HEALTH

Lurking danger of malaria outbreak
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — The dingy pools of stagnant water with polythene bags and empty plastic bottles floating in them behind the makeshift dwellings in city colonies give ample indication of lurking danger posed by the possibility of malaria outbreak. In fact, you can even see the loathsome mosquitoes taking off for "operation bite". But action against them has still not been initiated.

Life is virtually a hell for the dwellers here. No sleep.... No peace... just red marks of mosquito bites on the tender faces of little kids. The story is the same, be it Kumhar Colony or Dadu Majra Colony. The situation is no better, rather is worse, in Colony Numbers 4 and 5. The drainage system in these areas can hardly be

said to exist and the water that gets accumulated here and there are isbreeding ground for mosquitoes. Even reposing on the lush green grass in the city roundabouts and parks has become impossible in the evenings with mosquitoes hovering around you head.

No cases of malaria have been reported so far, proudly claim officials of the UT Heath Department. Well, the mean season is yet to begin. Pre-monsoon rains are still to fall. The fact, however, is that steps to combat malaria are still being worked out.

The Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, in its reply filed before a city court had claimed that the cases of malaria had gone down by 72 per cent last year compared to 1998. This year, one cannot be sure.

It had added that anti-malaria camps had been organised in the labour colonies. DDT had been sprayed and fogging operations conducted. Villagers confirm nothing has been done so far this year to suffocate larvae. Paras Ram, a resident of Dadu Majra, says, "Till date, there has been no spray or fogging in the area and one just has to sit up every now and then at night.'' Rajinder Kaur, a resident of Dhanas, also testified to the widespread apathy on the part of the authorities and lack of initiative on the part of local leaders to improve neighbourhood sanitation.

Highlighting what a malaria vistim needs to do, a medical specialist working in a government hospital pointed out that he should go to a doctor and get his blood tested as soon as he feels feverish. If malaria is detected, the doctor will prescribe a five-day course of chloroquine, which should be completed. The victim should not on his own decide to discontinue the same once he starts feeling better. Avoid going to RMPs or quacks and go to a qualified doctor or laboratory for blood tests.

Dental health awareness exhibition
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — The importance of dental awareness programmes was stressed by Dr V.K. Kak, Director-Principal of the Sector 32 Government Medical College Hospital, while inaugurating a three-day second dental health awareness exhibition at the Sector 10 Government Museum and Art Gallery here today.

More than 200 charts and posters, computer aimations, quiz contests and table demonstrations have been set up at the venue to educate the public in general and children in particular.

Dr Sanjay Kalra, president, Dental Health Awareness Society, the organisers of the exhibition, said that it is perhaps the first time that such an extensive exhibition has been organised.

Dr H.S. Chawla, Professor and Head, Department of Oral Health Sciences, said that dentistry has come a long way from hand-operated drill machines to the latest state of the art dental equipment and material. He also stressed the need for awareness programmes to reduce the incidence of dental diseases.

Dr Manju Datta, Director, Health Services (Dental), haryana, said that her dream of starting an awareness society has been realised. She stressed the need for taking this programme to rural areas.

Prizes were also distributed. “Utkarsh”, a magazine of the society, was aalso released by Dr Manju Datta.

The exhibition deals with all aspects of dentistry right from its evolution, basic structure of a tooth, to modern dental care and all aspects of dentistry. Role of computers in correct methods of brushing, various dental diseases and their modes of management were also exhibited. The exhibition would remain open on April 17 and 18 also.

SPORT

Jobs for sportsmen proposed
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — We are for the betterment of sportpersons and if we are unable to perform, we will leave," said Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, President of the Haryana Olympic Association, at Panchkula yesterday. Chautala also welcomed suggestion by all members at yesterday's general body meeting of the HOA.

Abhey who took over as the new President of the body only on November 4, 1999, said now the association had nearly Rs 55 lakh in its kitty, while at the time of joining, it had Rs 3,000 only. He said in the new draft of the sports policy which was already in its final stages, a 3 per cent job quota had been proposed for sportsmen doing well at the international level. Moreover various discretionary benefits will be given to winners of the Arjuna and Bhim Awards.

Chautala also said efforts were being made to promote budding sportsmen who could represent Haryana in national meets in future. He also said cash awards had been increased to attract more sportspersons. When asked why top women hockey players of the country belonging to Haryana were playing for Railways and other teams, Mr Chautala said, "We are shortly going to call a meeting of various MDs which will decide the issue."

He also said the Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala, had announced at the XVth Haryana Sports Festival at Bhiwani in December last, that sport would be made compulsory in Haryana schools. He had also said every school would have the services of qualified PTIs. The HOA president also said the College of Sports at CCS Hisar Agricultural University, which had been closed earlier, would now be given the status of a sport academy.

He said 19 sport had been identified for which cash awards were reserved and more stress would be on thsese sport only. These inclulde athletics, basketball, boxing, badminton, cricket, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, kabaddi (national style), kho-kho, lawn tennis, table tennis, swimming, roller skating, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

He also said in order to give recognition to coaches who produced players of repute, various cash awards and promotion avenues had been introduced. The awards range from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh, besides out-of-turn promotions for some outstanding candidates.

