HEALTH

Asthma awareness session at PGI 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh , May 1
There has been an increase in asthma cases all over the world, including India. Prof Lata Kumar, Head, Paediatrics Department, PGI, says, although an increase of 40 per cent has been noted in all age groups, children, in particular, have had to face the brunt of the problem.

The theme of the World Asthma Day on May 3 this year, joining together against asthma, is aimed towards making parents and school teachers aware of how they could help improve management of an asthmatic child.

While cause for an increase of this most common chronic respiratory problem is not clear, Prof Kumar says, adoption of western lifestyle in particular, is one of the major factors. In as many as 80 per cent of asthma-affected children about is triggered off by an agent, which is directly related to the environment.

Prof Kumar says that misinformation and myths about correct treatment of asthma, its effectiveness and safety continue to exist. However, to provide good care to an asthmatic child, the combined efforts of doctors, parents and school teachers are required. This requires a better understanding for care-givers as proper treatment of asthmatic children can help them lead a normal life and participate in all activities, including games and other activities.

To create awareness regarding the disease, the Paediatrics Department of the PGI is organising a public awareness campaign and a question-answer session on May 3 from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Advanced Paediatric Centre (APC) auditorium. 

Adolescent health clinic opens at GMCH
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1
The adolescent health clinic of the GMCH, Sector 32, was inaugurated today by the Director-Principal of the GMCH, Prof S.B.S. Mann . The clinic will be jointly run by the paediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine and dermatology departments of the GMCH.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Mann said, adolescence was a stressful period, with considerable physical and psychological changes which required specialised help and counselling.

The clinic will aim at addressing these problems and the queries will be answered by specialists on every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in room 1402, level 1, block B, GMCH.

SPORT

City to have sports library
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 1
The coaches and trainees based in the city will soon have the facility of a sports library, which will have all types of modern books, journals, magazines along with other hi-tech gadgets. Confirming this, Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director Sports, UT, said a sum of Rs 10 lakh had already been sanctioned for upgrading the library which was at present housed in the basement of the UT Sports Department office in Sector 42 sports complex. He said the library could not be expanded so far due to the want of funds. He was happy that the fund position of the department was on sound footing this year. This would help in getting completed many new projects, he said.

Dr Sidhu, who is also the psychologist of the Indian hockey team, said the basic idea behind the project was to inculcate a habit of updating knowledge among the UT coaches. Most of the coaches, he said, had last read sports journals when they pursued diploma courses at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, which now housed one of the finest sports libraries in India.

He said apart from the latest books on sports, an overhead projector, slide projector, video player, television, and a camera would be bought for the benefit of sports trainers and trainees. Video cassettes of important matches and those showing latest, techniques would be arranged from the Sports Authority of India, NIS, Patiala, and also from various sports federations and would be shown to all concerned on a time-plan basis.

He said at present they were conducting a series of seminars on various important aspects of sports, such as dealing with sports injuries, mental management, psychology etc. These seminars are being attended by coaches during day time on every Monday and Friday. He said the library would be soon shifted to a bigger hall at first floor of the UT Sports Department building.

He said Mr M. Ramsekhar, Director Sports, was taking pains to see that UT sports developed in a befitting manner. He said the UT Administrator, Lieut-Gen (Retd) J.F.R. Jacob, had initiated the Chandigarh Football Academy which began its functioning last year and was a big success. All the trainees in the age group of nine to ten years have passed their respective classes while studying in Government Middle School, Sector 42.

He said they were also thinking of putting the Sports Department data on the Internet.

Unbeaten knock by Simranjit
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 1
An unbeaten 51 runs by young Simranjit Singh Bathlana helped the Mohali Cricket Association in overpowering Lawrence Public School, SAS Nagar, by seven wickets in the Pandit Chaman lal memorial Cricket Tournament which began here today at the PCA Stadium, SAS nagar. Mr Sanjeev Gupta, DIG, Patiala range, inaugurated the meet. Simranjit S Bathlana was declared man of the match.

Brief scores: LPS, SAS nagar: 150 all out (Ajay Pal 49, Maninder Singh 26, Dhian 16, Nikhil 3 for 16, Sunny Sohal 2 for 30, Parminder 3 for 50). MHA: Simranjit Bathlana 51 n.o., Mandeep 28, Harmeet 26, Rajinder 6 for 22).

Talent hunt TT meet on May 5
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 1
The Talent Hunt Trainees Welfare organisation will hold first talent hunt table tennis meet from May 5 to 7 at New Public School, Sector 18, Chandigarh.

The events to be held include, under-10, cadet (under-12), sub-junior (under-14), Junior boys (under-17) and mixed doubles. Entries close with Harpreet Singh at Phone: 793318.

Jacob visits football academy
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, May 1
Lt-Gen (retd) JFR Jacob, UT Administrator, this evening paid a visit to Chandigarh Football academy (CEA) at Sector 42 sports complex.

Mr Jacob, a soccer lover, was happy to see the boys training at the grounds. He intermingled with them and asked them about any problems they faced in their lodging, boarding and training schedule.

ADMINISTRATION

Water wastage: 700 get notices
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1
With a view to check misuse of drinking water, the Public Health Circle of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, has served notices to as many as 700 persons for misusing water meant for drinking purpose, while conducting raids to nab the defaulters during the past one month. The drive was launched in the last week of March.

The officials, while serving notices to residents in different parts of the city, also warned them to avoid misuse of potable water, failing which their water supply connections would be disconnected and action would be initiated against them.

The officials maintain that the drive will help to check at least 50 per cent of water wastage in the city.