Remembering those who cannot remember is the underlying motto of the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Delhi Chapter. An incurable, progressive illness, Alzheimer's robs patients of a lifetime of memories. Affecting people above the age of 60 years, its main symptoms are confusion, personality and behaviour changes, loss of the ability to think, reason and remember. Eventually sufferers can no longer recognise friends and relations and are unable to care for themselves.

The Delhi chapter of ARDSI was set up in March 1994 by a small group of dedicated workers, with the main objective of establishing a network of societies globally to look into Alzheimers. It is affiliated to the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) that has a national office in Kochi and chapters in different parts of India. This non-governmental organisation (NGO) focuses on training the care-givers on how to take care of an Alzheimer patient. Recognising the special needs and care required for Alzheimer's patients, the ARDSI-Delhi has a volunteer system wherein volunteers are trained extensively on providing this special care. Beginning with just one–two volunteers in 1994, the organisation now has 24 volunteers. These volunteers are people who have direct access to the patients in the family. ARDSI-Delhi has linkages with renowned neurologists of various hospitals in Delhi, to whom the patients are referred for a quick diagnosis. The NGO trains volunteers and the caregivers on the medications needed and maintains a follow up of each patient registered with them. More than 120 Alzheimer's patients are registered with them today.

A Helpline functions from Monday-Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, providing support and information. The organisation aims to open a support day care centre for the patients in the near future. World Alzheimer's Day, which falls on September 21, is celebrated to take the cause of the patients further and to ensure that the voice of Alzheimer's disease is heard.

The ARDSI-Delhi Chapter can be reached at:

But setting up of huge units and acquiring of latest ISO standards approval does not all the time ensure the best of IV fluids. Sporadic cases of pseudomonas endotoxin occurring in the fluids resulting in fatalities in surgery are often reported. Says Anupam Sachdev, pediatric oncologist at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, "The hospital purchases the IV fluid in good faith from the company. Though we on our own do check for contamination based on clarity of the fluid, there is precious little that a doctor can do about microscopic contamination." Harit Chaturvedi, Senior Consultant, Oncology, Apollo Hospitals, Delhi says that this problem has been around for years. "It is unfortunate," he says, that, "Doctors have so far not come forward to fight this grave menace."

In 1998, the National Human Rights Commission set up an expert panel to look into the problem of contaminated IV fluids. The interim report states that a few bottles okayed for usage could not be a guarantee for the entire batch. It further added that the companies used world-class Rommelag technique (blow-fill-seal technology) and that contamination could have taken place not at this stage of manufacturing, but during transportation.

Human life has become so cheap that a few deaths during an operation or a camp does not cause any flutter. Contaminated IV fluids though an old problem needs to be addressed as an emerging issue of health concern. It is time doctors got together collectively to ensure safety in health procedures.

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