HEALTH

2-day conference on respiratory disorders
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — To increase awareness among paediatricians about the evidence-based management of respiratory disorders amongst children, a two-day conference is being organised at the Advanced Paediatric Centre, PGI, from November 25.

Addressing mediapersons here today, Prof Lata Kumar, Head, Paediatrics Department, said that during the conference, delegates would also update the doctors on how to judiciously accesses and use the information available on the Internet and the CD Roms. The conference is aimed at making the decision foolproof on the basis of the evidence available and apply it to the management of children with respiratory disorders.

The conference will include hands on workshop on the use of available inhalation devices and an introduction to the paediatric flexible bronchoscopy. The conference also aims at looking at the strategies to control the common respiratory ailments which are responsible for maximum deaths and disabilities amongst children in the developing countries.

An evidence-based approach will enable the participants to objectively apprise the research findings and adopt only those management strategies which are cost effective and have the maximum risk benefit ratio.

The diseases, which will be covered by study of the “evidence”, include acute respiratory infections like common cold, pneumonia, childhood pulmonary tuberculosis, HIV and bronchial asthma.

As many as 110 delegates are participating in this conference. Dr Achhint Moulick from the UCLA Medical Centre, California, will present a guest lecture on paediatric lung and heart transplantation. Besides, an awareness camp will also be organised for the children suffering from respiratory disorders.

SPORT

Proposed site for indoor hall given to HOA
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — The badminton players of Panchkula will again be deprived of the much needed badminton courts in their town with latest decision of earmarking the proposed site for indoor hall in Sector 3 Sports Complex, to the Haryana Olympic Association. It was about five years back when the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) had proposed the badminton halls in the different community centres of the town. A senior badminton player of city told this reporter that they play in a single court hall located in Sector 7 Community Centre which was not able to cope with evergrowing rush at the hall.

The city was able to organise many tournaments of state, regional and north zone level at the one court hall but for hosting of the big event was not possible.

ChandigarhTribune had filed a story last year also when the Chief Engineer, HUDA, Mr S. Bhugra, said that the badminton hall will be ready by any time next year. He had said that the technical design had been obtained from National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and tenders were in the process of final stage.

One of the players suggested that an alternative site should have been proposed for the badminton hall.

The players of the town had to go to nearby badminton halls in Chandigarh which were more than 10 km away, thus causing a great difficulty for daily practice. The players have urged the Haryana Government to immediately allot the three court badminton hall without any delay.

Camp fire organised at DSOI
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Nov 23 — It was an evening with a difference when more than 500 players including officials, distinguished guests, journalists with some ex-international badminton players assembled at the Defence Services Officers Institute, Sector 36, on Wednesday for a camp fire on the eve of the 25th Servo Indian Oil Junior National Badminton Championships.

The programme began with former national badminton champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Ms Kanwal Thakar Singh, arriving on the scene alongwith her parents. Kanwal was also crowned beauty queen during the early 1980’s and in studies also she was a gold medallist in her career.

Col Raj Parmar who compered the show announced the dance items to be presented by the various participants from different teams. The girls from Himachal Pradesh got the first prize, while from Madhya Pradesh got second and Chandigarh got the third prize.

Later the players alongwith Kanwal Thakar, danced their way with the select gathering at the institute. The ghazals by chief national coach, Mr S.M. Arif, were quite absorbing and were applauded by all present there.

Sabeeha Dhillon of Chandigarh, an international shooter, was also present at the occasion.

One of the players from Maharashtra later told that they have often seen camp fires at senior nationals in badminton but in junior nationals, this kind get together of players from all states has created a healthy atmosphere. Another player from Assam said that they were able to interact in a better way with each other.

A coach from Punjab said Chandigarh nationals will be seen as one of the best organised and such a function was a treat for the organisers who arranged the same in a magnificent mannner.

Later Ms Kanwal Thakar Singh and Dinesh Khanna were also honoured for their lively presence and contribution to the game. The others who were honoured included Mr S.K. Monga, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, Mr MP Singh, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, Mr K.A.P. Sinha, Joint Secretary Finance, Mr Gian Chand Gupta, Ex-mayor, and Mr Dharampal Gupta, BJP leader, among others.