HEALTH

‘Avoid taking blood from strangers’
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Nov 8 — Haematologists have suggested that blood transfusion from strangers should be avoided to the maximum possible extent to prevent deadly infections like HIV and hepatitis-B and C. Even when the blood is tested before transfusion, there is no guarantee that it is not infected with the virus of any of these deadly diseases.

According to Dr Bakul Dalal, a leading Canada-based haematologist, and Dr Deepika Mohanty, Director of the Institute of Immuno-haematology, Mumbai, the blood of strangers will always carry the risk of deadly infections like HIV and hepatitis-B and C.

The doctors pointed out that the HIV virus, which leads to AIDS, and hepatitis-B and C viruses, when infected in blood, take at least three months to be detected. This duration is called "window period" in medical parlance. Medical science is yet to develop a mechanism to detect such infection instantly. However, the technological advances have reduced the "window period" to 14 days. But it is not possible to store the blood for this duration.

A recent study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences among the HIV positive children revealed that 44.4 per cent of the children got infected by contaminated blood.

Dr Dalal and Dr Mohanty stressed that whenever a patient needs transfusion, blood should preferably be from a close relative or from a person well known, because there is never a guarantee about the strangers’ blood not being infected, while among relations and acquaintances such risks get minimised.

Haematologists have observed that soon a comprehensive policy on blood transfusion will need to be drawn up. Blood being an important part of the human physiology, it is centre to most of the deadly infections like HIV and hepatitis-B and C. Although no specific figures are available about the number of infections caused by blood transfusion, the number of infections particularly related to HIV and hepatitis-B and C has definitely increased. The AIIMS study stands a testimony to this fact.

Although the Government of India has already constituted the National Blood Council for monitoring all aspects related to the transfusion of blood, the purpose is yet to be achieved. The haematologists are of the opinion that such councils will need to be constituted at the state level also.

The broad guidelines include that all the blood banks should ensure that each unit of blood that is received is thoroughly tested and investigated. It has been found that a number of doctors have been transfusing blood without any tests. Moreover, the doctors have been advised not to go for "unnecessary" blood transfusions.

Dr Dalal and Dr Mohanty maintained that the doctors should encourage use of separated blood components. One unit of blood contains RBCs, plasma and platelets. No patient needs all the three components. These can be separated with the use of the latest technology and used for different patients.

He was referred to DMCH where Dr Aulakh decided to perform keyhole surgery on him. The new procedure is called ‘percutaneous nephrolithotomy’.

SPORT

30 cagers selected for camp
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 8 — Thirty boys in the junior category have been selected for the coaching camp to be held from November 9 to 29 at Ludhiana. The camp is organised by the Basketball Federation of India on the basis of performance in the 51st Junior National Basketball Championship, which was held in September at Sarkaghat in Himachal Pradesh. They will play with the Punjab Police, the BSF, the PSEB, the RCF, Panjab University, Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University.

Mr Teja Singh, general secretary, Punjab Basketball Association, said in a press note issued here today that Mr Sajjan Singh Cheema, Arjun Awardee, would inaugurate the camp tomorrow at the Guru Nanak Dev Stadium. The camp will be supervised by Mr Teja Singh Dhaliwal, vice-president, Basketball Federation of India.

The following are the boys selected for the camp:

Arvinder Singh, Pawandeep Singh, Jasjeet Singh and Amit Prasher from Punjab; Harminder Singh and Harveer Singh Sidhu from Chandigarh; J. Pankaj, A. Srinivas and A. Shyam Sundar from Andhra Pradesh; Ashish Abhijeet Masihra, Sunit Kapasia and T.S. Prakash Rao from Madhya Pradesh; Chotalal Sharma from Bihar; P. Bhubalan, K. Sundar and T. Raja from Tamil Nadu; Bobit Mathew, Vishal Varghese and Lijo Joseph from Kerala; Kashi Shrisha from Delhi; Mahatma Amar from Gujarat; Apporva Singh Bidawa from Rajasthan; S. Bhattacharjee fromWest Bengal; Baven Kuruvilla Abhraham and Raghuvendra from Karnataka; Sitaram Jhanwar from Orissa; Sonatakke Aproov Nitin from Maharashtra; Deepak Thakur from Himachal Pradesh; and Trideep Rai and Sunil Kumar Pal from Uttar Pradesh.

