The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

Rs 60-lakh project launched to check RHF
Tribune News Service

Symptoms of rheumatic fever (RF)

Fever, redness of pharynx, pain while swallowing

Pain or swelling of joints of arms and legs.

Easy fatigability and breathlessness in walking or performing
routine activities.

Involuntary jerking movements of arms and legs, over which the child has no control.

Symptoms of rheumatic heart diseases

Palpitation and breathlessness on exertion

Swelling of feet

Breathlessness even at rest

Chandigarh, August 13
Even though rheumatic heart fever (RHF) afflicts almost an equal number of children suffering from tuberculosis and Polio in India, yet majority of the people fail to take note of it as it begins with simple fever and a sore throat, finally leading to serious heart ailment, which could be fatal.

The Departments of Community Medicine, Cardiology and Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology at the PGI and the Punjab Health and Family Welfare Directorate, have jointly launched the Rs 60-lakh, “Jai Vigyan Mission Mode Project on Control of RF and RHF” in the Ropar district.

A two-day workshop for senior doctors from the district was inaugurated by the Director of the PGI, Dr S.K. Sharma, here today. “We intend to screen over 25,000 children from the targeted population of about 10 lakh, so as to prevent its further occurrence by giving regular treatment to the afflicted children,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar, Head of the Community Medicine .

He said the PGI, Chandigarh, and Vellore were the only two places in the country where the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had sanctioned this project. The project for Indore, Cochin and Kolkata was also in the pipeline, he added.

“Failing to take note of simple rheumatic fever , mostly afflicting school children in the age group of 5-15 years, the problem aggravates finally damaging the valves of the heart, with operation being the only remedy,” said Dr Rajesh Kumar. He added that the disease was more common among socially and economically disadvantaged population due to overcrowding and poor living conditions.

Rheumatic fever is a dangerous childhood illness, in which the damage done to the heart is life long, ultimately resulting in early death. The causative organism of the RF is a bacteria, called Streptococcus, which spreads from one child to another from coughing and sneezing in crowded environment.

For the implementation of the project, an advisory committee, comprising health officials, NGO’s, private practitioners and staff of the education department has been formed. “It is most important to create awareness amongst the parents, teachers and schoolchildren not to take a sore throat lightly as it could lead to serious heart problem, with the final treatment being operation which costs over Rs 1.50 lakh ,” stressed Dr Rajesh Kumar.

The PGI is already running a project in Rai Pur Rani area of Haryana since 1987. It was seen that in many cases the prevalence of RF was taken lightly, both by the parents and the doctors in smaller health institutions.

GCG-42 girl does city proud
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 13
Harpreet Kaur, a student of the Government College for Girls, Sector 42, and a trainee of the Sports Training Centre, Sports Authority of India, Sector 18, has done the city proud when she was picked up as the only probable from the city in the national young women (below-20) basketball camp being held at Dehra Dun. Harpreet has been selected among total 20 probables for the Indian young women (below-20) team that will take part in the First Asian Basketball Confederation Championship to be held at Hubei (China) from October 28 to November 3.

Commenting on her superb performance in the national level trials held at Delhi, Ms Ritu Pathik, Assistant Director, SAI, and in charge of the STC, Sector 18, Harpreet had been very sincere and had shown marked improvement in her game during the past few years. She was trained by Mr M.M. Malhan, a senior SAI basketball coac, and Ms B. Rana, another SAI coach. She said though five girls, two from STC and three from Chandigarh, had gone for the trials, but only Harpreet could find her inclusion.

A native of Toddar Majra village (near SAS Nagar) Harpreet said her ultimate aim was to don national colour in senior section and this was her first step in that direction. She assured to do well in the camp which would conclude on August 26. On the final selection of the team, she said the second camp would begin on September 7 at Delhi, where the final team of 12 would be announced by the Basketball Federation of India.

