Radiographers getting a raw deal
Megha Manchanda

New Delhi, September 23
When we talk of radiation, the first and foremost thing that comes to our mind is protection from radiation. The topic of radiation protection has continued to draw attention every now and then. Looking at the scenario in the Radiology Department of various hospitals, one gets a clear indication that their job is no less than a health hazard.

According to experts, the effects of radiation are cumulative and irreversible. These include both somatic and genetic effect, like leukemia {blood cancer}, diminished resistance to infections, epilation of hair and other cancer (due to overdose of radiation), miscarriage in women, sterility, chromosomal malformation, which affects the future generation of the person exposed to over-radiation. “Safety devices are not up to the mark” is the general statement passed by people working in the Radiology Department in various hospitals.

Even the mandatory precautions are not observed. For example, aprons, and gloves of lead rubber, fluoroscopy and lead rubber flaps for horizontal fluoroscopy are a must, but nothing at all has been done in this direction. Also, the space provided for machines in Diagnostic Radiology is not in proportion to the radiation and further adds to the list of risk factors.

Radiographers in India as compared to their counterparts in the USA and other developed countries are more prone to risk as a radiographer there is supposed to take 40 radiographs (X-rays) in a single day, while here in India one has to make 200 exposures a day, which is five times more. Also, there is a fixed radiation allowance along with a compulsory radiation leave given to the radiographers in the USA. However, such is not the case in India. Paradoxically, radiations are a means to cure cancer but only if they are used in a right manner, several radiologists working in the government hospitals here said.

People working in these conditions blame lack of awareness for this state of affairs. Public awareness about the hazards of radiation should be brought about by distributing pamphlets and also as instructions in the local language at the bottom of the prescription slips and near X-ray rooms. Unnecessary entry of the public into the radiation area should be prohibited. Further, the hazards of radiation should be frequently displayed and made to reach people via media like newspaper, radio, TV and the Internet.

Primary physicians can help curb diabetes
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23
Diabetes has acquired itself a place in every other home in the country, thanks to the food habits and the lack of physical exercise coupled with lack of knowledge about the disease.

The disease is threatening to grow in considerable proportions.

According to the Delhi Diabetic Research Centre, the disease is turning into epidemic proportions.

To curb this dangerous phenomenon, the society is organising a three-day Diabetes Fair from the 27th to the 29th of this month where experts from various fields would disseminate information about diabetes and methods to cure it.

The society also points out that primary physicians can play an important role in curbing the disease.

Headed by the president of the society, Dr. A K Jhingan, the three-day fair will train general practitioners in diagnosing diabetes patients.

It was pointed out that most of the patients go to general practitioners in the initial stages. In his statement Dr Jhingan said that the change in food habits and a sedentary lifestyle are the main causes of the diabetes and that there are a number of complications, which can be prevented if diabetes is detected at an early stage.

This he added also goes on to save a lot of money on treatment later.

SPORTS

St. Francis beat St. Mary’s
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 23
Hosts St. Francis De Sales School A team defeated Mount St. Mary’s School 3-1 in their last league match of the eighth Fr. Peter Mermier Memorial Football Tournament at the St. Francis De Sales School ground on Monday. This victory enabled St. Francis sail into the semi-final. Anup Pawan struck two goals and M Derak scored the third goal for the winners while Aditya netted the only goal for Mount St. Mary’s School.

Central Reserve Police Force School, Rohini beat St. Francis De Sales B team 5-1 to move into the last four stage. CRPF, who led by 3-0 at the interval, scored their goals through Deepak Chetri, Salim, Sandeep, Praveen Singh and Amit Mandal while Anup Anthony slammed in the lone goal for St. Francis. Vasant Vally School trounced Raghubir Singh Public School 5-0 to book their berth in the semi-final. Sheaker, Lamba, Gobind, Karan and Rohan were the marksmen. Adarsh outclass Sachdeva in volleyball Adarsh Public School outclassed Sachdeva Public School 25-12, 25-9 in the Inter-School Girls Volleyball Tournament and entered the semi-final. General Raj’s School, Haus Khas prevailed over Manav Sthali Public School 25-12, 25-19 to enter the semi-final.

Delhi pip Punjab: Delhi Students scored a solitary-goal victory against Punjab Heroes in a B Division match of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Open Clubs Football League Championship played at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital on Monday. Anoop scored the only goal of the match in the 12th minute.

Nivia Club played a goalless draw against Young Bengal Association. Lodhi Athletic Club defeated Union Club 2-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru West ground. Union forged ahead when Shakti Ghosh found the mark in the sixth minute. Manoj equalised for Lodhi and Naveen scored their match-winner. New Friends routed Ajmal Sports 9-0. Sachin Malhotra (3), Ram Singh Rawat (2), Kulwinder (2), Nitin and Rajesh were the marksmen. At the Nehru Stadium East ground, Panchkuian Club and Rohini got walk-overs from Young Heroes and Young Sports Club respectively.

Don Bosco win: Don Bosco School carved out a hard-fought 55-50 victory against Air Force Golden Jubilee School in the inter-school boys basketball tournament. Ritesh scored 24 points for Don Bosco while Rahul Sood and Shaurya were the leading scorers for Air Force School. Mount St. Mary’s School (Delhi Cantt) beat General Raj’s School 36-7 and qualified for the semis.

M Dommic scored 18 points for Mount St. Mary’s. Sachdeva Public School beat St. Francis De Sales School 28-20. Paritosh Yadav and Varun Yadav scored 7 and 8 points respectively for Sachdeva School while Noel D’Souza scored nine points for St. Francis De Sales. 

