HEALTH

Experts give tips on improving oral health
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Aug 24 — Dental problems such as caries, gum diseases, malocclusion among schoolgoing children are commonplace. However, these can be controlled through appropriate preventive programmes aimed at educating members of the general public and children, in particular, about oral healthcare.

With this objective in view, the Chandigarh state branch of the Indian Dental Association ( IDA) launched a programme “Oral health care for all by 2010” in collaboration with Colgate Palmolive in Sector 10, Government Museum and Art Gallery.

Thirty five teachers and 15 doctors were imparted basic training so as to enable them to give suitable oral health care education in classrooms.

Speaking at the function after formally launching the programme, Mr Hari Jaisingh, Editor, The Tribune, emphasised the need to organise more such oral health education awareness programmes for the benefit of children in the rural areas, most of whom still do not have access to a proper brush and tooth paste. He suggested that there is need to improvise on the conventional methods being used by the villagers for long.

He said research in dental health care should take into account the needs of the Indian masses so that it proves more useful practically. The health care programmes should be worked out and implemented accordingly. He highlighted that proper awareness and public involvement at constant intervals are the key words for success of any need-based programme.

Prof H S Chawla, Head of the Oral Health Sciences department, PGI, who was the guest of honour, pointed out that regular and proper brushing, less intake of sweetened and sticky food and use of fluoride containing toothpastes will surely prevent tooth decay and gum disease. He stressed that teachers have a significant role to play in impressing upon the impressionable minds the techniques of preventing tooth decay and gum diseases. He later interacted with the participants and answered their queries.

Dr R P Gupta, president of the IDA, said that during the next one month, members of the association will cover each and every school of the city and surrounding areas to diagnose the causes of common dental health problems and the necessity of observing good oral hygiene habits. Trained dental professionals will make use of dental charts, audio-visual presentations to explain brushing and rinsing techniques, diet counselling and use of fluoride tooth pastes. To create further awareness, dental quiz, poster painting competition and essay writing competition will be organised for school children during the dental health week from October 1 to 7.

Dr K Gauba, Additional Professor, PGI, explained the technique of proper brushing through slides and practical demonstration. He also talked at length about dental diseases, their causes and home care preventive methods in a lucid manner. He pointed out that gums of the infants should be cleaned with a wet cloth 2-3 weeks after birth and tooth brush should be used soon after the first incisors (front teeth) have appeared. He asked parents to check the thumb or finger sucking habit of their children as it may affect the position of the incoming teeth and the position of the jaws.

Dr Ashok Utreja from the PGI appealed to the participants to spread the message of oral health education care programme to the masses, particularly the students. He distributed certificates and kits to the participants and urged them to assist the doctors whenever they visit the schools.

Among those present were Mr Virat C Dhir, programme convener, Dr O P Nagpal and dentists from Sector 32 GMCH.

Committee okays PGI fee hike
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH Aug 24 — A proposal to revise various charges of nursing courses in the PGI was approved in the Academic Committee meeting held today under the chairmanship of a former PGI Director, Dr I.C. Pathak.

According to sources, the rates, which will be effective from the next academic session, have been increased by nearly 10 per cent. For instance, the tuition charges of MSc (Nursing) will go up from Rs 440 to Rs 550, those of BSc (Nursing) post-basic course from Rs 350 to Rs 450 and those of four-year BSc (Nursing) course from Rs 250 to Rs 350. Charges for library, laboratory, hostel and security charges have also been revised. The rates for these courses had not been revised for the past 4 to 5 years.

The job requirements, including qualification and experience, required for filling various posts in the new Dr Chhuttani Centre of Tropical Medicine and Communicable Diseases were also discussed during the meeting. The decision of the authorities not to accept any application for the entrance to postgraduate examination by courier was also ratified by the members. The same can be sent through speed post, registered post and regular mail.

Sources revealed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had also recently asked the PGI to ratify their decision. This will save them from the hassles posed every now and then from unregistered couriers. The qualifications for the job in pediatric gastroenterology were also discussed.

The decisions taken in the academic committee are to be ratified in the governing body meeting to be held on August 29 in New Delhi under the chairmanship of the Union Health Minister, Mr C.P. Thakur. The meeting was attended by Dr P.K. Dave, AIIMS Director, Ms Bimla Isaac from Chennai, Prof S.K. Sharma, PGI Director, Ms P. Sahi, Deputy Director, Administration, Prof A.K. Banerjee, Prof Subhash Kumari Gupta, Dr D. Behera, Joint Medical Supeintendent, and Mr D.R. Yadava, Registrar.

