HEALTH

Physiotherapy unit at Nirdosh
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — The mentally-challenged children studying in a special school called ‘Nirdosh’, suffer from lack of physical coordination and speech impairment. Their low I.Qs are genetic. They cannot, at times, move their limbs effectively. To bring an improvement in their motor movements, the students used to go to DMC hospital, Physiotherapy ward. But that proved to be taxing as the students had to go in a three-wheeler, packed like sardines. Moreover, at the hospital, they hardly got a chance to work on the machines, as these were too few for all the kids. On top of it, there was a time limit.

At the cost of Rs 15,000, members of Inner-Wheel Club have installed a few machines like a pulley, shoulder wheel, ankle exerciser, wrist roller and heel exerciser. The students love to stretch their muscles after their lessons on these machines. For those who have speech impairment, Mr Surat Singh Duggal, the principal of the school, trains them in a variety of ways.

Mr Surat Singh said that out of 29 students, there were 4 students on the border line, four had mild I.Q. problems, whereas eight were moderates and seven had severe mental problems. Four students had speech problems. The biggest problem was to find trained teachers. Mr Surat Singh has trained the rest of the teachers to some extent. The teachers have made up for lack of their teaching skills with love, affection and dedication towards their work.

The worst problem is caused by the society. The principal said that the main aim of the school was to rehabilitate children. Four students from their institute found jobs in a box factory. But due to the insensitive behaviour of other members, three of them left the job and have fallen in to a depression. The society has a duty towards these children of a lesser God. Another boy, is working as a farm hand. With the encouragement of his boss.

The students are given opportunities for all-round development of their personalities. The children of this school go for various sports meets, cultural workshops and win a lot of prizes. The school tries to make these students feel loved and wanted.

The teachers and students are going to hold a workshop, where in the teachers will learn the latest methods of teaching mentally challenged children. Both the president, Ms Veena Bhandari and the secretary, Ms Manjula Jain take an active interest to promote the school and its activities. One can see the happy faces of the children wishing the visitors ‘hello’ and they love to shake hands with the visitors.

ESI hospital needs attention
From Our Correspondent

MANDI GOBINDGARH, Feb 8 — The ESI hospital of Mandi Gobindgarh lacks many facilities due to the negligence of the Punjab Government. The hospital was commissioned a few years ago.

A generator has been kept in a locked room in the hospital and has not been put to use. It has been noted that the power connection was given to the hospital with direct wires illegally.

The cornerstone of the building was stolen by some thieves and bricks of the boundry wall were also missing. The police and commandos have got the doctors’ quarters cleaned and swept for their own use. The rest of the compound is infested with grass and pests.

The ESI hospital is not only for the service of the labourers of Mandi Gobindgarh, but also for labourers from Sirhind, Amloh and Khanna. The department enjoys the ESI fund deposit, whereas ESI funds of thousands of labourers are not deducted from wages and not deposited.

INTUC president of Fatehgarh Sahib district Ram Kewal Yadav, CICU leader Charanjit Singh and Jagjit Singh Jeeti said that many labourers have not been brought under the ESI fund scheme and demanded that an inquiry should be ordered into this.

The Manager of the ESI office, Mr Shiv Karan, said that previously this office was situated on the Amloh Road, and as per the order of the Regional Director, the office was shifted to the doctors’ quarters of the newly constructed ESI building. He declined to comment on this.

The Health Department has started a dispensary in the building for the regional ESI hospital but there is no facility to admit labourers or keep them at night. As a result, the labourers have to be referred to distant ESI hospitals for specialised treatments.

There is only one gate-keeper in the hospital at night.

New approach to tackle TB needed
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — Although tuberculosis has been checked to a great extent, yet there is a need for a new paradigm focusing on the immune system and status of the patient. According to Dr R F Maes, Director, Research Anda Biologicals France, the diagnosis and prognosis of the myco-bacterial disease was currently restricted to the detection of the antigen and the evaluation of the bacterial load during treatment.

