HEALTH

BODY & MIND
A holistic healing centre in Chanakyapuri
Tripti Nath

Yashwant Place in Chanakyapuri now has a holistic healing centre and research forum. The main objective of ‘Healing Hands’ is to bring together the therapists of alternative systems of medicine under one roof. The centre has been conceptualised by Satish Kapoor, an aeronautical engineer turned businessman. Mr Kapoor’s unflinching faith in alternative systems of medicine is not new. Over three decades ago, when Mr Kapoor was studying in college, he developed rheumatoid arthritis and spondylitis. The unbearable pain compelled him to consult several rheumatologists and orthopaedists.

Eventually, rheumatoid arthritis was cured by homeopathy and reflexology while spondylitis was cured by reflexology and Ayurveda.

“Rheumatoid Arthritis is considered a crippling disease but the treatment left me with no tell-tale marks. In the 80s again, I suffered partial paralysis of the face for three months. I took physiotherapy and reflexology and was cured within three months. It was then that I seriously started thinking of to set up a centre, which would provide alternative therapies and benefit society at large. When I looked around, I found that the awareness about the alternative systems of medicine was quite high but most people treated it only as a last option. Qualified therapists were sitting in an isolated manner and I decided to offer them a common platform.”

Director of Healing Hands, Satish Kapoor says, “It is an attempt to consolidate the efforts of different practitioners to provide unique synergised holistic healing to the people and give logical base to the treatments given under alternative medicines through research.’’ The clinic was inaugurated by the Slovakian Ambassador’s wife, Bozena Volkova on February 18, and the research forum was inaugurated by the Slovakian Ambassador, Ladisalav Volko on March 12. Healing hands offers free space to 12 therapists, who are available for consultation three hours a day from Monday to Saturday. The clinic is open between 9.30 am and 7.30 pm. Each consultation chamber is used by three therapists. The practioners who can be contacted at the clinic are Dr Deepak Raheja (Psychotherapist), Pradeep K Srivastava (Yoga Therapist), Dr Divya Charaya (Magnetotherapist), Anajalee Manchanda (Reiki Healer), Dharam Prakash (Reflexologist), Ajay Jain (Spiritual healer), Ashoke K Joshi (Medico Astrologer), Dr Surinder Katoch (Ayurveda), Dr Swadesh Garg (Bio Energy), Dr Suneet Gupta (Acupuncture) and Ms Veena Khanduja (Feng Shui). According to Mr Kapoor, the charges are nominal. For instance, a single sitting with a Yoga therapist would cost Rs 150 while a home visit by Feng Shui expert would cost Rs 250. For consultation, the Feng Shui expert would only take Rs 100. The therapists are required to contribute part of their earnings to the research forum. Dr M. Khalilullah, well known Cardiologist is the advisor to the research programmes. Healing Hands is also trying to persuade experts in the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoepathy (ISM&H) and World Health Organisation to participate in the activities of the research forum.

ICMR building

The renovated building of the Indian Council of Medical Research headquarters in Ansari Nagar has been renamed Ramalingaswami Bhawan in memory of its former Director General, Prof V. Ramalingaswamy. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur unveiled the plaque renaming the building. While recalling the renowned scientist’s pioneering research on iodine deficiency and Kala-azhar, the minister announced that the Kala-azhar eradication programme would also be named after Dr Ramalingaswamy.

Award ceremony

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur gave away scrolls to 158 graduates and postgraduates of Lady Hardinge Medical College early this week. He also gave away awards for meritorious performance in various disciplines and to employees for their exemplary service. In his convocation address, Dr Thakur called upon the young doctors to develop good communication skills to interact well with patients. He advised students to be kind and considerate to the patients.

The scourge of tuberculosis
Bijendra Ahlawat

Faridabad, March 23
Tuberculosis is a deadly disease; it kills one human life in every minute in India. If all the TB patients of our country were to assemble at one place, it would make a city bigger than Delhi. There are 1.4 crore TB patients in India, maximum number for any country in the world.

