HEALTH

300 examined at asthma workshop
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Keeping in view the rising cases of asthma in the city, doctors on the occasion of World Asthma Day today emphasised that the patients need to have a better knowledge of the disease and the process of management.

The Department of Chest diseases and Tuberculosis, GMCH-32, organised an asthma awareness workshop to disseminate information about the disease among the patients and the public. Nearly 300 patients were examined during the workshop for various allergic disorders and given free medical advice. Of these, about 80 per cent were cases of bronchial asthma.

According to Prof Ashok K Janmeja, Head of the department, asthma is a condition that affects the lungs. People with asthma usually have difficulty in breathing, and often cough a lot. The common symtoms are wheezing, tightness in chest and shortness of breath. However, with regular medication, asthmatics can enjoy a life that is as fulfilling and active as anyone else. He stressed that spontaneity of treatment and primary prevention will help check the progress of the disease.

He pointed out that cases of TB, pneumonia, chronic obstructive airway disease may also feel breathlessness, but for proper diagnosis, people should consult a doctor at the earliest. The patient should become a partner in the management process with the doctor.

At the workshop, they were also taught how to use various devices for treatment. Emphasis was also laid on identifying triggers which cause asthma and how to avoid them. These can be smoking, viral infections, house dust, air pollution, pollens, fur or feathers from pets. Change of season and sudden change in temperatures, food allergies also trigger asthma attacks. Dr Janmeja further revealed that most cases are reported in the months of March, April, September, October and November on account of pollination, since pollen is a major irritant. The modern style of living, various kinds of indoor and outdoor pollution and food allergies have resulted in an increase in the incidence of bronchial asthma.

Doctors pointed out that earlier tablets and injections were the mainstay of asthma therapy. But now same drugs are being precribed through inhalation, since they are more effective.The side effects of these are very minimal. Even cortecosteroids, can be safely given through inhalers, to children and pregnant ladies. The patients were also explained the technique of using these modern inhalation therapies Inhalers give you quick relief, using the minimum amount of medicine. In fact with inhalation therapy, you need only 1/50th or 1/100th of the medication.

Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, May 3 — Sahayta Cancer Sahyog yesterday set up Sahayta Vatsalya Sahyog — a parent group of children receiving treatment for cancer in the Advanced Pediatric Centre of the PGI. Members including parents of fifteen children, Sahayta volunteers and doctors of PGI attended the first meeting held today.

The President of the society, Mrs Neelu Tuli talked about the trauma the family faces once the child is diagnosed of cancer. According to her, the formation of the parent-group will give such parents with similar fears and anxieties a platform to share their experiences and to give and receive help, the strength they need to overcome the challenges of childhood cancer. She also pointed out that childhood cancer cannot be treated by a single specialist in solitude but demands a multi-disciplinary approach.

Harleen Sekhon, a mother of a leukemia patient, said that sharing mutual experiences with each other gives a “lot of emotional and psychological support. It makes you realise that you are not alone and some others are also going through all this.”

According to Mrs Alpana Bakshi, whose child, a patient of Retino blastoma, has lost his eye-sight, is of the view that people, who do not know much about the disease will really benefit from the experiences of others particularly the cancer survivors. “I feel good when I find that sharing the problems I faced with my child helps few others,” said another parent.

SPORT

Trials for sub-junior softball team
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The Chandigarh Amateur Softball Association will hold trials to select the Chandigarh sub-junior boys' and girls' teams at the Sector 10 DAV College on May 5 at 4.30 pm.

The selected players will attend a coaching camp from May 6 to 16 for the 16th National Sub-Junior Championship to be held at Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) from May 18 to 23.

Under-14 cricket: The MES Cricket Club of Patiala will organise an under-14 tournament from May 14 in MES Sports Complex at Patiala. Entries close with Mr H.S. Arora, 58/1, MES Colony, Patiala, on May 9.

The matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis. Teams from Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Ludhiana are expected to take part in this tournament.

Inter-school tourney: The District Panchkula Cricket Association will organise an inter-school under-14 tournament at the Sector 5 cricket grounds in the town from May 7. According to Mr R.P. Chopra, Secretary of the association, the schools located in Panchkula will be eligible to take part in the tournament. Entries close on May 5 with the Secretary of the association at 1453, Sector 4, Panchkula.

St Stephen's carrom from May 18
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, May 3 — The third St Stephen's Carrom Ranking Tournament will be conducted by the Sector 45 school on its premises from May 18 to 20. The tournament will be organised under the aegis of the Chandigarh Carrom Association. Entry is open to the players registered with the association. New players can also register themselves with the CCA.

The events in this three-day tournament will include men's and women's singles, junior boys' and girls' singles and sub-junior boys' and girls' singles. The age groups in junior and sub-junior categories will be under-18 and under-14, respectively.

Entries close on May 11 with Mr K.S. Patwal, Assistant General Secretary of the CCA, at 639-B, Sector 32-A.

Chandigarh win: The Chandigarh Coaching Centre, Sector 8, beat Jalandhar by 10 wickets in the final of the under-14 cricket tournament yesterday in the Sector 16 stadium. The tournament was organised by the Chandigarh Cricket Association.

Earlier, Jalandhar won the toss and elected to bat first. They could not face the spinners of Chandigarh and were bundled out for 106 runs in 31 overs. Satpal was the highest scorer with 45 runs. Rajnish and Sukhwinder were the ones who wrecked the Jalandhar batting order.

In reply, Chandigarh began on a confident note. Gurkirat and Deepak played solid unbeaten knocks of 42 and 48 runs, respectively, and achieved the target without losing any wicket.

Gauhar Pruthi, a student of St John's High School, was declared the best batsman of the tournament and Rajnish the best bowler. Deepak Saini was adjudged the man of the match.

ADMINISTRATION

Congress announces candidates for civic poll
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, May 3 — The Congress has announced to field its candidates for the forthcoming local Municipal Council elections.

The list of candidates for all 27 wards will be finalised by a three-member committee, headed by the General Secretary of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Mr Avtar Singh Henry, before being put up before the President of the PPCC, Capt Amarinder Singh.

This was disclosed by Mr Henry, who was in the town to invite application from aspirants. He said recommendations of the local leaders and the profile of the candidate concerned would be taken into consideration before finalising the candidature.

He said it had been decided that the party would field candidates on its party symbols for the civic body elections in the A and B class cities of Punjab. He added that the party would fight the elections on the issue of corruption and abolition of octroi, Mr Kulbir Singh Sidhu, Joint Secretary of the PPCC, and Mr Jaswinder Kaka, Mohali Block Congress President, were also present on the occasion. Meanwhile, the Residents Welfare Association of Phase 3B2 and the Phase 3B2 branch of Consumer Awareness Group announced to support the candidature of Mr A S Bhatti, a former municipal councillor, from their ward.

In another development, Mr Sham Bansal, President of the local Beopar Mandal, today announced to fight the elections as an Independent candidate fromWard No. 3. Mr Yogesh Gupta, a member of the Ropar District Grievances Committee, who also with Mr Bansal was talking to mediapersons, said planned development of the town would be their main agenda.

MC to identify fire-prone areas
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, May 3 — Following the incident of fire which gutted over 100 jhuggis in Budmajra village yesterday, the Sub-divisional Magistrate, Mr Jaipal Singh, has directed the staff of the local municipal council to identify the fire-prone areas in the town.

He said the staff had been specifically told to identify the public places like rehri markets and other places and educate the people about the safety measures to be taken.