PGI bone marrow centre nearing completion
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
The PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, today said the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre and Drug De-addiction Centre were nearing completion, while work on the Advanced Cardiac Centre and Eye Care Centre had been speeded up.

The PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, was speaking at the Independence Day function held at the PGI. He unfurled the Tricolour and took salute of the march past, presented by the ceremonial guards of the PGI security department.

In his address, Prof Sharma assured the employees that the Union Health Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, had been apprised of the long standing “cases of victimisation” against them. "The issue will most likely be discussed with the Health Minister during her visit to the city after the Parliament session,” he remarked.

Prof Sharma appreciated the role of the security staff, technical staff, safai karamcharis and the engineering wing of the PGI. He said that medical profession was one in which one needs to be dedicated, sincere and sensitive towards the suffering the sick and ailing.

More than 150 volunteers donated blood at a camp organised by the Security Department of the PGI. Those who donated blood included the Deputy Director Administration, Ms Meeta Rajivlochan, Dr Vipin Koushal, Deputy Medical Superintendent.

Speaking at the Independence Day function at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), the Director Principal, Dr S.B.S. Mann, asked the staff and students to serve with dedication and sincerity. Listing the achievements made by the GMCH, Dr Mann said postgraduate courses in the departments of Forensic Medicine and Respiratory Medicine and Tuberculosis, B.Sc in Ophthalmic techniques and M.Sc in Physiology had been started.

Dr Mann said the three-storied building of Rural Health Training Centre in Palsora village, would be completed by the end of this year. “The Block-C consisting of 250 beds, 31 private wards, 14 operation theatres, intensive care unit and cardiac care unit had been completed, which would be inaugurated within a month’s time,” he announced.

Dr Mann said with a number of sophisticated equipment like Cobalt Teletherapy and Linear Accelerator being installed in the hospital, the GMCH would be able to provide comprehensive service to cancer patients.

Cancer awareness camp for Tribune staff
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 16
The Tribune Employees Union in collaboration with Global Cancer Concern India, an NGO, organised the third and concluding camp on cancer awareness on the premises of The Tribune here today. The camp, which was directed specifically at screening the employees for any earlier cancer symptoms, attracted nearly 300 Tribune employees, including women employees.

A team of doctors, led by Dr K.S. Behgal, oncologist, and Dr Sandeep Chhatowal, Medicine Specialist, conducted the camp. Mr Balbir Singh Jandu, president of the union, thanked the Global Cancer Concern for its cooperation in holding the series of camps.

India-Holland match attracts few
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, August 16
Despite a good performance by the Indian hockey team in its today’s Champions Trophy match against the defending champions, the Netherlands, very few people showed interest in watching the match that was telecast live on television. India lost by a narrow margin of 3-4.

It was only hockey players, both present and former, sports organisers and those connected with sport in one way or the other, who showed interest in watching the Ten Sports channel that telecast the match live.

The tie was of vital importance since the Netherlands are a formidable team. Six best teams of the world are playing in the meet.

Sukhvir Singh Grewal, a hockey Olympian, was happy with the way Indians played. He said there was no denying the fact that hockey was gaining ground in India. He said Indian team had done well in the past two major tournaments, so most of the sports lovers were now looking forward to the Champions Trophy.

Similar views were expressed by the Joint Director (Sports), UT, Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, who observed that India should have played more aggressively. Sidhu, who was the mental trainer of the Indian hockey team two years ago, said, “Hockey cannot replace cricket, but may be in the coming days, with media attention, people might cling to their TV sets to watch Indian hockey matches.”

A television dealer in Sector 22 said, unlike cricket, there was no query from any person regarding the match telecast. He said, “Usually when a cricket match is on, people come and ask, what the scores is, but in case of a hockey match, no body comes to ask how many goals have been scored.”

Sanjeev Sharma, a bank employee, said he was not aware that the Indian hockey team was playing a match against the Netherlands, but he would certainly be watching the next match.

Karunuday beats Shiva for U-14 title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 16
Despite a superb attempt by local lad Shiva Sangwan, the boy’s under-14 singles title went to Delhi boy Karunuday Singh in the AITA Junior Tour Tennis Championship that concluded this morning in Tennis Stadium, Sector-10.

Sixth seed Shiva, who created scores of upsets during the past two days, finally lost to fifth seed Karunuday, a trainee at the National Tennis Academy, in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6. The match lasted more than an hour. Birbal of Chandigarh, now coaching at NTA, Delhi, was jubilant at Karunuday’s victory. Earlier, this Delhi boy had won the doubles title.

The girl’s under-14 title was claimed by second seed Amrita Seth of Delhi, who overpowered Surbhi Verma of Maharashtra in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Surbhi tried to make a comeback in the second set, but Amrita was at her best right from the beginning and did not let the Mumbai girl regain her rhythm.

Mr S.M. Sharma, IG, Punjab, was the chief guest.