These faces have been stated in the recently released book on TB, 'A death every minute', by Dr Raman Kakar, a TB specialist based here and an awareness activist. He has been a pioneer in the field of TB, having treated a large number of patients and also directed a Hindi documentary film on TB 'Teen

Batein', which got appreciation from various sections of the society. According to Dr Kakkar, while 20,000 Indians get unfitted with TB germ everyday, more than 5000 develop this disease and over 1300 succumb to it. Every third patient in the world is an Indian. He laments that, today, 50 years after effective drugs were discovered and made available, there were more new cases than ever before and more people die of it than ever before. About the disease, he says, the symptoms of the disease ie, fever, cough and chest pain, were quite ordinary, these were often too mild to alarm a person to suspect TB or seek identical advise. The real clues to it are, persistence of these symptoms for a long time (a month or more) with loss of weight. The drug addicts, diabetics and HIV positive persons being more prone to TB and must remain alert, he says.

Due to lack of awareness, majorities of patients do not complete their full course of medication. The 'symptomatic relief is equal to cure', which is a deep routed human psychology, which may be true in many diseases, but not in TB. The treatment must be taken for a minimum of six months for complete cure. While symptoms of TB subside quickly and believing that they have been cured, about 60 per cent of patients in India give up the medications. Describing the TB as a disease of the poor, he regrets that 90 per cent funds on R and D were donated towards the diseases of the rich living in developed countries. Quoting from a study conducted by 'patrice trowller of medecins sans frontiers (MSF) reveals that out of 1223 new compounds of drugs launched in market from 1975 to 1997, only 11 were meant for tropical diseases. Only 10 per cent of the Global Health R and D was for benefit of poor, who constitute a staggering 90 per cent of the total population. Dr Kakar points out that no perfect TB vaccine had been evolved till date and the BCG vaccine used at present was 80 years old and not very effective. No new TB test had been discovered to replace the 120 year old `Sputum test', and sadly `No new

TB drug had been invented in last 35 years. Due to lack of awareness TB continues to be treated in appropriately throughout the country, leading to the prospect of the germ becoming resistant to drug. It is never treated with a single medicine but always with combination of two to fine drugs. He points out that single largest failure of all national and international agencies engaged in TB control was their inability to recognise the significance of creating sufficient awareness about this ancient disease. A worldwide campaign at this belated stage should have to be launched, otherwise our next generations may find themselves back into the pre-antibiotive era of our past generations, when there was no cure, he comments.

Minister’s message

Union Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur has expressed confidence that 80 per cent of the Indian population would be covered under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) by 2004. In a message on the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, Dr Thakur said that though this is an ambitious plan, past experience, careful planning and strict monitoring would help the country in controlling this age-old problem. He said that the RNTCP has been decentralised. Now, in many states, the state societies are supervising the work of District TB Control Societies. He said that the government is organising continuing medical education sessions and other activities to involve Railways, Armed Forces, CGHS and TB hospitals in RNTCP. He said that a policy document on involvement of private practitioners in RNTCP is being finalised. Besides, medical colleges are being involved in implementing RNTCP strategies. He also appealed to doctors and patients to follow the guidelines of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course). The regional Director of WHO, South-East Asia, Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei has said, "On World TB Day this year, WHO's focus is to draw attention to the association between TB and poverty. The theme this year `Stop TB, fight poverty' suggests that tackling TB, one of several illnesses that affect the poor, is one way of achieving greater global prosperity. I am confident that World TB Day this year will help mobilise the global community to expand DOTS, increase access to treatment and stop TB."

SPORTS

Uma Bharti opens women’s sports festival
Our Sports Reporter

Rewari, March 23
The Union Minister of Youth Affairs Minister, Ms Uma Bharti, inaugurated the 15th Haryana State Women’s Sports Festival by unfurling the flag at Rao Tula Ram Stadium here today.

