HEALTH

BODY & MIND
Symposium on suicide attempts to get to the root of problem
Nalini Ranjan

The Indian Association of Private Psychiatry (IAPP), a national body of mental health professionals, is organising a national symposium on “Suicide and Attempted Suicide: the Real Issues: Prevention, Policy and Law” at the India Habitat Center on August 31. It will be inaugurated by Justice Y. K. Sabharwal of the Supreme Court of India.

Giving details about the symposium, the national president of the forum, Dr. N. K. Bohra, said that the event aims to address the need to evolve comprehensive suicide prevention programmes, strengthen existing services, need for a national suicide prevention policy and a look at the existing laws related to suicide. The symposium will also examine and look at strategies to strengthen the psychological and cultural factors that may help in averting suicidal tendencies.

Emphasising the need for a national policy in this sector, the secretary-general of this organisation, Dr Sunil Mittal, said that the suicide rate in India had increased from 7.5 per one lakh population in 1987 to 10.3 per one lakh population in 1997. Further, the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts a rise in suicide rate in the coming years.

There is an urgent need to strengthen existing prevention and treatment services in this field, he said. He further elaborated that Section 309 of Indian Penal Code, which makes an attempt to suicide a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment, as archaic. It does not address the circumstances or the need of the person attempting suicide, who has to live through double pain, he said.

He is not only considered a criminal to be punished, but is also deprived of the psychiatric and medical help that he may urgently require. Above all, he is subjected to police and legal procedures and harassment.

In effect, this leads to a social stigma, resulting in the under reporting of attempted cases of suicide. At a time when such laws have been revised in most parts of the world, India needs to have a close look at these laws.

Experts attending the symposium would be from diverse fields including psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, members of the judiciary, the law enforcing agencies, educationists, NGOs providing counselling and help line services for those with suicidal tendencies and those dealing with issues of gender and social violence. The symposium would recommend steps seeking policy formulation and legal reforms.

Heart Cure Fund for children across borders

Daughter of a vegetable vendor, Neha Sharma, suffering from a rheumatic heart, had given up all hopes of survival. Even though her fathers personal attempt to collect funds proved unsuccessful, the awareness created about her condition resulted in hospitals across the country offering assistance to the child. Finally, the Apollo Hospital decided to operate on Neha free of cost, while a cardiac patient at the hospital paid for the artificial valve.

Recently, Noor Fatima, the baby girl from Pakistan with multiple holes in her heart, was successfully operated upon in Bangalore. Today, more than two lakh children are born in India with congenital heart defects.

While some of them can afford the cost of the expensive surgery, others die due to the lack of financial support.

Moved by the plight of these unfortunate children, the people of Faridabad have come together to form a Neha–Noor Children Heart Cure Fund. The fund will look after the needs of poor children below 19 years and provide the necessary financial help to them.

The distinctive feature of this fund is that it will not be restricted to children from India, but will cover all the SAARC countries. The organisers of the fund have contacted several hospitals, which have the required infrastructure and expertise in handling such cases. The fund will be managed by reputed NGOs and social workers from the different SAARC countries. It has already collected an initial amount of Rs 2 lakh.

Neha’s father, who was present at the launching of the fund earlier this week, said, “I owe my daughter’s life to the people of Faridabad. I sincerely hope that people will come forward to assist the Neha-Noor Heart Cure Fund to help save lives of innocent children.”

CII healthcare mission to United Kingdom

Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman, CII national committee on healthcare, is leading a high- power healthcare mission to United Kingdom from September 1 to 5, 2003. The healthcare mission is a follow up of the dialogue initiated between the United Kingdom healthcare mission that visited India and the Indian health care industry.

The healthcare mission, which is supported by the Indian healthcare federation, will showcase Indian healthcare facilities to their British counterparts, especially in the area of cardiology, minimal invasive surgery, joint replacement and manpower.

The CII mission, besides showcasing Indian healthcare facilities, would hold dialogues with UK healthcare industry and National Healthcare System (NHS) in order to understand the system existing in UK.