Indians rule the roost in MRF karting
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 23
Indian drivers took the top four slots in the Asian Zone National Karting Cup, the feature event of the MRF-MAI Formule Mondiale Championship 2002 opening round, at the MRF-Danny’s Karting Circuit.

Stealing the limelight was Preetham Muniappa, a 19-year-old automobile engineering diploma student from Bangalore. Having been bumped out of the INKC (Indian National Karting Championship) and therefore not finishing the race, he went at the Asian Zone National Karting Championship with a vengeance, winning the Chennai round of the maiden MAI-MRF Asian Zone National Karting Championship at the Danny’s Karting at Navalur on Sunday.

Preetham Muniappa was timed 22 minutes and 18.55 seconds in the 33 laps run over 25 kms. Having won several races at the Danny’s Karting before probably helped since he showed experience in pacing his race.

Bangalore drivers capped a dream run as they cantered away with the top three places in the Asian Zone and the first two places in the Indian National events. Behind Preetham in the Asian Zone were Jagdish Patel (1.51 seconds behind and six points) and Sriju Sadasivam (19.50 secs behind Jagdish and four points).

The six foreigners, Indonesia’s Zulfikar Fahmi, Thailand’s Sarunya Srinim, Anawat Nuchpoom and Prapassorn Suebsuksai and Filipinos Edgar Quesada and J P Carino, finished fifth to tenth in that order. In the Indian National, Sriju had come first and Jagdish Patel was second. The third place was taken by Chummar Varghese of Chennai after Preetham Muniappa had dropped out following an incident in which his kart was hit from behind in the fifth lap.

In the Indian Karting Cup Intermediate finals, 13-year-old, Ashwin Sundar led the pack from start to finish to emerge an authoritative winner.

Varun, Neha bag a ‘double’ each in TT
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 23
Varun Jindal of Sachdeva Public School and Neha Aggarwal of Manav Sthali School won two titles each in the 15th Jaspal Kaur Memorial Table Tennis Tournament played at the Jaspal Kaur school premises.

Varun won the sub-junior boys and boys singles titles when he defeated Vishal Aggarwal 11-4, 2-11, 11-4, 11-9 and Sunal Jain 10-12, 15-13, 11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 9-11, 11-9 respectively. Neha annexed the sub-junior girls and girls singles titles by outplaying Shikha Sharma 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 and Esha Monga 11-5, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 respectively.

Neha is also in line for a triple crown as she has setup the title clash against Divya Jayaram of Jaspal Kaur Public School in the women’s singles final. In the semi-finals, Neha beat Pratima Syal 12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 5-11, 11-6 while Divya Jayaram defeated Anshu Sharma 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5. Rajiv Ghai of Indian Oil will take on Joginder Singh Bisht of Delhi Audit in the men’s singles final. In the semi-finals, Rajiv defeated Nitin Mahajan 8-11, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9 while Joginder stunned Himansh P Kala 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9. The final matches will be played from 10 am on Tuesday.

Rohtak
Cooch Behar Trophy: Trials for the selection of Haryana team for the Cooch Behar Cricket Trophy (under-19) for the 2002-2003 session will be conducted on September 29 at Rohtak. Giving this information, Honorary secretary of the Haryana Cricket Association Ranbir Singh Mahendra said that the venue of trials would be Delhi Public School, Jind road, Rohtak.

Hansraj emerge champ
Our Sports Reporter

The Hansraj Model School cricket team that won the Gyan Bharti Under-13 Cricket title in Saket. Area MLA Tek Chand Sharma, Gyan Bharti School principal R C Sekhar and former Test player Gursaran Singh are also seen.

Noida College annex title
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, September 23
Noida College of Physical Education annexed the Ch. Charan Singh Inter-College Handball Championship for women at Bulandshar.

In a closely-fought match, Noida College defeated hosts DAV Postgraduate College, Bulandshar 4-3, after leading by 3-1 at half time. Dolly Jaswal (2), Renu and Nisha Tyagi were the scorers for the winners while Renu (2) and Anju Chaudhary scored for the losers.

In the semi-finals, Noida College outclassed MMH Ghaziabad 3-0, after leading by 1-0 at half time.

In the other semi-final, DAV Postgraduate College, Bulandshar outplayed National Ismail College, Meerut 3-0. At half time, the winners led 1-0.

Vaish trounce Senior Secondary

Rohtak, September 23
In a league match of S.D. Vaish Public School Series Trophy, Vaish Public School, Rohtak, defeated S.D. Senior Secondary School, Jind, by four wickets at Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium here today.

In the match of 35 overs duration, skipper Sonu Bansal of S.D.School Jind’s won the toss and opted to bat first. His team managed to score 94 runs in 25.1 overs. Kapil scored 44. Pramod captured four wickets for 12 runs whereas Arun Gupta dismissed two batsmen giving away 22 runs. In reply Vaish Public School reached the victory target after losing 6 wickets. Sandeep and Vikas scored 36 and 29 runs respectively. Kapil and Sunil captured two wickets each. 

DDCA officials in BCCI panel

New Delhi, September 23
Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) vice-president Suresh K Chopra has been appointed a member of the Finance Committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). DDCA vice-president C K Khanna said on Monday that S P Bansal, the DDCA general secretary, had been appointed a member of the high-powered Communications and Co-Ordination Committee of the BCCI. Mr Khanna had been appointed as vice-president of the National Cricket Academy. OSR