HEALTH

Conference on advances in oral surgery
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 14 — The 25th Annual National Conference of Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) was inaugurated this evening at the CII Convention Centre, Sector 32. The conference was inaugurated by Prof N.K. Ganguly, Director-General of the ICMR and the acting Director of the PGI, by lighting a lamp and ‘releasing’ fish in a fish-bowl.

At the inaugural function Dr Ginwala Oration was organised, in which surgical advances of oral and maxillofacial pathology were discussed. The oration was chaired by Dr Deepak Kulkarni and Dr B.L. Sapra.

The multi-subject conference will include papers being read and discussions on subjects ranging from extraction of teeth, removal of wisdom molars, dento-alveolar surgeries, removal of cysts and tumors, reconstruction, facial aesthetic surgery (orthognathic surgery), injuries to the jaws and facial bones, temporomanibular joints surgery, implants etc.

Nearly 400 participants from all over the country including local and regional dental surgeons are participating in this conference which will conclude on January 16. There are a few surgeons from the UK, the USA and Saudi Arabia as well.

Talking to TNS, Dr Deepak Kulkarni, President of the AOMSI, Dr Rajesh B. Dhirawani, Honorary General Secretary and Dr Ashok Dabir, Chairman of the CME said the main focus of the conference would be to share and exchange the new techniques being used nationwide in the area of oral and maxillofacial surgery. “Our aim is not only to increase the life of the patients but also to improve the quality of life of our patients”.

The experts further added that there had been a major increase in road accidents with a boom in the motor industry and also that about 40 per cent of the cancers today are oral cancers.

Various technological advancements in this field were discussed like bio-adhesives for stabilisation of bone grafts in minor oral surgery; treatment planning for orthognathic surgery; bioactive glasses; surgical management of maxillary tumors; recent concepts in nerve repair; laser management of oral submucous and complications of maxillofacial cysts.

Dr R.T.M. Woodwords, from the United Kingdom, presented a paper on ‘Mouth cancer: 200 where are we now” and considered new researches into tumour markers and their potential use to predict the outcome of patients with oral cancer. Prof Eric Carlson, from the USA, discussed the current advances in the surgical management of oral and maxillofacial pathology.

Two postgraduate students presented interesting case reports — S Mukilan presented a paper on ‘Intra oral bomb blast’ regarding diagnosis, restoration and reconstruction of an intra oral bomb blast injury. Seemit Shah presented an unusual case of trauma with foreign body impregnations and soft tissue loss.

The key-note address was given today by D. Ashok Utreja, Dr Neelima Malik, Dr R.T.M. Woodwards, Dr Varghese Mani.

SPORT

New mission of Col Courageous
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Jan 14 — Col Haripal Singh Dhillon, a winner of the Sena Medal, is a man with a mission to save the environment and train the youth in the mountain sport. Having served the Army for nearly 25 years, he now adopted these new goals in life.

Col Dhillon, known as Harry among friends, in 1987, during a snowstorm at Zoji La, had rescued the lives of many persons. For this, he was awarded the Sena Medal by the President of India. He led many mountaineering expeditions in Zanskar and Dhauladhar Himalayan ranges, including those to Leo-Pargial, Lamchir, Hanuman Tibba and Chokol.

He took part in the Himalayan Car rally from 1984 to 1987 and did well in the face of stiff competitions from world class drivers like Jayant Shah of Kenya. The 1954 born Col Dhillon said it was sad that the rally was discontinued. He hoped attempts would be made to continue it again.

He said now the youth preferred golf and tennis, to a mountaineering expedition, trek, skiing and other adventure sport. He said these activities shaped the character of the youth and gave a desired exposure in life. He said these activities imbibed a spirit of adventure, brotherhood, self-sacrifice in the youth, besides making them physically and mentally robust.

Col Dhillon said as an environmentalist, he undertook Clean the Himalayas Expeditions in various ranges. He visited many virgin spots in the mountains which were unknown to the outside world.

He used to visit Beas Kund regularly. Such visits helped him keep spiritually fit and mentally healthy. His wife, a national-level basketball player, gave him a good support in his life and its adventures.

