HEALTH

ISBMR launches countrywide osteoporosis awareness campaign
Smriti Kak
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
Osteoporosis is a silent disease. And often those afflicted with it come to know of their condition when the damage is done. Literally meaning ‘porous bones’, osteoporosis affects the entire skeleton with most fractures occurring in the spine, hip, and wrist. Two-thirds of spinal fractures occur without any symptoms.

The level of ignorance about the disease has compelled doctors to create awareness camps even in schools where they plan to put up posters educating the children. Doctors point out that osteoporosis will be one of the five major diseases affecting people worldwide. “After diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart diseases, it is osteoporosis that needs attention. In the West there are programmes to take care of people with disabilities, which are not present in India. We have to create more awareness about the disease and its prognosis and treatment”, said Dr Sudhaker Rao, Chief Endocrinologist, at Henry Ford Hospital Detroit, USA, and Vice-President, ISBMR.

The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR) has started an awareness campaign in the country, drawing attention to osteoporosis. The ISBMR plans to hold campaigns and educative programmes for physicians in the country and general awareness camps.

“People do not think there is anything unusual about fractures. But osteoporosis and fractures due to it can be a major problem. This includes disability, chronic pain, loss of working capacity and in some cases even death. And all this can be prevented, by getting to know about nutrition, whether in food or through supplements”, adds Dr Rao.

The ISBMR points out that with the age span having increased conditions such as osteoporosis are also increasing. The age group of those being affected with osteoporosis is also decreasing. Perhaps it is for this reason that that WHO has declared 2001-2010 as the bone and joint decade with the objective of spreading awareness about osteoporosis and other bone disorders like arthritis.

“We are also trying to impress upon the policy-makers to fortify food with calcium ands vitamins. We may not be able to provide adequate nutrition to all the people but we have to make a beginning. A minimum of 200-400 units of Vitamin D, which can be procured from just half an hour in the sun and 1000 milligrams of calcium should be provided”, adds Dr Rao.

“A quarter litre of milk, an egg, ragi, green leafy vegetables”, says Dr Rao, are “good sources of calcium. And for those who do not get these from food, there are vitamin supplements”. He adds, “The cost of osteoporosis management is very high. The medication and treatment is not very cheap”.

A painless test called bone mineral density (BMD) test or bone densitometry is used to diagnose osteoporosis by measuring bone mass, points out Dr Rao, adding, “Osteoporosis is a preventable and treatable disease, especially if diagnosed early”. Doctors reveal that the most obvious consequences of osteoporosis are a humped back, height loss, and a level of disability that hampers activities of daily living. These conditions result from fracture-related skeletal deformities and can cause further problems that can include breathing difficulty, incontinence and depression. Insufficient calcium levels can also affect normal functioning of the heart, nerves, muscles, gastrointestinal tract, and kidneys.

Research points out a woman’s risk of fracture is greater than the combined risk of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer.

Hip fractures due to osteoporosis are serious with 20-25 per cent people dying within the first year and another 25 per cent becoming partially disabled for life.

Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including 700,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, and more than 550,000 fractures at other sites.

Forty per cent of women over the age of 50 will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime and one in five women who experience a spinal fracture will have another spinal fracture in just one year. Females with a diet low in calcium, inactive lifestyle, advanced age and those smoking cigarettes are in the high- risk category.

Allopathic health centre in East Delhi
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 21
With the inauguration of the Government Allopathic Health Centre in Dayalpur in East Delhi, the Government of NCT of Delhi today said it had achieved its objective of setting up a health centre in every ward of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) east of the Yamuna.

Health Minister A. K. Walia said the trans-Yamuna area would become self-reliant in the matter of medical services by the end of next year when the Hedgewar Arogya Sansthan at Karkardooma becomes operational by the year-end and work of constructing the super-specialty hospital in Tahirpur, a paediatric hospital in Geeta Colony and a general hospital in Shastri Park was completed.

SPORTS

Rajender nets 8 goals in Nehru Hockey
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 21
Government Senior Secondary School, Pandara Road (Delhi) trounced St. Xavier's High School, Chhatisgarh 13-0, after leading by 7-0 at the interval, in the 31st Nehru Junior Hockey Tournament at the Shivaji Stadium on Monday.

Rajender Yadav scored eight goals, including three in a row, to steal the spotlight. Satpal Singh opened the account in the fourth minute.

Then Rajender struck the next three goals in a sequence. He also hit home the sixth, eighth, ninth and tenth goals, to complete a double hattrick, the first in the tournament this year.

