Postgraduate doctors float association
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
The Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) Association suffered a major setback last night when postgraduate PCMS doctors decided not to support the association on the issue of the non-practicing allowance (NPA) and formed a parallel PGPCMS Association.

Dr Bhupinder Singh from Sahnewal Civil Hospital has been elected as the president of the state unit of the newly formed PGPCMS Association.

The postgraduate doctors of the PCMS Association revolted against the association's demand seeking the withdrawal of the state government's order abolishing the NPA.

Dr Bhupinder Singh said the issue of the NPA should be made optional and doctors should be given the choice of seeking the NPA or doing private practice. "If one wants to do private practice, one should be given free hand. On the other hand, those who are not doing private practice, should continue to get the NPA. There should be no compulsion. Earlier, in the PCMS cadre, there were hardly any postgraduate doctors, but now more than 35 per cent doctors in the PCMS cadre are postgraduates, who are competent enough to do private practice. They do not seek the NPA", he said.

Another member of the newly formed association disclosed that the existing PCMS cadres took decision on their own. “Our interests were totally ignored. We were never asked what we wanted. We decided to form our own body so that our interests are taken care of. We absolutely do not want the NPA because we are capable enough to do private practice. All postgraduate doctors are specialists and private practice is in their interest”, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Hardeep Singh, state president of the PCMS Association, said: "We have one parent body i.e. the existing PCMS Association. There is no other association of postgraduate doctors and even if another association is formed, we do not recognise it. We, too, have conveyed it to the government that the NPA should be made optional. Those who want the NPA, should be given and others could do private practice. The health services in the state would definitely improve by providing an option".

Say goodbye to fat

Ludhiana, August 14
Are you taking too much fat in your diet? To avoid diseases cut fat in your diet. Fat would mean butter, cream, oil, margarine, mayonnaise and grease in food. Here are some ways to avoid fat in food:

*Eat plenty of carbohydrates to fill you up (fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and bread etc)

*Avoid chips, cookies, margarine made with hydrogenated oil, coconut oil, palm oil and cocoa butter.

*Use skim milk.

*Choose low-fat, part-skim milk cheese and curd.

*Use lemon juice or fat-free dressings and mayonnaise for salads.

*Use non-stick pans or add oil to a preheated pan. Less oil is consumed this way.

*Replace meat with cooked dry beans and grains.

*Experiment using less oil than is called for in recipes. You may need to increase other liquids. Use apple sauce to replace some or all the fat in baked products.

*Eat soyabean foods and drinks in routine.

*Flavour vegetables with herbs and spices instead of butter and sauces.

*Buy cooking oil that is liquid at room temperature—soyabean, canola, corn, sunflower or cotton seed oil for instance— and use lots of it.

*Eat two to three servings of fish every week. Most fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that help lower blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

Dr Anil Dheer

Tips to ward off conjunctivitis
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 14
After gastroenteritis and cholera, city residents are in the grip of conjunctivitis now. The number of patients suffering from conjunctivitis has increased manifold in the recent days. To make people aware of the disease, the district health department has suggested precautionary measures.

Dr S.N.Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, said conjunctivitis was common during the rains."Those suffering from this disease should only use antibiotic drops. Without consulting an ophthalmologist, one should not use other eyedrops. Painkillers can also be taken for relief. It takes about five-six days to recover fully," he said.

He said if certain precautions were taken, the disease could be controlled. "Avoid using things of infected persons. Eyes should be washed with cold water. One should avoid shaking hands with those suffering from it," he said.

Dr G.S.Bajwa, in charge of the VRS unit at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the disease had taken an epidemic form in the city with a number of patients suffering from eye-flu visiting the OPD. He said, "Those travelling a lot, are generally the carriers of the infection. We are trying to find out if it is a virus or a bacterial infection. The infection begins in one eye and within a few hours or days, the other eye also gets infected. Once a person comes to know that he is suffering from conjunctivitis, he should isolate himself from others. The infection should not be taken lightly and an expert’s opinion must be sought. Towel, soaps, razors etc should not be shared. eyedrops prescribed by an ophthalmologist should be used."

Medical experts said the infected persons should avoid straining the eyes. "The symptoms include itching and watering eyes, which redden and swell after a few hours. Those suffering from eye-flu should avoid watching television and working on computers. recovery could be delayed if hygiene is not kept. One should avoid eyedrops containing steroids," the doctors said.

SDP boys lift trophy
Our Sports Reporter

SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazoori Road, emerged champions in the Inter-School (PAU zone) Cricket Tournament (u-10) that concluded in Ludhiana on Thursday. — Photo Inderjeet Verma