She declared the festival open amidst deafening sound of bursting of crackers. Colourful balloons were also blown high up in the air. Earlier, the Haryana Health Minister, Dr M L Ranga, who was presiding over the function took salute from a march-past of the sports women of all the 19 districts of the state participating in the sports festival. Speaking on this occasion Miss Uma Bharti was all praise for the Chautala government of Haryana, which she said that it had given a new impetus to sports by formulating its new sports oriented policy. She said that Haryana had made rapid strides in sports owing to such measures. She also said that the great confidence being exhibited by the sports women participating in this festival was a clear indication that in the coming few years sportsmen and women of Haryana would certainly make their mark at the national as well as international levels. Besides, these confident women of Haryana would also put their stamp of excellence in the domains of trade, commerce, public administration etc. in the years to come. The minister also said that the union sports ministry was new giving special emphasis on the development of indigenous, rural and women’s sports throughout the country. Earlier, the Haryana Health Minister, Dr M C Ranga and Abhay Singh Chautala MLA and president of Haryana Olympic Association also addressed this inaugural function of the sports festival. It was, however, a pitiful scene that sports women and others were made to sit in the scorching sun for hours together.

Volly Ball: Rewari Beats Sonipat - 25-13, 25-12, Karnal Beats Panchkula- 25-22, 25-18, Kurukshetra Beats Mohindergarh- 25-4, 25-8, Jind Beats Kaithal- 25-13, 25-12, Bhiwani Beats Faridabad - 25-12, 25-13, Sirsa Beats Rohtak - 25-20, 25-17, Gurgaon Beats Bhiwani - 25-12, 25-17.

Basketball: Fathebad Beats Panhkula 16-4, Yamuna Nagar Beats Kurukshetra 33-15, Sonipat Beats Faridabad 10-9, Ambala beats Rewari 37-12, Bhiwani beats Faridabad 37-10.

Hockey: Bhiwani beats Ambala 1-0, Jhajjar beats Jind 3-0, Yamuna Nagar beats Sirsa 2-0, Hisar beats Fatehabad 1-0, Sonepat beats Yamuna Nagar 1-0.

Athletics (800 mts.) Param Jeet - Ambala 2.29.4 Gold, Renu Malik - Sonipat 2.29.5 Silvar, Ram Bhateri - Bhiwani 2.36.9 Bronze.

Hand Ball: Kaithal beats Kurukshetra 6-1, Gurgaon beats Rewari 15-10, Ambala beats Faridabad 7-4, karnal beats Sirsa 3-2, Kurukshetra beats Panchkula 2-1, Karnal beats Yamuna Nagar 5-2, Gurgaon beats Mohindergarh 15-0, Faridabad beats Hisar 8-5.

Kabaddi: Sonipat beats Kaithal 33-11, Mohindergarh beats Hisar 29-17, Jind walk over Gurgaon, Kurukshetra beats Rewari 28-14, Jhajjar beats Sirsa 24-4, Rohtak walk over Ambala.

Sportspersons honoured in Rohtak
Our Sports Reporter

Rohtak , March 23
The Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, Maj-Gen (Retd.) B. S. Suhag, has advocated laying down of minimum qualifying standards in sports. He was addressing sportspersons at the annual prize distribution function organised by the university’s sports council here today.

Maj-Gen Suhag said that participation in sports help in character and personality development of a person. He also hinted at the setting up of a centre of excellence in any one sport in which MDU excells to train the sportspersons.

The players who succeeded in clinching glory by their excellent performance in the field at different platforms during the current academic session were honoured in the function, along with their coaches and managers. Nearly 70 players (men and women), were given cash prizes and trophies today. They had excelled in the events of Wrestling, Swimming, Gymnastics, Kabaddi, Weightlifting, Boxing, Yoga, Judo, Athletics, Archery and Korfball.

Each gold medallists were given a cash prize of Rs 2,100, and the silver medallists were awarded Rs1500. The bronze medallists were given a cash prize of Rs 1,100 each. MDU’s affiliated colleges which won team events for three successive years were also awarded the `replica trophy’.

In the men’s category, the all-round trophy was given to Jat College, Rohtak, whereas Adarsh Mahila Mahavidhyalaya Bhiwani bagged the all-round trophy for women.

Indian Oil bags PSCB Trophy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 23
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has bagged the Trophy of Excellence instituted by the Petroleum Sports Control Board (PSCB), for its outstanding contribution to sports.

Mr M A Pathan, chairman, Indian Oil, received the trophy from Mr V N Kaul, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, at a presentation ceremony held in New Delhi, in which Mr M S Ramachandran, director (Planning and Business Development) and Mr A K Mitra, director (Human Resources), Indian Oil were also present.