Pramod Kumar (2), Arvind Yadav, Yashpal Hoda and Sandeep Antil were the other marksmen.

In other matches, Patna Central School, Bihar, beat St. Xavier's School, Mapusa (Goa) 3-1, Govt. High School, Mizoram beat TTT VI KA Govt School, Pondicherry 4-1 and NCC, Bangalore beat Noble Academy School, Bhopal 5-1.

Nanaiah and Vineeth Michael scored a brace each for Bangalore. Balraj Jadhav scored the other goal. Zaved Khan scored the lone goal for Bhopal.

Tuesday's fixtures: NCC, Bangalore vs J J Mehta, Gujarat (12 noon); NCC, Ropar vs Pondicherry (2 p.m); CRZ, Sonepat vs Patnal School (3.30 p m)--Shivaji Stadium.

Shastri Club drub Hans
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 21
Shastri Club rallied to drub Hans Club 4-1 in an A Division match of the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)-SAIL Open Clubs Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium in the Capital. In a B Division match, Panchkuian Club defeated Paschim Heroes 4-1. Hans Club turned the tables on Shastri Club when they took the lead in the eighth minute through mid-fielder Ravinder Mohan Bisht, who scored off a cross from Shyam Kumar.

Jolted out of their wits, Shastri Club played like men possessed to slot home four goals through Migma, Bhupinder Thakur and Nigerian recruit Michael. Shastri have collected seven points from three matches. Hans are yet to open their account after three matches. In the match between Panchkuian and Paschim Heroes, all the five goals were scored in the second half. Sumesh Gosuian put Panchkuian in the lead and Surinder Bisht struck two goals in the 35th and 40th minutes. R S Bisht completed the tally for the winners while Praveen scored the consolation goal for Paschim Heroes. Panchkuian have collected seven points from three matches. Paschim have just one point after three matches. Tuesday's fixtures: B Division: Bangadarshan vs Rohini (1.30 p m); A Division: Indian Airlines vs Collegians (3 p m)--Ambedkar Stadium.

16 teams for LG Cup Soccer

Sixteen top club teams will participate in the Lt-Governor's Cup Football Tournament to be held at the Ambedkar Stadium from November 1 to 10. The tournament, organised by the Delhi Development Authority, carries a cash prize of Rs 1.50 lakh. The winners will pocket Rs 75,000 while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 45,000. The losing semi-finalists will be given Rs 15,000 each.

The leading teams taking part in the tournament are Hindustan, Indian Nationals, Indian Air Force (New Delhi), Mughals, City, Shahdara, Delhi Police, Moonlight, Garhwal Heroes, Frontiers, New Delhi Heroes, Tarun Sangha, Goans, Simla Youngs and B B Stars.

The participating teams shall have to complete their league entry fee and registration formalities by October 25.

Achrekar attends cricket camp

New Delhi, October 21
Aryavrat Sports Club, Rohini organised a cricket coaching camp from October 1 to 20 at the Central School, Sector and St. Giri School in Rohini. Thirty-five boys and one girl attended the camp. Former Indian wicket-keeper Eknath Solkar and Dronacharya award winning cricket coach Ramakanth Achrekar, better known as Sachin Tendulkar's coach, imparted valuable cricketing tips to the trainees. Achrekar was full of praise for the eager trainees and observed that given the right kind of coaching and exposure, many of the trainees were talented enough to play top grade cricket.

St. Giri School principal H U Giri promised all help in conducting more such camps in future. During the concluding function, Achrekar, A N Sharma, R S Dabas and Ravi Churi, who helped in the successful conduct of the camp, were honoured. OSR

Jayaprasad slams century
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 21
A strokeful century knock of 128, studded with ten boundaries and five sixes by P V Jayaprasad, was the high point of hosts Teri's 89 runs victory against NDTV in the sixth D G Phadkar Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Teri Oval in Gurgaon. Jayaprasad was adjudged the man of the match.

NDTV won the toss and opted to field. But it turned out to be an unwise decision as Jayaprasad put the NDTV bowlers to the sword to garner a quickfire century to help Teri post 214 for 4 wickets in 25 overs. In reply, NDTV folded up for 125 all out in 24.4 overs.

Scores: Teri: 214 for 4 wickets in 25 overs (P V Jayaprasad 128, 10x4, 5x6; K P Eashwar 27, 2x4; Raman 2 for 38). NDTV: 125 all out in 24.4 overs (Ravi Kumar 66 n.o, 10x4; Mahesh 4 for 10, S Sriram 3 for 24, K P Eashwar 2 for 22).