The mission would also explore scope for collaboration between the two countries in healthcare delivery, technological advances in medical equipment and health insurance.

The delegation is expected to meet with Lord Warner, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Health (Lords), Mr Gail Arnold, deputy director of overseas commissioning, Helen Walley, chief executive, primary care trust and a travel to BUPA head office. The CII delegation will also hold a meeting with Ms. Pamella Garside, CEO, International Health Summit.

Infant undergoes successful balloon dilation

A non-surgical operation using balloon dilation of the valve was used at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital to successfully treat Aakash, an infant diagnosed with heart disease soon after birth. The 1.8 kg baby had little chance of survival, but Aakash finally had a scar-less operation. The child now weighs 2.2 kg and is recovering fast.

Doctors at the hospital diagnosed the baby’s condition as ‘tetralogy of falot’s’, which results in non-circulation of blood in the lung. As a result of this anomaly, the baby had turned blue, which hampered the child’s growth.

Surgery was considered too risky as the child weighed only 1.8 kg, said Dr Vikas Kohli, who conducted this operation at the hospital. A wire was inserted from the groin blood vessels and balloons of increasing sizes were inserted and inflated. The operation, which lasted over two hours, was conducted using local anaesthesia, said Dr. Kohli.

Book on Nature Cure released

Dr Brij Bhushan Goel, a renowned naturopath of the city, has brought out a comprehensive book on nature cure to help people lead a normal, healthy life amid tension and stress. The book was released at a function in the Capital by the Union Labour Minister, Mr Sahib Singh Verma. The book has been published by the Shalimar Bagh-based ‘All India Nature Cure Foundation’.
Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma releasing Dr Brij Bhushan Goel’s book on nature cure.

SPORTS

Shastri Club bounce back to beat N D Heroes
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 30
Shastri Club, boasting of the best line-up in the Capital, were made to toil hard before bouncing back to edge past New Delhi Heroes 2-1 in a preliminary Group B match of the Delhi Soccer Association-SAIL Senior Division Football League Championship at the Ambedkar Stadium on Saturday.

New Delhi Heroes dominated the match as they teased and tormented the Shastri Club defence but due to poor finishing, they could not translate their territorial domination into goals.

After a goalless first half, New Delhi Heroes forged ahead in the 49th minute when outside left Gamilung Kemai dodged past Shastri defenders Gurminder and Jasbir to place the ball in. This setback activated the Shastri midfield manned by Subash Negia and Trilok Singh Bisht, who initiated a series of moves and pulled off the equaliser in the 74th minute. Substitute Nageshwar Rao scored the match-winner in the 78th minute.

Shastri have earned ten points from four matches while Heroes have six points from four matches. Hindustan Club trounced Goans 3-1 in a Group A match at the Nehru Stadium.

Probin Rai scored a brace to give Hindustan a 2-0 lead.

K P Donny reduced the margin for Goans while substitute Sanjeev scored the third goal for Hindustan.

Former champions Mughals beat Buddisht Blue Stars 4-0 in a Group B match. Shekhar Khanna and Mohd. Khuram scored two goals each.

In another Group A match played at the Nehru Stadium, Moonlight scored a solitary goal victory against Simla Youngs. Shyam Kumar netted the match-winner in the 22nd minute.

Sunday’s fixtures: Raisina vs Shahdara (2.30 pm); Tarun Sangha vs Collegians (4.30 p m)—Ambedkar Stadium. Indian Nationals vs Delhi Police (2.30 pm); Shastri vs BB Stars (4.30 pm)—Nehru Stadium.

Tribal Club, Youngster record big wins
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 30
Tribal Club and Youngster recorded big victories in the PNB Delhi State Hockey League for Clubs at the Shivaji Stadium on Saturday. Tribal Club defeated Delhi Youth by 5-0 after leading by 2-0 at half time. Augustin Ekka scored the first and third goals. Anil Ekka struck home the second goal while Sudhir Kujur and Cyprion Ekka accounted for the last two goals.

