The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

'Need for re-look at organs Act'
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — With the changing scenario and technological advancements, the need today is to have a re-look at the Transplantation of Organs Act, 1994. This was what some experts had to say at one of the sessions today on the second day of the 12th annual conference of the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation at the PGI.

The Act, which prohibits all commercial trading of organs and allows these to be removed only for therapeutic purposes and also bans all organ transplants except those donated by relatives, was discussed by various specialists.

Dr M Bhandari from Lucknow introduced the Act to the audience. Dr H Jauhri from Delhi and Dr A P Pandey, a Padamashri recipient for his contributions in the field of urology and transplant surgery, spoke on the loopholes in the Act, like health being only a state subject and not all state governments accepting this Act, leading to trans-border malpractices. Mr R N Trivedi, Additional Solicitor-General of India, spoke on the remedial steps that might help in plugging these deficiencies.

Dr Jeremy Chapman from Australia introduced to the audience a new drug, the use of which is prohibited for routine use in India, but which has a potential of minimising the incidence of acute rejection after transplantation.

Prof Y Chawla of the PGI spoke on the appropriate time to refer patients for transplantation and the management of problems in these patients. Dr Mohd Rela from the UK spoke on the surgical aspects, while Dr D Kahn from South Africa outlined the cost-saving regimes for preventing rejections in patients. Dr Kim Solez from Canada emphasised the role of computers and the Internet in the field of transplantation.

Prof Vinay Sakhuja, Head of the Department of Nephrology at the PGI, said the purpose of such scientific deliberations can only succeed when non- governmental organisations in the region come forward to promote the concept of brain stem death and organ donation to public at large.

The conference is due to conclude tomorrow.

Workshop on oral health care
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — A regional workshop on the national oral health care programme will be held here at Parivar Kalyan Bhavan on February 25 and 26.

Director, Health Services, Director, Dental Health Services and Deputy Director (Dental), Health, from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan will discuss what strategies need to be adopted for the implementation of a comprehensive national oral health care programme.

Dr Baldev Raj Chawla, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, will inaugurate while Mrs Mohinder Kaur, Minister of State for Health and Family, will preside over the inaugural function. Mrs Renu Sahani Dhar, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry Health and Family Welfare, will be the guest of honour.

The eighth reorientation training programme for PCMS dental doctors will also be held on February 25 in which eminent speakers on various oral health specialities from within and outside the state will present their clinical experience regarding new concepts in dental treatment technology so as to enable dental doctors to use this latest technology.

Workshop for NGOs
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Feb 19 — A three-day state-level orientation workshop on targeted intervention for non-government organisations (NGOs) opened at a hotel in Sector 10 here today.

Organised by the Haryana AIDS Control Society (HACS), the workshop was attended by 35 NGOs from Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Highlighting the briefs of the meeting with delegates of World Bank held yesterday at New Delhi, the Project Director of HACS, Mr P.L. Jindal, said special training schemes for HIV/AIDS prevention and control would soon begin.

"Special control programmes will be undertaken for prisoners in jails of Ambala, Rohtak, Hissar and Jind," he said. He added that schemes of the HACS, aided by World Bank, would concentrate on bus drivers and conductors and also on Mewat. "The Muslim-dominated town has been identified due to its socio-cultural conservativeness," he said.

Ms Kusum Nijhawan of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) conducted the workshop. She stressed upon community behavioural aspects in curtailing the menace.

SPORT

Organisers, city judokas impress
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — Judokas of the CRPF won the maximum number of medals and the overall championship in the Senior National Judo Meet, which concluded at Indoor Hall, Sector 42, Chandigarh, on February 16. They won six gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Mr Tilak Thapa, a coach of the CRPF, says early picking up of youngsters has yielded results. The team practises at Jdoda Kalan in Delhi, he says. Mr J.S. Zanda, Joint Director, Sports, has taken special interest in recruiting these judokas and the scheme has proved successful, he adds. The women's team has Mr Tilak and Ms Mema as coaches, while men's team is being coached by Mr Mohinder Singh and Mr Rajnath Yadav.

The Amateur Judo Association of Chandigarh, headed by Mr Siddharth Chattopadhayaya, was pragmatic in its approach towards hosting the event. The presence of Mr Jagdish Tytler, President of the Judo Federation of India, and dismissal of a court case two days before the start of the meet boosted the morale of the organisers.

When Mr Chattopadhayaya was the SSP of Ludhiana, he had pioneered recruitment of judokas in Punjab Police. Asked if he would try for their recruitment in Chandigarh, he said, "It is a small unit but we want to work out some formula for their stable careers."

More than 400 players participated in the meet. One of the judokas said the organisers should have made a doctor available. Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, joint director, Sports, UT, said fresh mats would be provided at the GMSSS-21 centre soon. Many former international players spotted much potential in the area.

Jeev praises CGA range
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 19 — India's ace international golfer Chiranjeev Milkha Singh visited the CGA golf driving range yesterday and described it as a marvellous happening in the new millennium. He said this was the best golf facility being created in the city which would go a long way in promoting and popularising the game in this part of the country. "With the coming up of this range, more youngsters will begin playing golf. Chandigarh has produced international golfers like Amandeep Johl, Amartinder Singh, Arjuna Award winner Harmeet Kahlon, Parneeta Garewal and Irina Brar. With coming up of this range, I see a bright future for local golf players," he said.

Another international golfer and Arjuna Award winner Harmeet Kahlon described the range as fantastic. He has offered his services for coaching young golf players.

In a telephonic message, Kapil Dev, coach of the Indian cricket team, has complimented his coach, D.P. Azad, President of the CGA, for setting up this range.

Sport fair from March 3
From Our Correspondent

ZIRAKPUR, Feb 19 — The local Sher-e-Punjab Sports Club will organise a sport fair (Khed Mela) from March 3 to 5.

According to a press note issued here by Mr Narinder Sharma, General Secretary of the club, more than 100 kabaddi teams from all over India are expected to participate in the fair. A cultural programme will also be organised in the fair.

Mr Ravinder Singh Sohi, a former Chairman of the Patiala Zila Parishad will be the chief guest. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Finance and Planning Minister of Punjab, will preside over the function. Mr Prakash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab, will give away the prizes on the concluding day.