Dr Maes, who was delivering a lecture on “Tuberculosis engima: need for a new paradigm importance of knowledge of the immune statuts of the patients” organised by the Transasia, pointed out the traditional approach, which he desrcribed as “reductionist” one, neglected the contribution of the patients immune defences to his own recovery. He said the evaluation of the antibodies produced against the myco-bacterial antigens before and during the specific treatment brings useful information to the doctors.

He said although there was no doubt that TB currently posed a problem worldwide and the molecualr approach taken during these past 25 years had reached its limits. He said the “optimistic belief that the diagnosis of the pathogen by molecular means, together with the development of a vaccine and of drugs, was all that was needed to stamp the bug out has been shattered by the recent upsurge of a disease, which was once deemed to be vanquished.

SPORT

Sport festival begins today
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — The three-day sports festival in Ghugrali Rajputan village begins on Friday at Shri Har Gobind Sports Complex. The Singh Sports Association has formed committees to supervise different aspects of the games. The organisers are working day and night to give final touches to the arrangements. The Complex has been given a facelift. About 25,000 spectators are expected to witness this sports bonanza.

Mr Gurmit Singh Kular, general secretary of Singh Sports Association (Regd.), said that the meet would be inaugurated by Jathedar Mall Singh Ghuman, Chairman, Punjab Mandi Board. The events, which are slated for the first day include, football (one village) athletic events (for school boys and girls) in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m category, long jump and shotput. On the second day of the festival, i.e. on February 10, the final match of football would be organised, including the athletic events (for men and women) and the long jump.

The organisers have also arranged track race for dogs on the second day. Col. Raminder Singh, Director, Sports, Punjab will be the guest of honour on this day. On the concluding day, the events scheduled are finals of football (one village), matches of kabaddi (one village), tug-of-war, cycle race and athletic events for men and women including 100m, 200m and shotput. There would be a show match of kabaddi between Malwa and Majha, in which renowned players of kabaddi would demonstrate their skills.

Mr Manjit Singh Randhawa, president of the Association, informed that all athletic events carry handsome cash prizes. The winners of one village football would be awarded Phulwinder Memorial Silver Cup, besides a cash prize and the winner of one village in kabaddi would be awarded Harbans Singh Mehma Sarha Silver Cup plus a cash prize. He further said that Capt Kanwaljit Singh Hon’ble Finance Minister, Punjab would be the Chief Guest on the final day, i.e. February 11, 2001 and would give away prizes to the winners.

A number of NRIs, who have come to India for this tournament are contributing whole heartedly for it. Some NRIs from Canada, namely Yoga Singh Apra and his associates, Mr Parminder Singh Thandi and Mr Mohinder Singh Thandi, have decided to award car to an international wrestler and Arjuna awardee, Mr Jagdish Bhola, on the final day. Other athletes which the organisers have decided to honour include Olympian athlete, Ajay Ran, and Ms Hardip Pandher (Hammer Throw).

Team announced for cross-country meet
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Feb 8 — The Punjab athletics team for the National Federation Cup Cross Country Championship was announced here on Thursday. The team comprises of 10 female and five male players. The championship will be held at Seba (Madhya Pradesh) on February 25 and 26.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Prem Singh, chief coach, Punjab Amateur Athletics Association, said that the team had been selected at Punjab Cross Country Championship held at Phagwara recently. The top four players in each event was selected for this championship.

The female members who are selected are Paramjeet Kaur (4 km), Sukhdeep Kaur (4 km) and Sarabjeet Kaur (6 km). All of them belongs to Ludhiana. Rest of team comprises Karanjot (6km) from Sangrur, Gurpreet (4km) and Paramjit kaur (4 km) both from Bangian, Sarabjeet Kaur (8 km) and Baljinder Kaur (8 km), both from Jalandhar and Harpinder Kaur (8 km) from Amritsar.

In the men team Devinder Singh (12 km) from Patiala, Balwinder Singh (8 km) from Bangian and Rakesh from Kapurthala.