The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

State-of-the-art cancer hospital in village near Rewari
Nawal Kishore Rastogi

Rewari, July 23
Dr S.S. Yadav Ram-Bhagwan Charitable Institute of Cancer Management and Research, Mirpur, 10 km from Rewari, is perhaps the first functional institute of cancer management and research in rural India as well as the first cancer hospital in the private sector in Haryana. It has made rapid strides towards its goal of providing advanced and state-of-the-art comprehensive treatment in a cost-effective manner to indigent cancer patients during a short span of three years since its inception in June 1999.

The institute, popularly known as the cancer hospital, is the brainchild of Dr S.S. Yadav, an eminent orthopaedic surgeon of India, former Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, former President of the Indian Orthopaedic Association and Chairman of the Dr S.S. Yadav Ram-Bhagwan Charitable Trust.

According to Dr Yadav, it is now a well-known fact that cancer is a deadly disease. Nearly two million persons die of it every year in India. Despite the assiduous efforts of numerous scientists engaged in the Herculean task of devising ways and means to combat cancer throughout the world the disease continues to be one of the three main killers — accidents and heart diseases being the other two.

In view of the supersonic speed with which the disease is spreading its tentacles it is feared that in the years to come every second or third family would have a cancer patient in India. Then things would become more and more unmanageable for cancer patients in rural areas where cancer hospitals have a negligible existence. Besides, almost all cancer hospitals in the urban set-up are actually beyond the access of the poor and ignorant patients of the villages for obvious reasons.

Goaded by the above state of affairs, Dr Yadav donated six acres of his ancestral land in Mirpur village. On this piece of land a Rs-40-crore mega project of the institute was launched in April 1998 under the aegis of Dr S. S. Yadav Ram-Bhagwan Charitable Trust.

With the active cooperation of M/s Pragati Builders and Promoters, Delhi, which volunteered to undertake the project of the construction of the hospital building, the first phase of the institute, comprising 30 beds, an OPD, an X Ray unit, a well-equipped operation theatre and an intensive care unit (ICU), was completed in June 1999.

Following this heartening accomplishment, the flow of hefty donations from munificent donors, facilitated by the dedicated efforts of Mr Suresh Yadav, an ardent champion of the above institute, enabled the trust to launch the 100-bed second phase project which has now been almost completed.

Under the second phase a special radio therapy block (as per the specifications of BARC) has been constructed and tele-therapy and brachytherapy machines have been installed. The much needed radio therapy unit with the latest cobalt 60 (Elite 80) machine has also been installed. The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala inaugurated it, in June 2001. This latest model of cobalt 60 (Elite 80) is the second such machine in the country, the first one being at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

Now the institute has started providing the desired as well as qualitative treatment to the village folk at their doorstep.

Simultaneously, a three-storied dharamshala comprising 40 rooms with attached bathroom has also been constructed for relatives of the patients.

Besides, the construction of an emergency block and residential campus is in progress. A total amount of about Rs 9 crore, including a grant-in-aid of Rs 1 crore from the Government of India, has been spent till date on the construction-cum-establishment of the institute.

The institute has also launched a programme for early detection of cancer under which 50 villages of the area have been adopted. The residents of these villages will be periodically screened to identify such patients for proper and adequate treatment.

It is noteworthy that the institute has now gained popularity in various parts of northern India.

At present, operations are conducted on every Wednesday while cancer patients are examined by specialists, including Dr S. S. Yadav, on every Thursday and Saturday.

SPORTS

Don Bosco down Laxman Public School
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 23
Don Bosco School downed Laxman Public School by two goals to nil in the Bro Mahony Inter-School Football Tournament at the Mount St. Mary’s School ground on Tuesday.

The first goal was a self goal when Pradeep Verma of Laxman Public School kicked into his own net. In the second half, Pramod Suran struck a stunning goal from 40 yards out in the 15th minute.

