HEALTH

US NGO to aid kids with cleft lip deformity
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 3
Smile Train International, a-US based NGO, has offered to help children suffering from cleft lip and Palate by providing financial assistance. They have selected more than 180 centres spread over 35 countries to provide expert treatment to these unfortunate children. In this region, the treatment is being offered free of cost at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH).

Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects seen all over the world. Children born with this abnormality not only have a horrendous visible deformity, but also are unable to eat and speak properly, never go to school and end up leading a life in isolation. There are approximately 35,000 children in India who are born with this deformity every year. Out of this only about 10,000 seek and receive medical treatment. The rest of them go through their entire lives without even being able to smile.

The greatest tragedy is that these children are suffering not because they are born with a cleft, but because they are poor or ignorant to undergo a simple and permanent cure that can change their lives. This condition is completely curable by undergoing surgery by competent surgeons and the child can be restored to normal appearance and function.

More than 200 patients have already been operated upon in CMCH in the past six months. The department of plastic surgery recently started treating patients from the Uttaranchal. These patients are being sent by the efforts of Mr Sudershan Aggarwal, Governor of Uttaranchal.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor, Deputy Medical Superintendent, said Mr Aggarwal had been involved in various activities for social upliftment in various parts of the country. He was now taking personal interest in the identification of such patients in Uttaranchal and providing support and guidance to them to receive proper treatment. Since the department of plastic surgery has the expertise and also the facility for free treatment, these patients are being sent here. Nearly 100 patients have already been identified and free surgical treatment has been started for them at CMCH.

Dr Kapoor said, "This is a rare instance of a state Governor taking the initiative for the welfare of such malformed children and the doctors at the CMC are pleased to extend the benefit of this collaboration with Smile Train International to these patients from other states”.

Blood bank opened
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 3
The inauguration of Rotary Blood Bank, equipped with latest equipment at Shri Krishna Charitable Hospital was done today by Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner.

Mr M.P. Goel, the general secretary of the hospital management, said approximately Rs 20 lakhs were spent on the construction of this modern blood bank. The financial assistance was provided by Rotary Club, MidTown, and other organisations.

Mr G.L. Pahwa, president of the management committee, presented a vote of thanks. The management had also organised a blood donation camp.

Patient gets aid

Machhiwara, December 3
Responding to the news published in the Ludhiana Tribune on November 28, many good Samaritans have come forward to help Amrit Pal Singh (4), a patient of encephalocele. They said they had decided to help Amrit after knowing about his condition through the Internet edition of the paper.

The donors include Mr Harjap Singh Toronto (Rs 50,000) and Mr Raju Sodhi, an NRI (Rs 5,000). Amit has been admitted to Sutlej Hospital, Ludhiana, for treatment. OC

SPORTS

Tiny tots of BCM School hold athletics meet
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 3
The kindergarten section of BCM School organised the first annual athletics meet of tiny tots of nursery today in the school. The Principal, Mrs Paramjit Kaur, presided over. As she declared the meet open, a bunch of colourful balloons moved up to the sky followed by a cultural item and an oath-taking ceremony.

The parents of the children had also been invited and races were also arranged for them.

This meet saw an enthusiastic participation from students in various sports activities such as hurdle race and back race, balloon and tricycle race, frog and kangroo race. These races registered an overwhelming response from the tiny tots.

The main attraction of the day was the presence of special children from ‘Ashirwad’, a centre for children with cerebral palsy, who were invited as special guests. Tiny tots presented them flowers and balloons and had an interaction with them.

To commemorate the ‘World Disabled Day’, Mrs Paramjit Kaur, Principal of the school, assured Dr Neelam Sodhi (organiser of Ashirwad) that BCM School would make contributions from ECo Club for ‘Vocational Lab’ meant for spastic children.

The magnum opus was the prize distribution ceremony.

The results were as follows: Balloon race- first — Anubhav, second — Dishant Sood, third — Divya Purohit; back race, first — Sachin, second — Sarabjit Basant, third — Kanish; obstacle race, first — Shubham, second — Sonali, third — Aseem; frog race — first — Kushal, second — Rohit, third — Bhana; tricycle tace — first — Dev Joshi, second — Rudra Sood, third — Sahil; kangroo race — first — Sukhmeet Kaur, second — Vanshika, third — Ramneek Kaur.

GNIPS students excel in athletics
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 3
Athletes of the local Guru Nanak International Public School, Gujar Khan Campus, Model Town, gave an excellent performance and clinched a number of medals during the 12th Ludhiana Sahodaya Schools Athletics Meet held here recently. A team of 25 athletes (boys and girls) took part in the four-day meet.

Among the boys (u-14 years), Jasmer Singh finished runner-up in the 100m race while in the girls’ section, the school team secured the third position. Vaneet Kaur earned third spot in the 800 m race and Harsimranjot Kaur finished third in the 100m race.

In the boys (u-16 years) section, Lovin Kalra, student of X class won a double crown bagging titles in the 100m and 200 m races while Lovjot Singh of GNIPS was placed second in the javelin throw. Jasmeet Singh finished ahead of others to lift the gold medal in the discus throw.

In the girls section (u-19 years), Sukhpreet Kaur finished runner up in the 100 m and 200 m races and Manpreet Kaur got the third spot in the discus throw. The relay team (4x100m), comprising of Sukhpreet Kaur, Bhupinder Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur and Manpreet Kaur secured the third position.

Harmanpreet Singh hogged the limelight winning the first position in long jump, triple jump and the 4th position in 100m race.

Pawandeep Singh finished third in shot put and discus throw. He also got fourth spot in 200 m race while Simrandeep Singh was placed 4th in the 800m race. Harmanpreet Singh was adjudged the ‘best athlete’ among boys (u-19 years).