Mr Chautala also said for the smooth conduct of the Afro-Asian Games in November next year at Delhi, the association will offer all support to the Indian Olympic Association. It will help in the creation of accommodation facilities near Gurgaon for players of more than 43 nations.

When asked about the creation of infrastructure in the state, he said each town and district will get due importance on the basis of the popularity of a particular sport like hockey in Ambala-Shahbad and athletics in Hisar.

Chetan, Nikhil win titles
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — Chetan Vikas of St Xavier's School, Sector 44, and Nikhil Chopra of St Stephen's School, Sector 45, emerged winners in the under-14 and under-12 sections, respectively, in the Chandigarh Chess Championship organised by the Chandigarh Chess Association which concluded here today at the Sector 42 Sports Complex.

In the boys' under-14, Simarjeet Singh of St Stephen's School got the second place. In the under-14 girls' section, Shweta of Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 37-B, won the first place.

In the under-12 boys' section, Mohit Arora of St Anne's Convent School, Sector 32, was placed second. Anmol Razdan of Tender Heart School, Sector 33, stood third and Jaskaran Jit Singh of YPS, SAS Nagar, was at the fourth position.

Meanwhile Chetan Vikas, Simarjeet Singh, Shweta, Preeti, Nikhil Chopra and Mohit Arora will represent the UT in their respective categories at the Sub-Junior National Meet to be held in Ahmedabad next month.

Taekwondo meet: In the India Cup Taekwondo Championship organised by the Chandigarh Association of Taekwondo at the Sector 10 Skating Rink, St Joseph's Taekwondo Academy, Sector 44, won the overall trophy by securing maximum number of medals.

The runners-up trophy went to Punjab. The prizes were distributed by Mr Alok Mittal, ADIG (CID) of Haryana. He promised to provide full support for the betterment of the martial art in future.

League cricket: An all-round performance by Amrit Pal who scored 58 runs in 49 deliveries enabled Evergreen Cricket Club beat Eleven Star Club by 136 runs today in match of the IVth UT League Cricket Tournament played at Punjab Engineering College grounds.

In another match, Bedi XI defeated Hilliams Cricket Club by six wickets.

ACC XI win: ACC XI beat Eagle XI by 30 runs in the Yuvsatta NIIT Goodwill Cricket Tournament for boys under the age of 15 which concluded here today. ACC XI were all out for 107 runs in 16.4 overs. Eagle XI could make only 78 runs in 14.3 overs. Hardeep showed his class by scoring 40 runs. He also took four wickets in four overs.

Pawan of ACC XI was declared the Little Master of the tournament and also the man of the series. Gurvinder, also of ACC XI, was the most succesful bowler if the tournament. Prabhjot and Vipin Bhagat were declared the most disciplined players. Mr Inder Lal Batra, member of the Administrators' Advisory Council gave away the prizes.

Slazer Cup: Baljit Bawa's magnificent allround performance (36 runs and four wickets for 24 runs) helped Bhakra Beas Management Board beat Oriental Bank of Commerce by 33 runs in the Inaugural Salzer Cup Cricket Tournament being played here at the Sector 5 grounds in Panchkula today.

In another match of the day, JAL XI beat Kaysons XI by two wickets.

Athletics meet for children
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, April 16 — As many as 150 boys and girls participated in an athletics meet organised by the Resident Welfare Association of Phase 3B2 here today.

Mr H.S. Midha, Director of Gem Public School, inaugurated the meet and Mr P.P. Shukla, President of the association, hoisted the flag.

The winners of different contests were as follows: Girls (100 m) — Ritu 1, Simpi 2 and Navjeet 3; boys — Jaspreet 1, Amrinder 2 and Jagjit 3; girls (200 m) — Mithu 1, Sandeep 2 and Neeha Gaur 3; boys — Jaspreet 1, Kamalpreet 2 and Mandeep 3.

Girls (400 m) — Sunit Kaur 1, Vidhi 2 and Lelly 3; boys — Mr Satinder 1, Manoj 2 and Rajeev 3.

Matka race (girls below the age of 10) — Puneet 1, Amandeep 2 and Deepinder 3; Musical Chair contest for parents of the participating children — Matokadar Kaura, Vipin Gaur 2.

The prizes were given away by Mr Midha. Two former municipal councillors, Mr A.S. Mohali and Mr S.S. Sukhi were also present on the occasion.

ADMINISTRATION

Jitra celebrates raising day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 16 — The 56 Field Regiment (Jitra) celebrated its 37th Raising Day somewhere in the Western Sector. The function is being attended by the Colonel of the regiment, Lt Gen C.R. Sampath Kumar, besides a number of serving as well as retired ex-Jitra officers. The regiment was raised on April 15, 1964 at Aurangabad by Lt Col T.O.M. Pande as a Mountain Pack Unit.

Since its raising, the unit has taken part in several campaigns and operations, including Operation Cactus Lily in 1971, Operation Trident and Operation Falcon in 1987, Operation Rakshak in Punjab during 1991-92 and Operation Vijay last year.

The regiment is located on the periphery of the Thar desert, where it is trying to green the area. It has planted over 10,000 saplings, besides maintaining several fruit orchards and tree-lined avenues.