HEALTH

Awareness programmes on sexual offences
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
As planned by the Union Government and the UT Health Department, awareness programmes on Sexual Offences (Medico Legal and Social Perspective) have begun to be organised in Chandigarh by the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, which has taken the lead.

Justice V.K. Khanna, Chairman, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, was the chief guest on one such occasion here yesterday . Justice Khanna, during the inaugural address, said that a joint commission has been formed in collaboration with the British Council for child protection at Khanna, Punjab.

Dr Biswas discussed the techniques of DNA finger printing, particularly the RFLP and PCR techniques. He explained the process of collection and preservation of the samples from both the victim and the assailant.

Dr J. Gargi explained about the precautions to be taken by the autopsy staff. He explained the methods to sterilise the instruments and precautions to be taken while minor injury occurs while conducting autopsy.

Dr K. Vij spoke about the psychological, physical and social trauma to the rape victims. He also highlighted various judgements of the Supreme Court in such cases and explained counselling issues relating to rape crisis centre, rape treatment cell, etc.

Dr R.S. Cheema, Advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, discussed legal provisions relating to rape, particularly the Criminal Amendment Act, 1983. He also discussed the various situations where institutional rape and sexual intercourse not amounting to rape are forced upon women.

Mr S.C. Sagar, DSP, (South), UT, said that 90 per cent of the rape cases go unreported. He spoke about the procedures and problems which the victim has to face. He said that the police personnel need to be more sympathetic and considerate towards the victim and try to bring a speedy redressal. A book by Dr Krishan Vij, Head, Department of Forensic Medicine, was also released on the occasion by Justice V.K. Khanna.

200 persons donate blood
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
More than 200 donors donated blood during the 3rd blood donation camp for thalassaemic children at Lecture Theatre-I, here today. The camp was organised by the Thalassaemic Children Welfare Association.

It was inaugurated by Prof H.S. Chawla of the department of Oral Health Sciences, who lauded the efforts of the association for organising a series of blood donation camps to meet the shortage of blood during summer months. The camp was conducted by a team led by Prof S.K Agnihotri, Head, Department of Blood Transfusion and Medicine, PGI. A few blind persons from Jagadhari donated blood.

Later, mementoes were also awarded to donors. The association has in an appeal asked people to donate liberally to save the lives.

Lecture on osteoporosis
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh , June 3
To sensitise people with problems related to osteoporosis in old age, the local branch of the Indian Medical Association organised a lecture in association with the Servants of People Society, here today.

Speaking on the occasion, the IMA president, Dr G.S. Kochchar said, India was on the verge of osteoporosis epidemic. “Osteoporosis affects more than five crore people in India and is one of the most under-diagnosed and untreated disorder, ” he said.

Dr Kocchar added that osteoporosis could be termed as a “silent thief” as it robs the bones of their strength without showing any symptoms. “It is one of the five leading causes of morbidity and mortality,” he stressed.

The orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Pardaman Singh, while explaining the disease said osteoporosis was a condition during which bones become fragile and thus break easily. “Statistics show that world over, a hip fracture occurs every 20 seconds and out of them five to 20 per cent die within a year,” he said

Dr Kanwaljit Kochchar, a gynaecologist, said that 30 to 35 per cent of post-menopausal women suffer from osteoporosis. Discussing the aspects related to menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), she said that awareness is the first step towards preventing osteoporosis and its side effects.” A good diet, regular exercise regime, HRT and determining the bone density status well in advance helps decrease the intensity of the disease, she stressed.

Delivering the presidential address, the PGI Orthopaedics Head, Prof O.N. Nagi, also emphasised on the need for evolving a healthy life style. The lecture was followed by an interactive session.

SPORTS

Handball championship
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 3
The Eastern Air Command outplayed the Training Command at 25 -22 in the ongoing Air Force Handball Championship played here at the 12 wing Air Force station. The half-time score was 14-11. In other matches of the day, the South Westeren Air Command defeated the Southern Air Command at 34-24 with half-time score of 21-10. In the third match of the day, the Western Air Command got the better of the Air Headquarters at 28-17 and half-time score was 13-9.

Ludhiana wins
Ludhiana by virtue of their first innings lead won the match against SAS Nagar in the PCA pre-season summer cricket tournament played here today at PCA Stadium, SAS nagar. It was Ankur of Ludhiana whose superb unbeaten century and able support of Prabhjot Khatra with unbeaten 79 runs helped in piling a huge score of 259 runs for four wickets in 83 overs.

Brief scores: Ludhiana; 259 for four (Ankur Kakkar 113 n.o., Prabhjot Khatra 79 n.o., RP Singh 2 for 34, Kailash 2 for 100).

Powerlifting championship
The Chandigarh Powerlifting Association will hold the 17th senior men and 2nd sub-junior boys Chandigarh State Powerlifting Championships at Weightlifting Coaching Centre( Sports Complex, Sector 42) on June 10. During this meet, UT sub-junior boys team will be selected for participation in the 2nd National Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championship going to be held at Lucknow( UP) from June 26 to 29.

Today’s sports events

*Air Force Handball meet - 12 wing

*North Zone Junior badminton camp — 6.00 am and 5 pm. — PU Gymnasium Hall, Sector 14.

* National Roller Hockey camp(boys) — KB DAV Sector 7; girls- Skating rink, Sector 10. — 6 p.m

Skaters of promise
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 3
Nourin Midha and Mudit Gupta are two budding skaters of Panchkula who have won many laurels.

Nourin, a Class III student of Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector, 15, Panchkula, took to skating when she was in Class I and had not completed six years. It was a skating rink in Sector 15 which provided her the platform for the big “action on wheels”, said Mr Amit Midha, her father. In 1999, Nourin was able to secure gold medal in roller hockey in Haryana in the below 11 age group. On the basis of her performance, she was picked for the 45th National School Games held at Moga in Punjab. Her team won the gold medal in the below 11 section in roller hockey while representing Haryana. Nourin has won medals in the 10th City Skating Championship, Sardar Sewa Singh Johal memorial skating meet at Panchkula and Chandigarh Roller Skating festival.

Last year, she won gold medal in roller hockey at the Haryana State Skating Meet held at Faridabad while silver medal in the speed skating event in both rink and road races. Her another star performance came in National School Games held at Panchkula in December 2000, at Hansraj Public School. She was instrumental in winning bronze medal for Haryana in the below 11 section. She is all praise for her coach A.D. Sharma.

Mudit, a Class III student of Shemrock International School, Panchkula, has just turned eight. His first achievement came in 1999, when he captured gold medals in speed events in both rink races I and II. Mudit also helped his state in winning gold medal in the National School Games at Panchkula in the below 11 section. His father Manoj Gupta said his son was very regular in skating and never misses his sport schedule.

ADMINISTRATION

Admn to decide on Dr R.M. Joshi
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 3
The Chandigarh Administration shall be taking a crucial decision regarding the continuation of contract of Dr R.M. Joshi as Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College Hospital, (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh.

The UPSC has already cancelled his candidature thrice for the same post forcing the Chandigarh Administration to delete his name as a possible candidate for the post of Professor and Head of the Department. The Chandigarh Administration has received letter of cancellation of candidature of Dr Joshi on May 24, 2001.

Apart from other factors against him, the Central Administrative Tribunal, Chandigarh Bench and UPSC have held that he is not qualified in terms of experience to seek appointment as Professor of Microbiology at the GMCH, Chandigarh.

This leaves the field open for two candidates: Dr Rakesh of the PGI and Dr Jagdish Chander of the GMCH, Chandigarh for the post of Professor.