The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, April 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India

NCR INDEX

N C R S T O R I E S

HEALTH

BODY & MIND
Managing cancer by conquering it
Tripti Nath

Cancer Mystiques 2002, one of the biggest and most comprehensive cancer awareness events, began at Banarsi Das Chandiwala Estate in Kalkaji. The theme of the two-day event is ‘the best way to manage cancer is to conquer it’.

The event is being organised by the Delhi-based Ventures India, a healthcare organisation in association with the Indian Society of Clinical Oncology (ICON), Mumbai, Cancer Sahyog, CanSupport and Safe Blood Organisation.

According to Dr Sameer Kaul, Cancer Surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and Organising Secretary, Cancer Mystiques, the prime objective of the event is to bring together all like-minded groups of doctors, nurses and support groups to increase awareness of cancer and its various forms. More than 300 cancer survivors from various parts of the country are participating in the event.

The idea of bringing cancer survivors is to tell cancer patients that getting cancer is not the end of life and that there is life after cancer.

Pathnet India (a joint venture between Australian major Gribbles and Dr Reddy’s of India) has promised free pathology tests worth Rs 1,000 for cancer screening. The tests would include haemoglobin, sugar, platelets, TLC, DLC, ESR, Urea Creatinine, Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Pap Smear. The Banarsi Das Chandiwala Institute of Medical Sciences will hold free eye check ups and physiotherapy sessions during the event.

Cancer Mystiques has one of the biggest panels of the leading oncologists, including Dr G. K. Rath, Head of the Department, Radiation Oncology, IRCH, AIIMS, Dr (Mrs) Vinod Kochupillai, Chief IRCH, AIIMS, Dr Purvish M. Parikh, Professor of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai, Dr (Mrs) Usha Nambiar, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre and Dr Sameer Kaul, besides diet and nutrition experts and trauma counsellors.

The experts will speak on various cancer-related issues as Women and Cancer, Tobacco and Cancer, Prevention and Early Detection of Cancer, Yoga and Cancer. The event will conclude with a workshop on doctor-patient relationship in cancer management.

Washing hands to stay healthy
The scientists who participated in the second conference of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) here declared that washing hands with soap and water can save a million lives a year. Dr Valerie Curtis of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine opined that hand washing can contribute towards saving 25,000 lives. The scientists pointed out that only 30 per cent of medical professionals in the industrialised world always wash their hands after examining a patient. They said that 40 per cent of diarrhoea diseases can be prevented by better home hygiene. The IFH is an organisation of world-renowned scientists and healthcare professionals who play an active role in developing and promoting home hygiene through scientific research. The forum is engaged in formulating the guidelines to enable citizens of developing countries protect themselves from infectious diseases. The IFH believes that home hygiene can make significant contribution to people’s health and quality of life.

Professor Sally Bloomfield of Unilever Research in Port Sunlight (UK) highlighted the importance of limiting disease by prioritising cleaning of sinks and toilets besides cleaning clothes and other surfaces where pathogens may accumulate.
The highlight of the conference was the convergence of three key areas of intervention, namely water, sanitation and hygiene. Professor Sandy Cairncross of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said that better sanitation, which people can control themselves, is the key to better health.
He said that good marketing and commercial pressure can deliver toilet facilities which people want. P. K. Jha of the Indian NGO, Sulabh, said that many women are prisoners of daylight without private toilets. Professor Robert Quick of the US Center for Disease Control said that individuals often have little control over the supply of clean water.
In places where communities and governments improve the water supply and purification of water, up to 90 per cent of diarrhoeal diseases can be eliminated.

Ayurvedic drug showroom

The Himalaya Drug Company has opened its first exclusive showroom in the main market of Lajpat Nagar II. The showroom was inaugurated by Philipe J. Haydon, General Manager of Pharma Marketing.

The showroom will serve as a ‘one-stop shop’ for the entire range of products from the house of Himalaya.

According to Mr Haydon, their showrooms have got an excellent response. The company opened its first exclusive showroom in Surat and plans to open more stores. The Himalaya Drug Company follows international standards of Good Manufacturing Practices in the manufacture of medicines. The company was established in 1935 with the vision to bring Ayurveda to the society in contemporary form.

It has an array of efficacious health and personal care products, which address diverse therapeutic needs in the human and animal health segments. At present, the company has over 25 therapeutic products, which are available in 40 countries.

Heart camp

Dr Budhiraja, MD, Physician, Max Healthcare, holding an interactive session on prevention of diseases like hypertension, diabetes and blood pressure, at the Max Medecentre in the Capital.

Saffola Healthy Heart Foundation and Max Healthcare concluded a weeklong heart check up camp at Max Medcentre in Panchsheel Park on April 14.

The camp began on the World Health Day on April 7 and was held simultaneously at Max Medcentre in HB Towers Pitampura. About 100 persons are said to have benefited from the opportunity for free consultation and check up during the camp. The doctors and dieticians from the Medcentre addressed various issues related to cardiac health.

On the concluding day, Dr Budhiraja, MD, Physician, Max Healthcare held an interactive session on the causes, symptoms and prevention of diseases related to heart, diabetes, hypertension and blood pressure.

Medicinal plants

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have approved over Rs 1.6 crore (US $ 345,000) of preparatory support to develop a full-scale project for conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in seven states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Uttaranchal.

The project echoes the strong emphasis given to traditional knowledge in the preparatory meetings for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The full-scale project will focus on creating People’s Biodiversity Registers of Medicinal Plant Uses and Knowledge, an approach that seeks to recognise the centrality of the communities as custodians of knowledge and intellectual property. The medicinal plants play an important role in supporting healthcare in India.