Stand-by: Amit Kakran from Chandigarh; Jasjot Singh from Punjab; G. Bharathirajan from Tamil Nadu; Liju. K. Abraha from Kerala; and Sunil Kumar Singh from Gujarat.

Tennis championship

The hosts shined on the first day of 9th Sahodya School Lawn Tennis Championship that got underway at BCM School, Shastri Nagar, here today.

BCM School, Shastri Nagar won all preliminary matches played today in the boys' and girls' sections.

In the boys' section, Jitesh of host team defeated Amit in a one-sided match by 6-7, 6-0,6-3 in singles. Jitesh and Ghulam of the host team defeated Amit and Gaurav of Tagore Public School by 6-3, 6-4 in the doubles.

In girls' section, Sakshi of host team defeated Bharti of BCM School, Chandigarh Road by 6-1, 6-2 in the singles. Sakshi and Bharti of the host team defeated Rajwinder and Richa of BCM School, Chandigarh in a close match by 6-4, 6-4 in doubles.

Kung fu tourney

Shahid Jagpal Singh Memorial 1st District Full Contact Chinese Kung Fu Martial Art Championship organised by Dragon Tiger Technique Chinese Martial Arts(DTTCMA), is scheduled to be held on November 12 at Shahid Bhagat Singh Stadium, Punjab Mata Nagar.

According to a press note issued here, today, by Mr G.C. Mandal, organising secretary, DTTCMA, there will be three age groups in the championship including sub-junior (under-11), junior (under-15), and senior (above-15).

The following are the weight categories (in kgs) for the different age groups: In the sub-junior category, 12-15, 15-20, 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45 and above.

In the junior category, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-45, 45-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60 and above.

In the senior category 40-45, 45-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75 and above.

Volleyball tournament

The last year’s champion Khalsa College, Garhdiwala, and BSSG Government College, Sidhsar, reached the final of Panjab University Inter-College Division B Volleyball Tournament held here today at Government College for Boys.

In the first semifinal, Khalsa College, Garhdiwala beat Government College, Karamsar in a one-sided match 3-0 (25-5, 25-7, 25-8). In the second semifinal BSSG Government College, Sidhsar beat Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Killianwali, in a straight match 3-0 (26-16, 25-22, 25-22).

The final will be played tomorrow.

Gursar Sadhar Volleyball meet

Government College for Women (GCW), Ludhiana, won the Panjab University Inter-College Divison a Volleyball Tournament which concluded here today at Guru Hargobind Khalsa College, Gursar Sadhar.

GCW defeated Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, in a one-sided match by 3-0 (25-8, 25-7, 25-5).

MACHHIWARA

Village tourney

A three-day tournament was organised by the gram panchayat and Sports Club of Garhi Tarkhana village in the memory of village’s national-level hammer thrower Mohinder Singh. It was inaugurated by Mr Darshan Singh, I.E., PSEB, Mr Rajesh Hasthir, SHO, Machhiwara and Mr Prabhjot Singh Urna gave away the prizes. Mr Nirmal Singh, sarpanch, presided over concluding function.

The following are the results:

Hammer throw: Gurmail Singh, Machhiwara 1, Balwinder Singh Mianour 2.

Discuss throw: Gurmail Singh, Machhiwara 1, Balwinder Singh Mianpur 2.

Races — 100 mts — Manjinder Singh, Seelon Khurd 1, Madan Chaudhry Mushkabad 2.

200 mts — Manjinder Singh Seelon Khurd 1, Harpreet Singh, Mushkabad 2.

400 mts — Madan Chaudhry 1, Manjinder Singh 2.

In the above 40 category: nachh — Singh Manja Sahib Kotan 1, Jaswant Singh Khera 2, Dalip Singh Madhpur 3.

Kabaddi — 32 kg — village Nattan 1, Ghaloti 2. 37 kg — Jaspal Bangar 1, Garhi Tarkhana 2. 42 kg — Garhi Tarkhana 1, Ghaloti 2. 48 kg — Kot Gangu Rai 1, Lopon 2. 52 kg — Kadiana 1, Kalas Kalan 2. 58 kg — Khattran 1, Kot Gangu Rai 2. 62 kg — Bhal Majra 1, Kishanpura 2. Kabaddi Club — Utalan 1, Kishanpura 2.