His elder daughter, Gurleen has won many prizes at regional and local-level fashion contests. The younger one, a student of St Stephen's School, Sector 45, aims to become a world class athlete whom even Milkha Singh had praised. Col Dhillon's last posting at Shimla helped him keep in touch with trekking. He also led many NCC trips to various parts of the interior of Himachal Pradesh. He shifted to Chandigarh only four months ago. An avid social worker, he also visits various slum areas of the city to help those who live there.

He plans to visit Canada in the next few months to explore its snow-covered territories. He inherited the love for nature from his father who is also a retired Army officer.

Sport trials on Jan 18: The District Education Officer of the UT Administration will hold the selection trials in football (under-17) and ball badminton (under-19) on January 18, according to a press note of the department. The football trials or under-17 boys will be held at 2.30 pm at the Sector 17 Football Stadium. The ball badminton trials for boys and girls will be held at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, at 3 pm.

The selected players will represent the UT in the National School Games in these disciplines, to be held at Thiruvanathapuram shortly.

Wrestling meet: The Panchkula Open Sub-Junior Wrestling Meet will begin tomorrow at Andale Public School, Sector 9, Panchkula. The age-groups in this competition are 7 to 10, 10 to 13 and above 13. Nearly 30 schools of the city and nearby areas will take part in this meet.

Chess tourney: The two-day UT Chess Championships for boys and girls under the age of 18 will begin here tomorrow at the Sector 42 Sports Complex. More than 100 chess players, both boys and girls, of the city will take part in this tournament. The tournament is a basis for the selection of the city team for the National Championship.

ADMINISTRATION

Tatkal scheme for passports
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 14 — People wanting to travel abroad urgently can now pay a fixed sum under a scheme to get passport quickly. The Regional Passport Office here has introduced a ‘Tatkal’ scheme for issuing out-of-turn passports. Under the scheme, effective from January 1, 2000, passports will be issued on the payment of additional fee over and above the normal passport application fee.

The scheme will be applicable only in cases of genuine urgency where the applicants are in possession of documentary proof to substantiate their requests along with “verification certificate”. For issuing a fresh “Tatkal” passport within seven days of the application, an additional amount of Rs 1,500 will be charged. For a period between eight and 28 days, an additional Rs 1,000 will be charged. To get a duplicate ‘Tatkal’ passport within five days in lieu of ordinary passport, in case it has been stolen, damaged or destroyed an additional Rs 2,500 will have to be deposited. For re-issuing the passport after expiry of 10/20 years’ validity, within five days of the application, an additional amount of Rs 1,500 will be charged.

Passports under ‘Tatkal’ scheme will be granted without any enhanced fee in case of extreme emergency like medical treatment or death of close relatives abroad.

This scheme will cover the following categories:

* Businessmen wishing to travel urgently for trade, conferences, trade fair etc.

* Blood relative of a person residing abroad, who is seriously ill.

* Spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, brother, sister, brother-in-law and sister-in-law of individuals working abroad.

* Winners of promotional awards and schemes where foreign travel is a prize/incentive.

* Spouses of official passport holders going abroad and availing of companion ticket

* For marriage or honeymoon.

* Individuals wishing to go abroad to attend marriage of relatives such as children, grand-children, brother, sister, niece or nephew only.

* Students requiring a passport for appearing in examinations such as SAT and going to join foreign universities.

Cable damage causes power cut
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Jan 14 — The electricity supply to over 100 houses of Swastik Vihar remained suspended since past night and it was resumed today at 8.30 pm. The power supply to the commmercial complex in the vicinity also remained suspended on account of a damaged cable box.

The SDO (Electricity), Mr R.K. Bhardwaj, said a cable box with 11 kv cable was damaged at the end-joints due to lightning and thunder past night. He said the repair of the cable usually took over eight hours and that men of the department had been on the job all day.

Meanwhile, residents expressed resentment over the delayed action of the department staff. They also alleged that repeated visits to the complainat centre were of no avail, since there was nobody to attend to the complaints.

A resident of Swastik Vihar, Mr Vineet Aggarwal, said there was no power in his house since the past night and the family had been inconvenienced greatly in the face of the cold weather. He also said his neighbours had visited the complaint office, but, no official was present there and repeated telephone calls had also gone unanswered.

Another resident, Mr G.S. Brar, said the power supply had been cut when children were in the middle of the examination season and the security was not at its best, since thefts were being reported in the town every other day.