According to a nation-wide ethno-biological survey carried out by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, 8,000 species of medicinal plants are being used by the local communities all over India. India meets 12 per cent of the world’s requirements of medicinal plants.

SPORTS

NSCC lift Stanford cricket title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 20
A fine all-round performance by Ajit Ranjan (44 and 3 for 35) was the high point of National Stadium Coaching Centre’s 59-run victory against Sonnet Club in the title clash of the seventh Maharaja Agarsen Stanford Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Mohan Meakin ground. National Stadium Coaching Centre, who batted first, amassed 253 for 9 in 40 overs with Tushar Alekar playing a sheet-anchor role. He scored a strokeful 59, while Rohit Gupta and Ajit Ranjan also came up with substantial contributions.

Though Mayank Sidna scored a stylish unbeaten 80 and Harish Kumar struck 37, Sonnet could not sustain the scoring momentum as they crashed to the bowling guiles of Ajit Ranjan and Karamveer Bhati, to be all out for 194. Ajit Ranjan was adjudged the man of the match while Tushar Alekar got the man of the tournament award. Ajit Ranjan also bagged the best bowler award while Parvesh Chikara was named the man of the series.

Ajit’s quickfire knock was appreciated by the crowds. Not only his batting the bowling was also praiseworthy.

Scores: National Stadium Cricket Centre: 253 for 9 in 40 overs (Tushar Alekar 59, Rohit Gupta 48, Ajit Ranjan 44, Ranchal Choudhary 2 for 48).

Sonnet Club: 194 all out in 37.3 overs (Mayank Sidana 80 n o, Harish Kumar 37, Ajit Ranjan 3 for 35, Karamveer Bhati 2 for 32).

Journalists lift Jag Pravesh Trophy
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 20
Journalists’ XI beat Delhi Assembly by 53 runs to lift the Jag Pravesh Chandra Memorial Cricket Trophy in a limited-over match at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in the Capital.

The Delhi Assembly XI scored 109 runs, while the Journalists scored 162 runs. The Journalists’ XI team was led by Umesh Lakhanpal while DPCC president Subhash Chopra led the Assembly XI.

Journalists XI won the toss and opted to bat. Rameshwar Dayal of Dainik Bhaskar was declared the man of the match for emerging the top-scorer.

Delhi Assembly speaker Ch. Prem Singh gave away the Jag Pravesh Chandra Memorial Cricket Trophy to the Journalists XI.

The runner-up trophy was awarded to Mr Subhash Chopra. The players were also given gold and silver medals. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was the chief guest. Political editor of Hindustan Times Pankaj Vohra and S K Sharma of the Delhi Assembly were the umpires.

Ten Sports bags telecast rights of FIFA World Cup
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 20
Soccer fans in India can breath a sigh of relief as they will be able to catch all 64 matches of the FIFA World Cup, to\ be jointly hosted by Korea and Japan, exclusively on the newly-launched sports channel Ten Sports.

Taj Television Ltd., a parent company of Ten Sports, has signed an agreement with Kirch Media WM GmbH, the worldwide rights holder for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups for the exclusive live screening of the 2002 World Cup. Kirch Media WM Gmbh is a subsidiary of KirchSport AG, the Swiss-based sports marketing company responsible for overseeing the marketing, sales and production responsibilities for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Subhania beat CWC in DDCA League
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, April 20
Subhania Club beat Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) by 30 runs in a Super A Division match of the DDCA League at the Jamia Milia ground on Friday.

Scores: Subhania Club: 180 for 9 in 40 overs (Jitender Pandey 52, Prashant Ahlawat 48, Harpreet Singh 2 for 29). Central Warehousing Corporation: 150 all out in 36.5 overs (Lalit Yadav 69, Rajeev Vinayak 34, Jatin Khanna 4 for 24, Vikas Kumar 3 for 30). City Gymkhana beat Oriental Bank of Commerce by 162 runs in a B division match at the Kotla II ground. Scores: City Gymkhana: 282 for 7 in 40 overs (Safdar Qayim 137, 16x4, 7x6, Venkat Sampat 80, Raj Kumar 2 for 34). Oriental Bank of Commerce: 120 all out in 24.1 overs (Dhanpat 23 n o, Sameer Kumar 5 for 20). Delhi Administration beat Rani Bagh by 103 runs in an A-I Division match at the RSC ground. Delhi Administration: 251 for 7 in 35 overs (Narender Malik 56, Mukul Koranga 45, Ombir Singh 41, Sanjay Kumar 3 for 42).

Rani Bagh: 148 all out in 29.4 overs (Sanjay Kumar 44, Mukesh Kumar 3 for 27).

ADMINISTRATION

Brick kiln owner in eye of storm
Our Correspondent

Noida, April 20
The Superintendent of Police, Ghaziabad, (City) has ordered the cancellation of arms licences of a brick kiln owner and his son, who had opened fire on workers protesting against the attempted rape of one of the workers wife.

Praveen Kumar, the leader of the workers union, Azad Hind Brick Kiln workers in Nistauli village in Sahibabad, said the workers would sit on a dharna at the collectorate if the father-son duo were not arrested by 22nd April. The brick kiln owner and his son had wounded two workers by opening fire from their weapons on the protesting workers, who were raising slogans for their arrest. Praveen Kumar said that the owner owed Rs 37,000 to the workers and instead of paying them the amount, he was threatening them with dire consequences if they continued to raise their demands. The Additional District Magistrate, Usha Raman Tripathi, asked the SO Saihbabad police to take all necessary actions after a proper inquiry.