Lack of medical facilities during inter-college football match organised by varsity results in delay of almost an hour in providing medical help to injured player
It is common knowledge that a ladder is used for climbing and a bench, well, to sit on. However, if one were to go by Mumbai University officials, these contraptions can double up as a stretcher on a football field.
As bizarre as it sounds, a ladder and a bench is what the varsity officials tried to use in place of a stretcher as Dnyansadhana College (Thane) defender Ajay Jaiswal lay writhing in pain with an injured shin for 45 minutes.
During the Thane college's qualifier match for Mumbai University tournament against SK College (Seawood) at CKT College grounds (Panvel), there was neither a doctor present nor was there an ambulance. They did not even have a stretcher. As it turned out later, the officials' brainwave, to use a ladder and a bench as a stretcher, did not work and an auto rickshaw was brought straight into the field and Jaiswal was taken to a hospital in the three-wheeler, which must have added to his misery.
Here's what happened: During the match, Jaiswal went on the offensive after his team went a goal down. And while attempting to gain possession of a loose ball in the 25th minute, Jaiswal was jabbed by the opponent defender on his right shin.
At once he knew that it was something major. He signalled to the bench for medical help. But there was none. Dnyansadhana coach and former Air India player Taposh Ghosh said they had to wait for almost 45 minutes for help to arrive.
"The organisers didn't provide us with anything. All they had was a pain relieving spray. That boy was crying in pain for almost an hour. Actually no, he wasn't crying, he was screaming in pain. Finally, after no ambulance arrived, we had to take him by an auto rickshaw to the nearby Veer Hospital."
Scans at the hospital revealed that Jaiswal had broken his shin bone. This means he will have to stay away from the game for nine months.
"A shin injury is very painful. It has to be dealt with professional care," said physiotherapist Anjali Desai. "The first thing that should be applied is ice. After that he should be taken placed on a stretcher and taken immediately to the hospital. The more time wasted only worsens the injury."
Well, during the precious time after Jaiswal got injured, the organisers were busy getting a bench from the college classroom.
Vinod Naik, physical trainer at the CKT College who is also in-charge of running the tournament at the venue, told dna that he did not feel the need of a stretcher or the presence of a physio during the match. He even vehemently denied that the player was taken to the hospital after 45 minutes and claimed that there was a delay of just five minutes in taking Jaiswal to hospital.
"I've been organising this tournament for 15 years and never have we had a situation like this. But we have tied up with a hospital nearby and get their ambulance if there's any injury. Unfortunately today, all the ambulances were busy, so there was a little delay in getting the boy to the hospital. There was just a five minutes delay," he said.
Jaiswal was later transferred to a hospital in Bhiwadi, where he resides. His dad, an owner of a garment store told dna, "It is a serious injury. I rushed to the hospital when his teammates called me. The least that the Mumbai University can do is have a stretcher and a doctor at the ground. There are many teams that participate, so how can they not have a doctor?"
Prof Uttam Kendre, sports director, Mumbai University, did not respond to repeated calls and texts.
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