In the second match, St. Columba’s School prevailed over Modern School, Barakhamba Road 2-1. The teams shared two goals at half time. St. Columba’s School took the lead through striker Lijo Joy in the fifth minute of first half.

Modern School equalised in the 24th minute when Prince found the mark. In the second half, St. Columba’s fought well and scored the match-winner through Lijo Joy. His shot from 20 yards slipped out of the hands of the Modern School custodian and rolled into the net.

In the junior division, Modern School, Barakhamba Road crushed Mont Fort School 11-0 at the Mount St Mary’s School ground. Dorji scored six goals (no hattrick), Anubhav Jha scored three and Anubhav Rohatgi two goals.

In another junior match, Don Bosco School outclassed Vasant Valley School 6-1. Bijay Baby, Amit Babu and Noel James scored a goal each while Ankit Bhatia scored thrice, but not in a row. Nikhil Leddie got the consolation goal for Vasant Valley.

Wednesday’s fixtures: DPS, R K Puram vs Don Bosco School (9 am); Mount St. Mary’s vs Mont Fort School (10.15 a m); Shri Ram School vs Modern School, Barakhamba Road (11.30 am); Mount St. Mary vs Tagore International School (12.30 pm); Shri Ram School vs Mont Fort School (1.45 pm)

Steve has high praise for Dravid, Srinath
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 23
Australia’s 40th Test captain Steve Waugh rates Rahul Dravid as a “pretty good role model for kids. He’s pretty steady in what he does and he does things the right way, and he’s very dedicated”.

Steve Waugh, who will appear in CNN’s Talk Asia programme, to be telecast on July 27 (Saturday) at 7 pm, which will be repeated on July 28 and 29 at 4 pm and 8 pm respectively, also had high praise for Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath, who, he feels, “has been an excellent quick bowler for India. He’s the guy that I sort of admire on the field, but they’ve got many players that could be role models for kids, that’s obviously important”. About Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh has observed that “Everyone loves Tendulkar in India. He’s obviously a great player. He’s probably the best player in the world.”

Steve Waugh said that on meeting Mother Teresa, “I was sort of a bit dumbstruck......but she did have that calming influence so you could just feel there was something special about her. She had no real material possession, but a person who dedicated a whole life to helping others, pretty amazing person. There’s not many people like her”. He was also all praise for the Eden Garden cricket stadium in Kolkatta. “Calcutta’s a great stadium, it’s one of the best places to play cricket”, he noted.

Ten Sports to beam Indian Cricketer of the Century Award
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, July 23
Ten Sports will give exclusive telecast coverage of the “Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century Award” function in England on Wednesday at 7.30 pm. The year 2002 has been aptly chosen for the award since it is exactly a century after Ranjisinhji, the doyen of Indian cricket, and one of the greatest ever, played his last Test for England in 1902. There are 16 contenders for the award, including Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.

“Cricket is a religion in India and cricketers are revered like God. Ten Sports, in its promise to promote Indian sports and sportsmen, brings the awards ceremony to Indian cricket fans who have supported the sport in such a grand manner over the past century. It is in their honour that we bring the Electrolux Kelvinator Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century Awards exclusively for them”, says Mr Chris McDonald, chief executive of Taj Television Ltd. India’s contribution to cricket has been immense; some of the greatest names and finest talents, especially during the 20th century — from Vinoo Mankad to Nawab Pataudi to Kapil Dev, and most recently Sachin Tendulkar..

The nomination for the title are: Lala Amarnath, Azharuddin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Chandrasekhar, D. B. Deodhar, Kapil Dev, Gavaskar, Vijay Hazare, Anil Kumble, Vinoo Mankad, Vijay Merchant, C. K. Nayudu, MAK Pataudi, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath. The jury of the 35 international names, encompassing cricketers, journalists, broadcasters and other analysts, include Abbas Ali Baig, Imran Khan, John Woodcock, Harsha Bhogle and Richard Hadlee. Each jury member will submit a short lift of five names, marking one as their preferred choice for the coveted title.