HEALTH

Training workshop for disability prevention
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14
With inadequate attention being paid towards disability prevention and rehabilitation in the medical curriculum in India, the Orthopaedics Department of the Government Medical College and Hospital today started a training workshop for paramedical staff, as they are the ones who have maximum interaction with those affected with such problems.

About 35 paramedical staff from the UT are attending the three-day workshop. “ A lot still needs to be done to help people with various disabilities and it is with the objective of early detection and timely medical help that the workshop is being held,” said Dr Raj Bahadur, Medical Superintendent, GMCH.

He said that in its crusade to prevent disability, the workshop was being organised under the aegis of WHO and the Directorate-General of Health Services.

After sensitising health administrators who frame the policies, training was being given to teachers in the medical college, who are called the master trainers, and then further down to specialists and doctors in Primary Health Centres and later to the paramedical staff, he said.

Dr A.N. Sinha, Assistant Director, Directorate-General of Health Services, gave an overview about the disability and various programmes being organised in the country in this regard. The Director Principal of the GMCH, Dr S.B.S. Mann, said that with life expectancy going up the percentage of population with disabilities was bound to increase.

Dr Naveen Goel, heads of the Department of Physical Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, spoke about the PWD Act, 1995, and facilities being provided to the disabled, including job reservation, benefits in income tax and travel concessions. He said such workshops sensitise the paramedics and the government was trying its best to do the maximum for the disabled in India. However, keeping in mind enormity of the problem, it would take some time before the situation improved, he said.

‘Local bodies can play vital role in curbing AIDs’
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 14
The Haryana Minister of State for Health, Dr M.L. Ranga, today called for a missionary approach and urged chairpersons of zila parishads and panchayat samitis in the state to extend their cooperation for creating an awareness against the spread of AIDS.

The minister was addressing heads of zila parishads and panchayat samitis during a seminar organised by the Haryana AIDS Control Society to involve local representatives in order to make the drive against AIDS more effective.

He said the cooperation of all sections of society, especially NGOs and local governing bodies, was essential in creating sensitisation against the spread of the disease. He said they would introduce AIDS awareness among youth.

Detailing the objectives of the Haryana AIDS Control Society, Mr R.K. Khullar, said the main objective was to contain the spread of AIDS.

The initiatives of the society had so far enabled two HIV positive patients to come forward and talk about their disease. The minister gave away Rs 2,100 each to both the patients. Later, while talking to mediapersons, it was also stated that the society would spend a sum of Rs 5 crore in the current financial year on generating awareness as well as providing medicines to affected people.

Camp on prostrate diseases
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14
A free camp on prostrate diseases and kidney stones is being organised by the Kidney and Urostone Centre in association with Allengers on September 15.

Over 200 patients had benefited from two similar camps organised in April. Patients can get themselves registered for the camp on telephone Nos 9814212238 and 378192-3.

SPORTS

7 teams reach knockout stage
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, September 14
Seven teams made their entry into the knockout stage of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region, boys Kho-Kho Championship here today at KV, Sector 31. As many as 21 league matches were played between teams from places like Kulu, Abohar, Barnala, Bathinda, Halwara, Jalandhar, Nabha, Faridkot and Nadaun apart from teams from Shimla, Kasauli, Patiala, Ambala, Dappar that were also in the fray. The teams were divided into seven pools comprising three teams each. Each team played two league matches to decide its entry into the knockout stage.

The teams that reached the knockout stage are: KV No 3 Patiala, KV No 3 Jalandhar, KV No 2 Patiala, KV Suranussi, KV Faridkot, KV 3 BRD Chandigarh, and host team KV Sector 31, Chandigarh.

Course for coaches

The All India Tennis Association level I coaches course will be organised by the Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association here at tennis stadium, Sector 10, from September 23 to 29. The coaches interested in participating in this course may contact the Sector 10 office of the CLTA. The successful candidates will be given a certificate.

St Xavier win Birla trophy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14
The running trophy for the ‘Birla Sun Life Young Scholar Declamation Contest’ was bagged by St Xavier’s while the runner’s up running trophy went to DAV College, Sector 10, at a declamation contest held at St Xavier’s, here today.

Organised on the topic “How can we reform the education system” and “How can differences between India and Pakistan be resolved”, in the individual category, Tahneen Bhullar and Anirudh Gupta of St Xavier’s bagged first and second position, respectively. The third prize went to Ankita Sagar of Sacred Heart School.

The consolation prizes went to Manveer Singh (St Kabir), Rahul Sanan (DAV College) and Gaurav Chhiber (DAV College).

The chief guest at the function, Lt Gen JFR Jacob (retd), Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT, said that many great orators went on to become great statesmen.” Gandhiji, the Father of the Nation, moved the masses of India by his speeches. The need of the hour is to spread literacy and to improve our education system,” he said.