HEALTH

250 attend CME on TB
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3
A total of 250 delegates from the region participated in the Continuing Medical Education (CME) on ‘Tuberculosis: newer challenges’ inaugurated by Dr R.P. Bajpai, Director, CSIO, at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, here today.

Welcoming the participants, Dr Bajpai raised concerns regarding the rampant spread of the disease in all its forms in the community. He also warned of the unholy alliance of tuberculosis with HIV and AIDS, which was threatening to worsen the problem.

Prof Atul Sachdev, organising secretary of the CME, introduced the subject to the audience and welcomed the dignitaries. Prof S.K. Jindal, Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGI, lectured on the global epidemic of the disease, with emphasis on the problem in India. Dr Pratibha Narang, Professor and Head, Microbiology, MGIMS, Wardha, spoke on the newer modalities of early diagnosis of tuberculosis and their relevance in clinical setting.

Dr G.C. Khilnani, Additional Professor, Medicine, AIIMS, highlighted the current strategies in management of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB. Professor Jaikishan, HoD, Chest and TB, TB Hospital, Patiala, spoke on the problem of drug-resistant TB and its management.

Prof Sudha Suri, HoD, Radiology, PGI, spoke on the radiological diagnosis of TB. Dr Druv Chaudhry from the Department of Medicine, PGIMS, Rohtak, highlighted the drug interactions of anti-TB drugs with reference to dose modifications in certain situations. Dr Ajay Wanchu, Assistant Professor, PGI, spoke on the problems in managing TB in HIV and AIDS co-infection. Dr Meenu Singh, Assistant Professor, Paediatrics, PGI, highlighted the problem of TB in children.

The lectures were followed by an interactive session moderated by Dr Atul Sachdev. Various problems related to day-to-day management of the disease were discussed. The panel of experts who participated in the discussion included Dr Deepak Bhasin, Dr Kala Vashisht, Dr Raj Bahadur, Dr Harbir Kaur Rao, Dr Veena Parmar and Dr Parmpreet.

Eye care centre inaugurated
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3
A state-of-the-art eye hospital, the Indo-American Eye Care Centre was inaugurated in Sector 8 here today. Inaugurated by the Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Lieut Gen J.F.R. Jacob, (retd.), the hospital has been set up in collaboration with the South East Retina Centre, P.C. Augusta, Georgia, USA, and is a unit of the Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib (C) Eye Hospital Trust, Sohana, Punjab.

The chairman of the trust also announced a hospice for the terminally-ill cancer patients will be soon made operational by the trust in collaboration with the Chandigarh Administration.

General Jacob said that the Chandigarh Administration would provide the trust a temporary building initially and later construct a new building for the hospice. The administration of the hospice would be the responsibility of the trust. General Jacob asked the Deputy Commissioner, Mr M. Ramshekhar, to identify a suitable building in Chandigarh that could be handed over to the trust initially for running the hospice.

General Jacob appreciated the gesture of the trust in taking the responsibility of running the hospice. He said that it was the long pending requirement to have hospice for the terminally ill incurable patients so that they could spend their last days in homely atmosphere and die with dignity.

Mr Jasbir Singh Khalsa informed the Governor that the aim of the trust was to provide surgical facilities to poor and under-privileged at their doorstep. The eye care center in Sector 8 is having of state-of-art technology in eye care and mobile operation theatre will go to slum and colonies and village to perform the operation of poor and needy at their doorstep.

The Administrator on this occasion also flagged off a rally by school students who participated in the rally to motivate the people for eye donation.

Experts discuss cataract problems
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 3
“If the most common cause of blindness is cataract then the second most cause of blindness remains untreated cataract,” said Dr Gagandeep Singh Brar, during the session on cataract at the one-day ophthalmology update on current concepts and management held at the PGI here yesterday.

Organised by the Department of Ophthalmology, the update conference was inaugurated by Mr Anurag Agarwal, IAS, Managing Director, Punjab Health Systems Corporation. He exhorted the participants and the opthalomologists from the PHSC to learn newer techniques in the diagnosis and management of various diseases.

In the first session on cataract, Dr Sushmita talked about the pre-operative evaluation of patients with cataract. Dr G. S. Brar talked on selecting a safe surgical procedure for cataract surgery and suggested that the most cost effective surgery for the masses should be the extra capsular cataract surgery since the intra-capsular cataract surgery which was done most commonly but not giving satisfying results. The phaco with intraocular lens operations which were giving the best results were, however, very expensive and required very skilled hands to operate.

Dr Amod Gupta deliberated upon on the early detection and management of post-operative infections. He emphasised on the need for proper sterilisation protocol for surgery. Dr Jagat Ram, organising secretary, highlighted the recent advances in surgical techniques and phaco emulsification equipment.

During the session on retina, Dr M.R. Dogra emphasised the screening of premature infants in retinopathy of prematurity. Dr Vishali Gupta highlighted the screening of diabetic patients for retinopathy and diagnosis and management of retinal detachment patients.