SPORT

Manan, Manav enter semis
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH Aug 24 — Manan Nagpal outplayed Eroz to enter the finals of the junior snooker event of the YMCA open billiards and snooker tournament, being played at YMCA Hall, Sector 11. Manan won 65-41, 33-54, 42-25, 63-29. In an other match, Manav Dhawan beat A S Banipal, to enter the last four of the open snooker event. Manav won 63-25, 45-40, 54-14.

In another match, Anil Sharma defeated Anandit Joshi 50-15, 30-62, 44-16, 45-38, 45-25. Deepak Goel drubbed Rakesh Gupta. In the open billiards match, Sameer Bhalla had a comfortable victory over Manan Nagpal 272-135.

Inter-school meet

Satluj Public School, Panchkula, entered the under-19 football final of the Panchkula inter-school sport, meet. Satluj school overpowered Army School, Chandi Mandir, 3-1. The winner was decided in a penalty shoot. In under-17 football section, Army School, Chandi Mandir, defeated Government School, Sector 7, 4-0.

Hansraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula, surged ahead in cricket and kho-kho matches. In under-14 cricket, HPS outplayed CL DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 11, by eight wickets. CLDAV scored 109 all out. HPS made 112 for the loss of two wickets. Gaurav and Vishal made 62 and 25 runs, respectively, and both remained unbeaten. Gaurav also claimed three wickets.

In kho-kho matches, HPS boys outplayed Bhavan Vidyalya by one innings and 15 points. In girls section, HPS beat BV-15 by four points.

Hitesh shines

Hitesh Kumar helped Stadium B beat St Joseph’s School, Sector 44, by 13 runs in the first match of the under-12 cricket tournament for St Kabir’s Trophy, being played at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16.

Stadium B won the toss and opted to bat first. Sushant was dismissed off the first delivery. The team scored 95 runs. Nikhil took four wickets, while Jatin claimed two wickets.

St Joseph’s began the innings well. On one occasion, they were doing well with 45 runs for 2 in 10 overs. Then Hitesh ripped through the innings.

Cricket tourney

The Chandigarh Cricket Association will organise the first Dev Raj memorial cricket tournament from September 3, according to Mr Surinder Singh, Secretary of the CCA. Entries close with Mr Kamal Mehra at SCO 48, Sector 17-E, on August 28.

Selection trials

Trials to select under-22 UT team for the Haryana inter-district cricket tournament will be held at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, on August 26 at 7 am. The participants should have been born after September 1, 1978, to be eligible for the trials.

Sub-jr badminton

The 34th Haryana state sub-junior badminton championship began at Sector 7 Community Centre Panchkula, here today. It was inaugurated by Mr S.K. Monga, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula.

About 200 players are taking part in this four-day meet. An exhibition match between Akshit Mahajan and Prerak Sharma was played before the main matches started. Dr Manjeet Singh, secretary, Haryana Badminton Association announced that cash prize money had been increased from Rs 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh for the junior and senior meets. Mr DK Mukerjee, founder and patron of the Chandigarh Badminton Association, told that their association would honour Sumit Dahiya of Bhiwani, national gold medal winner in under-13 section, in the forthcoming junior national badminton meet in Chandigarh in November.

Basketball probables

The Chandigarh Basketball Association has selected 40 probables, 20 each in boys and girls sections for the 51st junior national basketball championship, to be held at Sarkaghat in Himachal Pradesh from September 9 to 15, according to Mr K.S. Bharti, Secretary of the CBA. The boys camp will start tomorrow at Sector 46 Sports Complex, while for girls it will be at Sector 7 Sports Complex.

The probables are girls — Sarita, Jitinder Kaur, Babita, Manjula, Ranjit, Kavita, Navneet Kaur, Shveta, Manpreet, Lucky Bhatia, Anchal, Geeta, Mohinderjit Kaur, Sapna, Pushpa, Amanjot Kaur, Rajita, Rubina, Deepkia Mohan and Manik; boys — Harminder Singh, Chander Prakash, Bhupinder Singh, Bhavdeep, Amandeep Singh, Balraj Singh, Vishal, Arun, Anharinder, Vikram, Gaurav, Haramandeep, Sangram Singh, Jagpreet, Vikas, Birinder, Bikram, Aminesh and Ravitaj Singh. The final team will be selected on September 6.