Sonnet sail into final
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 21
An attractive half century by Pankaj Sharma (57), a hurricane 62 by Shitij Rohtagi and a devastating bowling performance by Chetan Nanda (5 for 40) helped Sonnet Club beat Malviya Club by 24 runs and move into the final of the fourth Dr Goswami Girdhari Lal Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Kalindi College ground in East Patel Nagar on Sunday Chetan Nanda was adjudged the man of the match. Sonnet Club will take on Bright Club in the final to be played on Monday.

RVC beat Jaipur in Ratanada Cup

New Delhi, October 21
RVC beat Jaipur by 5-2 and ASC/Navy beat Jodhpur 3-2 in the Ratanada Cup (two-goal) Polo Tournament at the Army Equestrian Polo Ground. Eleven teams are participating in the tournament. For RVC, Ajit Singh scored two goals, Bhawani Singh two goals and Maj. B S Lakra one goal. Manvendra Singh and Himmat Singh were the scorers for Jaipur. Cdr A S Samra scored three goals for ASC/Navy while Yogeshwar Singh scored two goals for Jodhpur. OSR

BRIEFLY
Aditya, Aviral star in Modern School's victory
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, October 21
Delhi Under-16 player Aditya Jain blasted a double century and right-arm leg-spinner Aviral Himmat Ramka produced a devastating bowling performance of 8 for 18 to help Modern School, Barakhamba Road beat Sardar Patel Vidyalaya by an innings and 114 runs in a league match of the sixth Inter-School Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Modern School ground.

Scores: Modern School (first innings): 338 for 9 in 60 overs (Aditya Jain 201, Surya Azad 32, Abhishek Kapoor 39, Rahul Diwan 3 for 145, Aditya Mohan 2 for 64). Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (first innings): 74 all out in 26 overs (Rahul Diwan 26, Aviral Himmat Ramka 8 for 18). Second innings: 150 all out in 36 overs (Rahul Diwan 71, Aviral Himmat Ramka 4 for 27, Ankit Lamba 2 for 12, Aditya Jain 2 for 35).

Gillette beat Oberoi Hotel

Deadly bowling of 3 for 19 by K C Sharma and Paljeet Singh's dashing knock of 52 enabled Gillette XI beat Oberoi Hotel by four wickets in the Jaswinder Memorial Cricket Tournament at the Jamia No 2 ground.

Scores: Oberoi Hotel: 162 for 9 in 25 overs (Rajat Chatterji 60, Akhilesh Kumar 30, K C Sharma 3 for 19, Sanjay Kumar 3 for 20). Gillette XI: 167 for 6 in 17.2 overs (Paljeet Singh 52, Praveen Kumar 32 n.o, Mukul Kumar 3 for 32).

Ranjit Singh cricket

Guru Harkishan Public School, Vasant Vihar beat Zila Vidya Mandir School by 14 runs and entered the quarter-final of the first Maharaja Ranjit Singh Under-15 Cricket Tournament at the Vasant Vihar ground.

Scores: Guru Harkishan School: 144 for 7 in 25 overs (Amit Arora 44, Harpreet Singh 55, Kanwar 28, Rahul 4 for 28). Lila Vidya Mandir School: 140 all out in 130 in 22.3 overs (Tarun 24, Vikram 22, Amit Arora 4 for 19, Harpreet Singh 3 for 17).

Gyan Bharti Academy win

Gyan Bharti South Delhi Academy beat Vijay Yadav Academy by three wickets in the Under-14 Cricket Tournament at the Gyan Bharti School ground at Saket.

Scores: Vijay Yadav Academy: 123 all out in 29.2 overs (Harsh Kumar 42 n.o, Tarun Sethi 3 for 22, Kartikey Kaul 2 for 17, Ankul Chandok 2 for 22). Gyan Bharti: 125 for 6 in 29.4 overs (Vidur Sethi 42, Ankul Chandkok 26 n.o, Dishan K Dhawan 21, Deepak Kumar 2 for 26).

Hamdard beat Heughes Escorts

Hamdard XI defeated Heughes Escorts by three wickets in a league match of the first Turf Sports Management Cricket Tournament at the Jamia Milia A ground.

Scores: Hueghes Escorts: 92 for 4 in 16 overs (Ranjit Narain 27, Mohsin Khan 2 for 22). Hamdard XI: 93 for 7 in 15.4 overs (Mujeeb Khan 34, Mohd Asad 22, Anirudh Singh 2 for 16, Laxman Kumar 2 for 7).