Dr S.S. Pandev discussed the advances in medical management of glaucoma. Dr Usha Singh highlighted the common adnexal disorders and their management. Other speakers included Dr Supratik, Dr Amit Gupta and Dr Ramandeep Singh.

SPORTS

Dilsher adjudged best golfer
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, February 3
Dilsher Sukhija, a Class VI student of Vivek High School, was today adjudged best player in the Bajaj Travels Winter Fun Golf Competitions organised by the Chandigarh Golf Association here at the CGA Driving Range. He was also honoured with to and fro air ticket from Chandigarh to Mumbai by Jet Airways Manager, Mr Sukhwinder Dhami. Rahul Bakshi and Fatehbir Singh Dhaliwal were declared the first runners-up and second runners-up respectively. As many as 100 golfers took part in various events.

The competitions were held for longest drive for men, ladies and sub-juniors, closest to the flag, sand trap, putting and miniature golf. The miniature golf competition was won by Kanika, Zubin and Anish. The runners-up position was claimed by Shivali Aggarwal, Vikram and Karandeep. Praveen Singla won the longest drive title among men while Dr Soni was runners-up. Ms P.J.M. Singh and Fatehbir Singh emerged winners among ladies and sub-junior section respectively. In the sand trap event, Kabir Dhaliwal and Sruthi Reddy were the winners in their respective categories. Kabir claimed the sub-junior category. CGA President, Mr Desh Prem Azad, J.S. Cheema, Vivek Vahi and Sanjeev Aggarwal gave away the prizes.

Cricket tourney

Elite Cricket Club bagged the First Himmat Singh Bhandari Memorial Cricket Tournament, organised by the Uttaranchal Sports and Culture Association here today at the ITI Cricket ground, Sector 28. Mr Shivdev Singh, Principal, inaugurated the final match today, while V.K. Bhardwaj, Chief Engineer, Municipal Corporation, was given special award of honour. Mr Sabar Singh Bisht, secretary, Uttarakhand Kalyan Parishad, was the chief guest and gave the prizes.

Sanjeev Massey of Elite Cricket Club was declared best bowler, while Bikram of Uttaranchal CC was declared best batsman of the meet.

Brief scores: UCC — 143 runs all out (Manmohan 24, Bikram 25, Amit Bhardwaj 3 for 20, Sanjay 3 for 25, Kanwar Singh 2 for 18). ECC: 145 for seven (Anil Choudhary 33 n.o. Rajiv Dutta 31, Amit Bhardwaj 19, Nikhil 15, Bikram 2 for 27, Rakesh 2 for 25, Dharmbir 2 for 19).

Boxing championship

Rajbir Singh of SGGS College, Sector 26, clinched first position in the Light Welter Weight in the 25th Chandigarh Senior State Boxing Championship, which concluded here last evening at the Boxing Coaching Centre, Sector 23. The other winners are: Ashwani Sharma (Light Fly Weight), Sohan Singh (Fly Weight), Saurabh Prashar (Bantam Weight), Vikash Sharma (Feather Weight), Dharam Singh (Lt Weight), Vinod Kumar (Welter Weight), Ajay Singh (Light Middle Weight), Ajit Pal Singh (Middle Weight), Vishal Budania (Light Heavy Weight), Akhil Kapoor (Heavy Weight), Kuldeep Singh (Super Heavy Weight). SD College, Sector 32, won the overall championship, while SGGS College, Sector 26, were declared runners-up. Ms Indu Mishra gave the prizes.

Senior football meet

Golden Football Club-15 outscored Lal Bahadur Club, Palsora, 5-0 in the Chandigarh Senior Football Championship for Rajinder Bhardwaj trophy, which began here today at the Football Stadium, Sector 17. In other matches of the day, Chandigarh Police whipped Football Club, Mouli Jagran 8-0.

PEC beat Koshur Club

PEC Employees Cricket Club trounced Koshur Cricket Club by eight wickets in the second Salzer Cup Cricket tournament played here today at the PEC grounds.

Brief scores: Koshur CC: 124 runs for seven (Sanjeev Kaul 35 n.o., Manish Nehru 16, Lekhraj 2 for 26). PEC CC: 125 runs for two (Rajesh Arora 51 n.o., Narinder Walia 37, Vishal Sahni 26 n.o.).

Football tourney

The Chandigarh Senior Football Championship in men section for Rajeshwar Bhardwaj memorial trophy will begin here tomorrow at the Football Stadium, Sector 17. According to Mr Rakesh Bakshi, secretary of the Chandigarh Football Association, as many as six teams are taking part in the three-day meet.

Tomorrow, Golden Football Club will take on Lal Bahadur Shastri Club, Palsora at 10.30 am followed by another match between Chandigarh Police and Football Club, Mauli Jagran.