for the Kanchan family’s selfless decision to donate organs during a difficult time.

“This act of generosity has the power to not only save lives but also provide solace to the grieving hearts of the donor’s family. The seamless coordination of brain death certification, donor organ management, and compassionate counselling was meticulously carried out by the collaborative efforts of the ORBO team, physicians, neurosurgeons, anaesthetists, transplant team, transplant counsellors and coordinators, technicians, administrators, forensic and police departments, and nurse coordinators,” said Dr Vij.

The retrieved organs, including the liver and kidneys, were allocated to recipients through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO). The liver was allocated to ILBS Hospital, Delhi, while the kidneys were allocated to two hospitals: AIIMS Delhi and Safdarjang Hospital. The corneas and heart valves have been banked at AIIMS, New Delhi.

New Delhi: The global number of new Covid-19 cases has increased by 52 per cent during the last one month, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday.

In the latest epidemiological update on Friday, the UN health body reported over 850,000 new cases worldwide in the 28-day period from November 20 to December 17.

The number of new deaths decreased by 8 per cent as compared to the previous 28-day period, with over 3,000 new fatalities reported. As of December 17, over 772 million confirmed cases and nearly seven million deaths have been reported globally. 

WHO last week designated JN.1, a sub-lineage of BA.2.86 Omicron variant, as a separate variant of interest (VOI) apart from its parent lineage BA.2.86 due to its rapid increase in prevalence in recent weeks.

However, EG.5 remains to be the most reported VOI globally.

At the global level, during the past 28 days, a total of 118,958 new hospitalisations and 1,610 new intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were reported from 58 and 36 countries, respectively.

The South-East Asia Region reported over 9,200 new cases, a 388 per cent increase as compared to the previous 28-day period.

The highest numbers of new cases were reported from Indonesia (3,725), followed by India (3,241) and Thailand (2,120).

The number of new 28-day deaths in the Region increased by 317 per cent as compared to the previous 28-day period, with 50 new deaths reported.

The highest numbers of new deaths were reported from India (21 new deaths), Thailand (16 new deaths) and Indonesia (12 new deaths).

The WHO emphasised that current vaccines continue to provide protection against severe disease and death from the JN.1 variant and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2. The organisation is closely monitoring the evidence and will update the risk evaluation of JN.1 as needed.

To mitigate the spread of these respiratory illnesses, the WHO advised individuals to adopt preventive measures, including wearing masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, maintaining a safe distance, practising respiratory etiquette, regular hand hygiene, and getting tested for Covid or influenza if symptoms arise or after exposure.

A case has been registered against the culprits, and an investigation is underway. The doctor has been identified as Dr Rupesh Kumar, a child specialist who runs a clinic in Begusarai. The demand was made through a letter sent by speed post on Thursday. The distressed doctor along with IMA Chairman, Dr Ranjan Kumar Chaudhary and a group of doctors, met SP Yogendra Kumar on Friday and sought help from him.

“The letter was received by my staff and handed over to me. When I opened the envelope and read the letter, I went into shock. I immediately informed local police and IMA officials about the incident,” said Dr Rupesh Kumar. A copy of the letter has been shared by Aj Tak where the sender introduced himself as one Bumbum Kumar from the village called Jagdishpur in Begusarai. The sender mentioned the name of a Thakur gang and claimed to be a part of it. In the letter, he stated, “if our demands are not fulfilled within 8 days, by the 9th day, the gang will blow up your clinic.” 

Threatening the doctor, the letter stated that there would be bloodshed and they would make it impossible for the doctor to go outside Begusarai if he refuses to pay Rs 20 crore to the gang. According to IANS, SP Yogendra Kumar said: “We have registered an FIR in this matter in the town police station based on the complaint given by the victim and the contents of the letter. Preliminary investigation revealed that a criminal from a village who comes under Ballia police station sent the letter by registered Speed Post. We are making efforts to nab him.” 

Rangdari cases, characterized by extortion and intimidation, are unfortunately becoming more prevalent in many states including Bihar, posing a growing concern for the safety and security of doctors. A similar case of rangdari occurred in Bihar a few months back also when a prominent doctor from Motihari town of Bihar was faced with an extortion threat asking him to cough up Rs 2 crore and threatening to kill him and his family members if the demands were not met in a couple of days. Following a similar pattern, the doctor also received an extortion letter, and the victim was running the Kavi Diagnostic Centre in the Chatauni locality of the city.