The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Global Oral Rehydration Day today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 28
Even as diarrhoea continues to be one of the major cause of death among children in India, the Health authorities, on the occasion of Global Oral Rehydration Day tomorrow, have stressed the need for proper management of the infection, which could considerably reduce the mortality rate.

“Most of the deaths resulting due to diarrhoea can easily be prevented with the help of oral rehydration solution or even simple homemade solutions,” explained Dr M.P. Minocha, Director Family Welfare.

He said majority of diarrhoea deaths were taking place in the underdeveloped world and in India alone around 8 lakh children died each year of it.

He said dehydration and resultant malnutrition were the main cause of fatality in most diarrhoea cases.

“Unnecessary medications, including anti-biotics should be avoided during diarrhoeal episodes, as these are non-bacterial in original and are self-limiting,” he added.

Besides, it was important to continue feeding the child from time to time, even in times of continuous vomiting and diarrhoea. “It is frequently seen that people stop feeding the child, thinking that this will stop diarrhoea, but end up causing more harm,” he said.

Doctors recommend that breast feeding the infant was beneficial, as not only did it keep up intake of fluid but also provided immunity against a number of infections. Feeding the child with juice, lassi, dal water and lime water were also beneficial.

In most of the cases anti-diarrhoeal drugs and anti-biotics do not help and can aggravate the situation. The oral rehydration solutions are easily available and can be obtained from dispensaries and civil hospitals.

Immediate medical help should be sought in case child becomes listless, has a dry mouth and stops passing sufficient urine.

SPORTS

Child prodigies return with gold
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 28
Rudra Mukherjee and Kirti Gahlawat, both students of Manav Mangal School, Sector 11, Panchkula, arrived here last evening after clinching gold medals in their respective categories in the 12th World Cup of Olympic Yoga Sport held in Lisbon, Portugal.

While 12-year-old Rudra won the gold medal for the third consecutive year, it was a maiden gold medal for 11-year-old Kirti.

Rudra won two gold medals, one in traditional yoga sport and other in artistic yoga, while Kirti got one in traditional yoga. India won five gold medals in the meet.

In a brief interaction, Rudra said he won two gold medals at Rio de Janerio (Brazil) last year and another gold medal in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 2001. Besides he also won gold medals in the 27th and 26th National Yoga championships held at Patiala and Ranchi in 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Rudra said he wanted to break the record set by Pankaj, his senior, who had won consecutive seven gold medals in world championships.

Kirti Gahlawat, who took to yoga at the age of 10 years, said she was inspired by her school Principal, Mr Sandeep Sardana her parents encouraged her to spend three hours daily on training, she added.

Both were highly indebted to their yoga guru-cum-coach Indu Aggarwal.

When contacted, Sandeep Sardana, Principal of the school, said they had built a new hall for yoga on the school premises and hoped that more students from their school would bring glory to the state.

J.S. Malik triumphs: J.S. Malik won both singles and doubles titles in the first Haryana Officers Badminton Tournament, which concluded at Panchkula last evening. Malik outplayed Viney Malik 15-4,15-4, while in the doubles he partnered with O.P. Popli to overpower Col Mahesh and RS Yadav 15-1,15-4.

Hari Easwaran won the under-45 singles title by beating Major Saini 15-13,15-6 in the final. Jyoti Yadav claimed the women singles title by beating Veena Singh 11-3,11-5.Sandeep Dahiya and Raman bagged the under -45 doubles title when they got the better of Ankur Gupta and PK Nanda 15-8,15-7. B.D. Dalia, PS to the Chief Minister, Haryana, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

M.S. Malik, Secretary General, Haryana Olympic Association, while speaking on the occasion said an appeal had been made to the state government to introduce specialised courses in sports in various universities of the state. D.S. Dhesi, Commissioner and Secretary Sports, Haryana, was also present.