Youngsters crushed Super Stars 6-0. All the goals came in the second half. Dinesh converted a penalty stroke to score the first goal. Bhait Raj scored the second goal. Brijesh Yadav, Ashu and Sonu (2) were the other marksmen.

C N Blues defeated Metropolitan Club 4-1, after sharing two goals at half time. Anil Bara and Valerium Kerketta scored a brace each. Amit pulled off the consolation goal for the losers.

Stance Club defeated Punjab Hawks 4-0. Jeetu scored the first and fourth goals. Rajender chipped in with the second goal while Bijender accounted for the third goal. Swami Anand Muni Club and Azad Club played a 1-1 draw.

Dharamvir put Azad Club in the lead while Dinesh Rana equalised for Swami Anand Muni Club.

Shweta, Kaushik Das annex tennis titles
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 30
G K Shweta pulled herself out of a mid-match slump to outgun Karin Ahuja 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to annex the girls under-14 title in the Nike Junior Tennis Tournament at the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association court in New Delhi on Saturday.

Kaushik Das lifted the boys under-14 title when he prevailed over Vijayant Malik 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Shweta Kumari bagged the girls under-12 crown beating Prerna Bhambri 6-2, 6-4 while Yuki Bhambri beat Shiva Sangwan 6-1, 6-3 to win the boys under-12 title.

Kaushik Das made it a ‘double’ when he partnered Kinshuk Sharma to beat Dhruv Gurwara and Parul Vama 6-2, 6-4 and bag the boys under-14 doubles title.

Poojashree and Shweta Chandra defeated Sanjana Kapur and Shalini Sahoo 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) to win the girls under-14 doubles crown.

The winners and finalists of the Northern Zonal Rounds will compete at the National Masters to be held in Bangalore from October 6.

Manu, Gaurav star for Hans Raj Model
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, August 30
A dashing knock of 66 by Manu Sharma and deadly bowling of 5 for 24 by Gaurav Jhangra helped Hansraj Model School, Punjabi Bagh defeat Salwan Public School by 100 runs in the Ramjas Inter-School Under-17 Cricket Tournament at the Ramjas ground.

Manu was declared the man of the match. Scores: Hansraj Model: 183 for 9 in 40 overs (Manu Sharma 66, Chirag Mehta 32, Mohit Negi 3 for 39, Nikhil Sharma 2 for 23).

Salwan Public: 83 all out in 31.3 overs (Raman Sachdeva 34, Gaurav Jhangra 5 for 24, Puneet Anand for 7, Sachin Rathi 2 for 15).

Anish bowls KVS to victory

Deadly bowling by Anish (4 for 18) helped KVS No 2 beat KVS Masjid Moth by 71 runs to enter the quarter-final of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Under-19 Cricket Tournament at the KVS No 1 ground, Delhi Cantt.

Scores: KVS No 2: 176 for 7 in 20 overs (Vikas 36 n.o., Pramod 31, Rouble 23, Suvradip 2 for 35, Anurag 2 for 34).

KVS, Masjid Moth: 105 all out in 19.1 overs (Suvradip 26, 3x4; Ashish 18, Anish 4 for 18, Manjeet 2 for 23, Rouble 2 for 17).

KVS, R K Puram beat KVS No 4 by 20 runs. Scores: KVS R K Puram, Sector VIII: 119 in 19.3 overs (Ravinder 24, 4x4; Arunanshu 21, Asif 4 for 17, Arun 2 for 19).

KVS, R K Puram No 4: 99 for 7 in 20 overs (Atul 23, 2x4; Asif 20 n.o., 2x4; Ravinder 3 for 26, Samanta 2 for 16).

Cops from Rohtak, Sonepat dominate police meet

Sonepat: An ASI with the Sonepat police, Rajesh is all set to become the sprint queen of the 10th Rohtak Police Range Sports Meet. She has already won the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m event during the 4-day meet.

In Basketball, Sonepat defeated Rohtak 25-11 and Karnal recorded a convincing win over Panipat by a margin of 60-25. OC