Training workshop on AIDS at DMCH
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
A two-day state-level workshop for training the faculty members of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and Christian Medical College and Hospital for successful execution of AIDS/HIV Control Programme concluded at the old DMCH campus here today.

The workshop was conducted by Department of Community Medicine, DMCH, under the chairmanship of Dr GPI Singh, Professor and Head, DMCH.

The workshop, which was organised in collaboration with Punjab State AIDS Control Society and National AIDS Control Organisation, New Delhi, was inaugurated by Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, DMCH.

The objective of the workshop was ‘Training the Trainers’ to educate highly trained professionals in both the medical colleges for the scientific management of the growing menace of HIV/AIDS with special focus on patient care and risk reduction during provision of hospital services.

These professionals will further train the team of health workers for the more points execution of HIV/AIDS Control Programme.

The event is expected to be a significant contribution to the national AIDS control effort. The participants included 30 senior doctors and heads of department from DMC and CMC like Professor G. Avasthi, Prof Urmil Mohan, Prof. Kumkum Avasthi, Mr Shavinder Singh, Prof Benjamin along with other faculty members.

It must be noticed that as per the HIV sentinel surveillance, 2003, in Punjab state, the HIV prevalence was 1.6 per cent in high risk population. In India at present the total number of HIV patients were 4.57 million.

The resource persons faculty included Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam from Manipur, Dr Sudha Salhan and Dr Sushma Malhotra from NACO, New Delhi, Dr Ajay from PGI, Chandigarh, Dr GPI Singh and Dr Urmil Mohan from DMCH.

Various lectures and talk were held on AIDS/HIV. In the concluding session a penal discussion was held on, ‘Biosafety and Infection Control in Hospitals’.

Dr Yashpal Singla, Deputy Director, and Additional Project Director along with Dr Sunil Mahajan from Punjab State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh, also participated in the deliberations.

Free OPD at Dewan Hospital
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
Dewan Hospital will start a free ward and free OPD from January 18, 2004. Patients will be examined free of cost from 8 am to 11 am everyday except on Sundays. No admission charges, bed charges, nursing charges and doctor's visit charges will be taken from patients, admitted in the 10- bedded charitable ward.

Mrs Neeta Dewan, Director, Dewan Hospital, in a statement today said that free and concessional surgeries (at one third the prevailing rates) will be done for patients using these charitable facilities.

A special gift of five free surgeries by the hospital has also been offered by the managing committee of Dewan Hospital. Patients for these free surgeries will be selected by a lucky draw to be held on January 18. Patients can get themselves registered on January 16 and 17 for inclusion in this draw. The surgeries included in this would be gall stones by laparoscopy, kidney stones by lithotripsy, tumours of the uterus, hernia, piles, hydrocele etc.

"This charitable facility, being provided in Dewan Hospital, is based on the experience of four charitable camps held at the hospital. In these camps thousands of people had come from places like Himachal Pardesh, Jammu, Haryana, UP and Bihar and were benefited", said Mrs Neeta Dewan.

Surgeon’s book makes global impact
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 15
“To me this is a sign of recognition that India has arrived on the world medical scene. It is a recognition of the maturity of Indian expertise of cardiac surgery in the global arena”, said cardiac surgeon, Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Executive Director and Chairman of the Cardiac Sciences Sigma NewLife Heart Institute and the author of “Mycocardial Protection”.

The book deals with important aspects of cardiac surgery. Dr Bedi has contributed extensively to the growth, development and training in the field of cardiac surgery.

The other contributors of the book are from the USA, UK and Europe. Dr Bedi is the sole author from Australia and India.

He has been acknowledged the world over for his multivessel beating heart surgery, which is registered in the Limca Book of World Records.

Dr G. Rainer of the USA in the forward of the book has said the book was a necessity for cardiac surgeons.

SPORTS

Sanatan Vidya Mandir qualifies for Parle-PCA meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 15
Sanatan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines, today defeated Nauhria Mal Jain Senior Secondary School, Ferozepore road, by nine wickets in the last league fixture of the Parle-PCA inter-school cricket tournament (under 17).

The tournament was organised by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association under the aegis of the Punjab Cricket Association at Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for Boys here.

With the third consecutive victory, Sanatan Vidya Mandir accumulated six points to emerge winners and qualify for the Parle-PCA Inter District Cricket Championship scheduled to begin at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on January 17. Others teams that will be taking part are from Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Chandigarh.

The decision of Nauhria Mal Jain School to bat first after winning the toss proved to be a mistake as they could muster only 74 runs in 15.4 overs. Only two batsmen of the team, Sumit and Vipan, could reach the double figure. They contributed 23 and 11 runs, respectively.

For Sanatan Vidya Mandir School, Yogesh made a hat-trick (three wickets for 13) while left-arm spinner, Sushyant Kohli, gave another notable performance capturing three wickets for 23 runs. SVM School overhauled their rival’s score in 8.3 overs losing one wicket.

SDP Senior Secondary School, Hazoori Road, secured four points to finish runners-up while the third and fourth positions were bagged by Nauhria Mal Jain School and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Punjab Agricultural University, respectively.

Brief scores: Nauhria Mal Jain School — 74 all out ( Vipan 11, Sumit 23; Sushyant Kohli 3 for 23, Yogesh 3 for 13, Davinder 2 for 25 and Vinod 2 for 12)

Sanatan Vidya Mandir School— 75 for 1 (Atul Kohli 27 n.o and Sushyant Kohli 15 n.o)

St Thomas, KVM schools in final
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, January 15
Hosts St Thomas Senior Secondary School will play against Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Civil Lines in the boy’s section final while in the girl’s section, it will be between BCM Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar and the USPC Jain School in the third Sahodaya Schools Chess Championship being held at the St Thomas School campus here today.

In the semi finals (boys), St Thomas Senior Secondary School defeated Radha Vatika School, Khanna, while Kundan Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School beat GGN School, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, to settle for the title clash.

In the girl’s section, BCM School, Shastri Nagar, proved too good for their opponents from the Chandigarh Road branch and USPC Jain School prevailed over Sacred Heart Convent School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar to enter the final. Earlier, Ms H. Malaki, Principal, St Thomas School inaugurated the tournament in which eight boys and five girls’ teams are taking part.

Five police officials transferred
Our Correspondent

Khanna, January 15
Five police officials of Khanna police district have been transferred from their posts. According to official orders, Mr Balbir Singh Tiwana, traffic in charge, Khanna, has been transferred to Ropar.

Mr Tejinder Singh Sandhu has been transferred to Mohali while Mr D. S. Virk has been appointed traffic in charge, Khanna city.

Mr Anil Kohli has been made in charge of the women and child helpline while Mr Dilbagh Singh has been transferred to the traffic wing.