The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

Film on muscular dystrophy
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, June 8
Muscular atrophy is a disease in which the muscles get weak and finally lose all grasp. The genesis of the disease lies in genetic defect.

Ms Sonia D Kapoor, a former Nursing Superintendent of Christian Medical College and finally settled in Delhi, has set up an organisation, Nursing with a Difference Trust. The trust was formed to help nurses in taking care of patients with special needs. The trust has made a 40-minute film on the life of Eshu. Eshu is the elder of two sisters with spinal muscular dystrophy. In the documentary, Eshu and her parents, Subhash and Sneh, talk to the viewers directly.

The primary aim of the film, ‘Muscular Dystrophy’, is to discuss non-pathological depression, meaning and purpose of suffering; and exercise physiology. All these three aspects of muscular atrophy need special care and have been discussed in details in the film.

The film is of importance to nurses, doctors, health workers and attendants of the patients. It has been produced in Hindi and English. It will be telecast on Siti Cable tomorrow at 5 p.m. This film deals with problems of physically challenged people and shows that Eshu even when confined to a wheelchair lives a very productive life. The film is meant to encourage the families of physically challenged members for better management of distressing hereditary conditions leading to muscular dystrophy.

This sort of film showing care of such patients has been made by nurses for the first time in Asia. The Nursing with a Difference Trust will continue to make such films. The copies of the film can be obtained from Christian Medical College.

Immunisation project
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Eight Lion Clubs of Ludhiana, Greater, Samrat, Sartaj, South, Supreme, Pioneer, Goodwill and North, in association with Shantha Biotechnics, will organise the third phase of hepatitis- B vaccination camps at 44 venues covering the entire city on June 9,10 and 11.

Mr Charanjit Singh, former district Governor and project chairman in a press statement today, said that the third dose would be administered to the persons who had got themselves vaccinated earlier in the month of December 2000, as well as in January and February 2001. The vaccination will be done at the subsidised cost of Rs 50 per child and Rs 100 per adult.

Dr T.Yuvraj Singh, medical officer of the project, said that the disease was a major public health problem in India, causing morbidity and mortality resulting in 2.5 lakh deaths each year, due to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Dr Yuvraj said,” Hepatitis-B virus infection in children often results in asymptomatic infection”.

There is an estimated three to five fold higher risk of hepatitis-B among healthcare workers. HBV carriage in pregnancy estimated to range between 0.2 to 7.1 per cent in India was responsible for vertical transmission of Hepatitis-B.

Mr Charanjit Singh said that elaborate arrangements were made for the smooth conduction of vaccination at 44 venues. The vaccinations will be done by qualified doctors and nurses at all venues.

Free health check-up camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Over 400 workers were examined during a two-day free health checkup camp organised by the deputy directors, assistant directors, and staff of ESI hospital here, which concluded at Nahar Spinning Mills today.

The patients were examined and treated for chest, skin and other ailments. Various pathological tests like urine and blood examination were also done on the occasion.

Chickenpox on the rise in city
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, June 8
“Chickenpox is a viral infection and it is not a punishment from God. It has to be treated at the earliest because complications of the disease can be dangerous and can even cause death”, says Dr Alka Dogra, Reader and Head, Department of Dermatology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, who has been receiving two-three such patients everyday at the hospital’s OPD.

Dr Dogra claims that chickenpox cases were on rise these days due to change in weather. She said that the viral infection was caused by Varicella Zoster Virus, which multiplied during summers.

In children, it is called chickenpox where as in adults it is called Herpes zoster. Dr Dogra, while talking to Ludhiana Tribune, elaborated patients suffer from fever and eruptions in the form of fluid filled vesicles on the central part of the body occur. The patient often complains of itching around the lower thighs and upper arms.

Dr Dogra said that she received adult patients also, which needed extra attention and precautions. “The involvement of the disease with lungs, brain, blood and joints in adults can be life threatening”, she said.