Shuttlers excel

Shuttlers from the Panchkula district romped home by winning four out of 10 titles at stake in the just concluded Haryana State Junior Badminton Championship held at Kaithal. Panchkula players also got second place in five events, thus showing much better performance than other districts.

In the boys under-10 section, all the four semi-finalists entrants were from Panchkula and in the final, Akshit Mahajan and Preyank Sood played for title and finally Akshit, a student of Hansraj Public School, brought honour by winning the title. Prerak Sharma of Panchkula secured third place in under-13 boys singles and doubles section in partnership with Rasik.

In the under-10 girls section, Muskan Aggarwal remained runner-up in her event. In girls under-13 section, Pallavi Aggarwal and Juhi Garg won the girls under-13 doubles title, while Pallavi was runner-up in singles event.

In the boys singles, for the under-16 section, all the four semi-finalists, Saurav Kapoor, Gaurav Kapoor, Adhiraj Neogi and Pawan Prateek were from Panchkula. Finally, Saurav clinched the title by beating his brother Gaurav in final. In doubles section of this event, Gaurav in partnership with Pawan Prateek of Panchkula bagged the title by overpowering Adhiraj Neogi and Gaurav Verma. In the girls under-16 singles section, Kanupriya Aggarwal of Panchkula was able to attain second place.

Anil wins gold in judo meet
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 13
Anil wrapped the below-50 kg section title in the two-day Chandigarh Sub-Junior Judo Championship, which concluded here this evening at Ajit Karam Singh International Public school, Sector 41. Silver medal in this section went in favour of Vikram while Vinod and Rajan got bronze medals.

In below-40 kg, Vinay bagged gold medal, while Madan clinched silver medal and Randhir and Gurpreet got the bronze.

In below-35 kg, Sonu Ram got the gold Bhupinder get the silver and Nanian, the bronze medal.

In below-45 kg, Vijay Chauhan secured gold medal, and Kishan won silver medal.

In above-50 kg, Gurinderjit got gold medal, Sumer got silver medal while Pradeep and Gauravjit wont he bronze.

Mongia to be honoured
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
The Chandigarh Administration today added two more names to the list of persons who will be honoured on Independence Day. The additional list has the name of left-handed batsman Dinesh Mongia who is presently on tour with the Indian cricket team.

The second name is of Robina, a blind child, who had complied book of poems which has come in for praise from even Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Selection trials

The Netball Association of Chandigarh will hold the selection trials on August 16 at Guru Nanak Senior Secondary School, Sector 30, to select the Chandigarh netball teams in boys and girls sections for taking part in the 22nd Senior National Netball Championship to be held at Nasik from September 11 to 15. According to Mr R. Sharan, general secretary of the association, interested players should report to Amandeep at the above venue.

Admn to release Rs 7 cr grant to MC
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
The Administration has decided to release the held-up Rs 7.035 crore grant under the plan head to the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh.

The Chandigarh Administration has sent a letter regarding clearance of the grant due since last month to the MC. The decision followed the MC producing the utilisation certificate before the Chandigarh Administration.

The communication to the corporation for the release of the grant was received yesterday, the day when a group of councillors led by the Mayor met the Administrator.

The issue had come up at the meeting between councillors and the Administrator but no clear-cut response was given.

The utilisation certificate becomes necessary as the Administration had laid down the condition that funds should not be diverted from one head to the other.

The quarterly grant-in-aid under the plan head was due for the second quarter. The delay in the release of grants had grounded the development work of the MC.

Cops without raincoats
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
It is the problem which the cops of the Chandigarh police have been facing for the past two years.

Sources in the police say that as per the norms the clothing section issues raincoats for the monsoon season. But for the past two years the item has not been issued. With the Independence Day round the corner and the delayed monsoon rains hitting the city, a proposal to issue raincoats was being pursued.

Talking on the condition of anonymity, a cop told Chandigarh Tribune, “The officials object when we wear a raincoat of a colour other than the allowed one. But we are not officially issued the item.”