Indian Oil also bagged the Petroleum Secretary’s Trophy, instituted by the Public Sector Control Board, for the

seventh consecutive time. Mr M A Pathan, chairman, Indian Oil, received the trophy from Mr Naresh Narad, additional secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The Petroleum Sports Control Board was set up in 1979 with a view to encouraging sports and games in the oil and gas industry. Presently, PSCB has 16 members. Regular inter-unit competitions are held in 14 disciplines, comprising 16 tournaments, every year.

PSCB are national champions in badminton, chess and table tennis.

Super Star rout BOI in DDCA League
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 23
Super Star Club beat Bank of India by seven wickets in a DDCA ‘B’ Division League match at the Kotla ground II.

Scores: Bank of India: 187 all out in 38.2 overs (Pradeep Kanojia 49, Suresh Ahuja 38, Dinesh Kumar 33, Sunny Sharma 4 for 46).

Super Star Club: 193 for 3 in 35 overs (Prateek Sharma 72, Manas Malhotra 53 n o, Sunny Sharma 33, Ramesh Sharma 2 for 24).

Delhi Development Authority (DDA) beat City Gymkhana by 114 runs in a B division match at the University ground.

Scores: DDA: 250 all out in 37.5 overs (Ravi Sharma 61, Sumeet Yadav 51, Sushil Kumar 41, Bijender Bhatia 41, Aizaz Ahmad 4 for 36).

City Gymkhana: 136 all out in 26.2 overs (Piyush Tiwari 45, Lokesh Kulbe 31, Sushil Kumar 2 for 13, Maharaj Kishan 2/21). K N Colts beat Lal Bahadur Shastri in an A-I Division match at the University ground.

Scores: Lal Bahadur Shastri: 182 for 9 in 40 overs (Gaurav Chabra 50, Sanjay Rawat 44, Ajay Sharma 3 for 32). K N Colts: 185 for 8 in 38.2 overs (Nishant Sharma 41, Honey Garg 4/42, Rajan Gupta 3 for 29). Ajmal Khan beat MTNL by six runs in a ‘B’ Division match at the Rajdhani Sports Complex.

Scores: Ajmal Khan: 177 all out in 38.4 overs (Gaurav Sharma 26, Naresh Verma 24, Sanjeev Khanna 3 for 44). MTNL: 171 all out in 39.1 overs (Varun Kumar 35, Ajeet Jaiswal 34, Shrwan Choudhary 2 for 28).

United India beat Rehman Club by two wickets in an A-I Division at the Indian Air Force ground I.

Scores: Rehman Club: 193 all out in 37.5 overs (Mohd Shabdad 81 n o, Mohd Danish 35, Furkhan Ahmad 30, Jasbeer Singh 3 for 20, Gaurav Grover 3 for 45). United India: 197 for 8 in 39.1 overs (Mukesh Kumar 54, Joginder Singh 34, Furkhan Ahmad 3/31).

Universal Club beat Alpine Club by three wickets in an A-II Division match at the Yamuna Sports Complex. Scores: Alpine: 176 all out in 37.3 overs (Anuj Chaturvedi 33, Sandeep Negi 3/38).

Universal: 179 for 7 in 33.4 overs (Abhishek Nag 70, Ashwani Tyagi 36, Rajeev Khatri 2 for 20). Sarojini Nagar beat Delhi Telecom by three runs in a ‘B’ Division match.

Scores: Sarojini Nagar: 223 for 9 in 40 overs (Kartekey Bhatia 57, Sidhant Mandley 42, Neeraj Bansal 33, Rajender Ahir 5 for 43).

Delhi Telecom: 220 for 9 in 40 overs (Rajender Ahir 67, Vinay Mishra 51, Rajesh Kumar 35, Sidhant Mandey 3 for 40). Ashok Club beat Roop Nagar by 32 runs in a ‘B’ Division match at Kotla II ground. Scores: Ashok Club: 302 for 7 in 40 overs (Vikas Katyal 80, Abhinav Kumar 68, Bhaskar Vaid 52, Arvind Mehta 40).

Roop Nagar: 270 for 9 in 40 overs (Sanjay Yadav 156, 9x4, 10x6; Dhirender Kumar 36, Ravinder Bhola 3 for 55).