HEALTH

HPV test to be available at AIIMS
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 11
Close on the heels of being installed in premier cancer hospitals, Human Papiloma Virus (HPV) test would now be available at AIIMS. This test would be helpful for an early detection of cervical pre-cancer screening and management which has gained wide acceptance.

TATA Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Hospital (Mumbai), Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Hospital, Barsi, Maharashtra, & Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute have already been involved in this programme under the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dr Neerja Batla, senior gynecologist in AIIMS, said, “Primary prevention of cervical cancer through detection of HPV infection will surely contribute in reducing cancer mortality among the women in India.

Gentech Diagnostics Director Dr Dinesh Gupta stated, “HPV DNA test, which is using the proprietary Hybrid Capture Technique, has been globally accepted as the most sophisticated diagnostic maker ever developed.”

This test is recommended by EUROGIN (European Research Organisation of Genital Infection and Neoplasia) on women above the age group of 30 of Abnormal Pap Smear because the detection of HPV is 99.8% for the utilization of high risk HPV testing in screening program.

Pop Smear does not detect all infections but reports cellular abnormalities which depends upon observer’s interpretative skills. The sensitivity of Pop test can be as low as 35 - 70% whereas of HPV DNA test is 98% or better.

In India, the foremost cancer afflicting women of age group of 20-64 is cancer of the cervix. There is nearly a quarter of million cervical cancer cases reported in India. As many as 90,000 cases are being added every year in the list.

About 61,000 deaths in 1990 have been reported due to this cause. The number of cervical deaths in India is projected to increase to 79,000 by 2010.

Dr Bhatla pointed out, “A lack of screening programs directed to detecting pre-cancer is a key reason for higher incidence in India.”

Nitish lists steps to save govt hospitals
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, November 11
For want of proper awareness, the common man in rural India prefers to go to the quacks, instead of qualified medical doctors, said Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, while addressing the state-level conference of physicians, ‘UP Con.’ here as the chief guest on Sunday.

Mr Nitish Kumar listed some steps to solve the problems faced by the health sector, including creating awareness among people about health problems, putting an end to private practice of doctors, increasing their allowances and making the latest techniques and equipment available in the hospitals.

“In the present scenario, medical facilities are beyond the reach of common man, especially in the remote rural areas where people are forced to go to quacks for want of proper awareness as well as the high cost of modern medical treatment,” he said. The Railway Minister stressed the importance of spreading medical awareness among people, particularly middle class and lower middle class people so that the benefits trickle down to the poor people too subsequently.

He said that he felt very sorry for the sorry state of government hospitals, which mostly were without the latest equipment and techniques. This was the single most important factor responsible for weaning the people away from government hospitals. “The government should do its best to win back the public’s confidence by equipping the hospitals with the latest technology and gadgets,” he said. The minister called upon the medical fraternity to win back the trust of the public by an honest approach in their professional work.

Dr M. M. Singh, president of UP State Association of Physicians, highlighted the pitiable condition of medical colleges in the state. He said teaching work in the state was suffering as a result of the governments’ ban on new appointments. Medical students could not be taught the latest in medical profession as well as the equipment in the medical college was either outdated or out of order. Dr Singh also stressed the need for updating the syllabii of medical courses.

Dr C. G. Agarwal from Lucknow, Dr Vipin Mishra from Kanpur and Dr Sarita Bajaj mainly spoke about the need to create awareness about diabetes. They said if effective measures were not taken, the number of diabetics in the country could swell to 5.7 crore by 2025. They also stressed the need for periodical check-ups and a change in the lifestyle and food habits of patients and those prone to the disease.

A galaxy of top experts in the medical professional discussed in details the current problems and future requirements of the profession, particularly in UP. The programme concluded with a seminar for post-graduate students. Dr N. K. Soni, Dr Deepak Agarwal, Dr Ram Kapur, Dr Manoj Agarwal, Dr Madhu Podwar, Dr Ashuthosh Mohan, Dr Mohan Chandra and Dr R. N. Chaturvedi attended the seminar.

SPORTS

Three Punjab teams in Nehru hockey semis 
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
Punjab teams had a field day in the 20th Nehru Sub-Junior Hockey Tournament when three teams from the State scored convincing victories to sail into semi-finals.

Government Model School, Jalandhar trounced Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Nangloi (Delhi) 12-1, after leading by half a dozen goals, at the interval.