“If the disease is uncomplicated, the vesicles get dried within seven days”, said the doctor. If anti-viral drugs were given to the patient within 48 to 72 hours of occurance, it could be more effective. The drug, Acyclobir, if given to the child on time could cut down the mortality rate of the disease.

Doctors suggest that the patients should consult the doctor immediately and proper cleaning of the patient was very necessary. “The patient should be given a bath daily and isolation of patient was also needed”, said another doctor practicing at Civil Lines.

Dr Dogra said that chickenpox and measles (choti mata) were two separate diseases and symptoms were also different. The patient suffering from measles had high fever, rashes on the body, running nose and watery eyes, whereas in chickenpox, the eruptions appeared on the central part of the body.

SPORTS

Rinku bags second prize in rally
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Rinku Kahlon did Ludhiana proud by bagging the second prize in the Auto Cross 2001 rally in the Gypsy category. The rally was organised by the Chandigarh Motor Sports Association in Chandigarh on June 3. Interestingly, 50-odd rallyists participated.

The local rallyist, Rinku Kahlon, though is not a professional rallyist, he has a passion for the sport. This was the second time that he had participated in the rally. He said “I had to drive six outer laps and six inner laps. One lap took 40 to 42 seconds. There were penalties if the driver touched the barricades or flags.”

Rinku is incidentally the first person from Punjab who has won a prize in a motor sport. Earlier, Manik Raikhy, a national rallyist and winner of many prizes, participated in the JK Tyre Rally. Manik was dogged with bad luck as in the first eight laps his Esteem broke down and in the next six laps Esteem again broke down in the first lap. Incidentally, the Esteem had to complete 14 laps, whereas the cars of the other three categories had only to do 12 laps.

Rinku said, “Now I am more confident and I have decided to participate in the Himalaya-de-Raid Rally as the skill of the driver will be tested due to rough and tough terrain.”

Baljit hopeful of win in Samaranch Cup
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 8
Baljit Singh Chandhi will lead the Indian Hockey ‘A’ team in the forthcoming Four-Nation Samaranch Cup Hockey Championship which begins on Sunday at Moscow.

A sleek but strong and skilled Baljit (25) who belongs to Chugitti village in the Jalandhar district, learnt the basics of the game at Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School, under the guidance of coach Joginder Singh. At that time he did not know whether he would get an opportunity to represent the country as a team leader. He gives all credit to his coaches, parents and friends who always helped in the best possible manner.

For more professional training he joined Sports School, Jalandhar, where he was groomed by coach Gurdeep Singh Mann. After completing his school education, Baljit got admission in DAV College, Jalandhar, where he learnt some more tricks of the trade from Kirpal Singh. The next milestone in his sports career was the Punjab And Sind Bank Hockey Academy where coach Rajinder Singh, an olympian spotted the hidden talent in him and trained him.

The first international exposure for Baljit came in 1995 when he went to Belgium to participate in a Four-Nation Hockey Tournament. Despite the fact that team could not perform well in the tournament, he learned a lot. They played against the teams of Poland, Egypt and South Africa. In 1996 in the Asian Junior Hockey Cup, despite losing to Pakistan in the final, India qualified for the World Junior Hockey Cup Championship. In the Word Cup, the team remained runners-up. They lost to Australia by two goals to three in the final. During this championship, he got an opportunity to play against teams like Holland, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Spain and Cuba.

Baljit has played more than 100 matches in senior and junior sections in various international tournament. But his best performance till date was in the Ayur Gold Cup Hockey Tournament which India won by defeating Egypt 2-0 under his leadership in February, 2001. Baljit was declared the best player in the recently held National Hockey Championship at Jammu. He was also given the title of best player in the Bombay Gold Cup held at Mumbai this year.

Baljit is quite hopeful about the Samaranch Cup and said that the boys were in form to face any challenge. He thinks that being a team leader is a tough job for a player because he has to play with more responsibility and motivate other players in odd conditions. He is in favour of introduction of yoga for the Indian hockey team.