Kulwant Singh, who opened the account in the third minute, went on to add four more goals, to emerge the star of the match. Raminder Singh scored the second goal, while Bachitar Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Love Preet Singh struck home a brace each. Praveen pulled back the consolation for the Delhi school.

Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar downed SKCASV Inter-College, Varanasi 4-2, after being locked 2-2 at the interval. The Varanasi team took the lead in the 8th minute through Ajay Kumar Gupta while Harsharan Singh equalised for Lyallpur Khalsa. Varanasi once again forged ahead when Ved Parkash slotted home a goal in the 17th minute. The lead did not last long as Lyallpur equalised through Manjit Singh three minutes later.

In the second session, Dalair Singh and Gurpreet Singh Jr scored off penalty corners to put Jalandhar in the semis.

Baba Farid Public School, Faridkot edged past Boys Sports Coy., BRC Danapur 6-5 via sudden death tie-breaker, after sharing two goals at full time. Sharanbir Singh put Faridkot in the lead in the fifth minute when he converted a penalty corner while Birsu Bhengra equalised for Danapur. In the tie-breaker, both the teams scored four goals each. Jaspal Singh, Parmod Dhir, Sanjay Kumar and Prem Kumar were Faridkot’s marksmen while Wilson Lakra, Niyaran Mundu, M D Riyazuddin and Surendera Kaintha were Danapur’s scorers.

In the sudden death tie-breaker, Jaspal Singh hit the bull’s eye for Faridkot while Niyaran Mundu failed to score for Danapur.

Birsa Munda Vidyapitha, Rourkela beat M C Inter-College, Rae Barelli 5-2 to qualify for the semi-final. Deepak Ekka and Mathias Minz scored two goals each and Priyabrata Swain struck home one goal for Rourkela while Shiv Kumar and Gaurav Verma found the mark for Rae Barelli.

Tuesday’s fixtures (semi-finals): Govt Model School, Jalandhar vs Baba Farid School, Faridkot (2 pm); Birsa Munda Vidyapitha vs Lyallpur Khalsa (3.30 pm)- Shivaji Stadium.

Defence down Miranda House
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
Defence Accounts Sports Control Board recorded an easy 3-0 victory against Miranda House in the sixth YMCA Delhi State Invitation Volleyball Tournament at the New Delhi YMCA complex on Monday.

Manju Vasudeva and Lumuda were the architects of Defence Accounts’ victory. The two combined well, and the tall Manju stole the spotlight with her telling smashes. State player Anjali starred for Miranda House, with Mansi Chaudhary giving her able support. But in the end, their efforts fell short of the victory target.

The tournament was inaugurated by president of the New Delhi YMCA Elwin Nathaniell.

Nineteen teams are in the fray for the tournament. They are Air Force, Jupiter Club, Dayal Singh College, DASCB, CRPF, Delhi Administration, Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education, Sports and Science, Ramesh Nagar Centre, Dhaka Club, Northern Railway, Lakshmibai College, Miranda House, Janki Devi Mahavidyalaya Club, Stickler Club, Gargi College and Jesus and Mary Club.

Results: Women: Lakshmi Bai College beat Dyal Singh College 22-25, 17-10, 15-10; Defence Accounts Sports Control Board beat Miranda House 25-7, 25-15, 25-9; Dhaka Club beat Ramesh Nagar Club 25-12, 25-14.

Men: Air Force beat Jupiter Club 23-25, 23-25, 25-12, 15-16, 15-5; Defence Accounts Sports Control Board beat Dyal Singh College 25-10, 25-11.

Pro golf returns to North East
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
Big league golf will return to North East when the fourth edition of the Servo Masters tees off at the Digboi Golf Links from November 12.

The Servo Masters, sponsored by Indian Oil Corporation and Assam Oil Division, will offer a prize money of Rs 8.5 lakh. The winner will pocket Rs 1,37,700 while the runner-up will carry home Rs 95, 200. The tournament begins with a pro-am on Tuesday, followed by the four-day main event, which will conclude on Saturday.

The cream of Indian golf is expected to take part in the championship. The top three players on the money list — Mukesh Kumar, Feroz Ali and Digvijay Singh have entered for the tournament. The spotlight will be on defending champion Mukesh, who is in terrific form this season, having won four of the five events he has participated in. But Feroz, still searching for his first victory this season, is expected to provide him tough opposition. Among other star players expected to participate are Indrajit Bhalotia, Ali Sher, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia, Rahil Gangjee, Rahul Ganapathy and Shiv Prakash.

Sarvodaya win in Sistani cricket
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
A rapid-fire knock of 76 runs by Amit Mishra and deadly bowling of 4 for 13 by Yogesh Bhandari helped Sarvodaya Vidyalaya No 1, Lajpat Nagar defeat South Delhi Public School by 117 runs in the sixth Sardar Harbans Singh Sistani Memorial Inter-School Cricket Tournament at the S S Khalsa School ground. Amit Mishra received the man of the match award from chairman of the tournament organising committee Lakhinder Singh Bahl.

Scores: Sarvodaya Vidyalaya No 1: 203 for 3 in 20 overs (Amit Mishra 76, Raju Sharma 33, Lalit Rana 30). South Delhi Public School: 84 all out in 15.3 overs (Amit Kumar 30, Yogesh Bhandari 4 for 13, Virender Chabra 3 for 30).

G E beat Royal

G E Capital beat Royal Sundaram by 113 runs in a league match of the second Eventus Cup Cricket Tournament at the Palam ground.

GE Capital: 173 for 9 wickets in 25 overs (Rodney Charles 39, Puneet Bhatia 35, Prantik Mitra 2 for 38, Manu Mehta 2 for 32).

Royal Sundaram: 60 all out in 16.1 overs (Sagar Sanyal 24 n o, Rodney Charles 4 for 16, Kartik M 3 for 7, Gaurav Verma 2 for 18).

Classic Resort lift McDowell’s title

New Delhi, November 11
Classic Golf Resort won the McDowell's Signature Champion Golf Club of India Trophy. At the all-India finals, played at the Bombay Presidency Golf Club, Classic Golf Resort emerged victorious against Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Bombay Presidency Golf Club and Eagleton Golf Resort. Classic scored a team total of 122 to emerge the champions. Amit Luthra, G S Nanda, Puneet K Suri, TPS Mamick, Rajeev Pathak and Sunil Jasuja represented Classic.

Super Selector

Super Selector, the innovative and integrated game show on ESPN Star Sports, has bagged the Best Sports Programme Award at the Bajaj Boxer-Indian Telly Popular Awards 2002.

The award was presented at a function in Mumbai. The Indian Telly Awards 2002 was introduced to recognise and honour the best of channels, actors and Television shows along with television personalities who left a lasting impression on TV in 2002. These awards were envisioned as a way to reward professionals behind the scenes of the Indian television business and were instituted in 2001. Super Selector, along with Harsha Online, was among the three short-listed programmes for the popular category award.

J K Tyre beat Amway

A half-century knock by Manish (78, 10x4, 1x6) and deadly bowling by Haresenru (3 for 14) and Vikram Singhania (2 for 11) helped J K Tyre beat Amway India by nine wickets in the second Dhampur Cup Cricket Tournament at the Gargi College ground. Scores: Amway India: 114 all out in 18.5 overs (Sanjay Malhotra 27, Harshendra 3 for 14, Vikram Singhania 2 for 11). J K Tyre: 117 for 1 in 16.2 overs (Manish 78, Amit 28, Dev Parshad 1 for 11).

Indians top in Ceat Rating
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
Four Indians occupy the top four slots in the Ceat Cricket Rating points table. Rahul Dravid maintains his position at the top with 65 points. Dravid, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag have been joined in the top five by Sachin Tendulkar, whose knock of 176 in the Kolkata Test against the West Indies, yielded ten points. He occupies the third spot with 52 points, two less than Harbhajan and five more than Sehwag.

Sharing the fourth spot with Sehwag is West Indian opener Chris Gayle. Team India continue to dominate the CRR team rating with 54 points, followed by Sri Lanka at 47 points.

Rahul Dravid has the highest number of points for batting (56) and wicket-keeping (nine) while Harbhajan heads the bowling points' table with 50. Sehwag has the highest number of points for fielding--seven.

Harender stars for Pen Business
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, November 11
A fine knock of 69 with eight fours by Harender Rawat and deadly bowling of 3 for 9 by Mandeep Singh helped Pen Business Limited (PBL) beat New Holland Ford by 63 runs in a league match of the first Turf Sports Management Cricket Tournament at the Jamia Milia ground. Harender Rawat was given the Man of the Match award.

Scores: PBL: 165 for 5 in 25 overs (Harender Rawat 69, Subodh Badola 25, Adil Ahmed 3 for 25, Sanjay Kumar 2 for 33).

New Holland Ford: 102 for 9 in 25 overs (Adil Ahmad 55, Mandeep Singh 2 for 33).