HEALTH

‘Don’t Spit’ rally held on World TB Day
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 24
For effective control of tuberculosis (TB), two TB units, 13 microscopy centres and 75 directly observed treatment centres have been established in the city. This was revealed by during a function organised to observe World TB Day here today. Doctors from the National Integrated Medical Association took out a “Don’t Spit” rally in the Sector 17 Plaza.

The doctors carried banners about the hazardous effects of careless spitting on the roads. They also distributed pamphlets, educating the general masses about TB and other communicable diseases.

Residents were also advised against spitting in open spaces. They were also asked to carry clean handkerchiefs.

According to a press note, Special Secretary Health-cum-Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh M.P. Singh inaugurated World TB Day celebration at Bapu Dham Colony in Sector 26. He said the Chandigarh Administration was deeply concerned about the high prevalence of TB and was fully geared up to control the disease in the city.

He emphasised that all segments of society should be involved to maintain social health of people.

He also impressed upon the councillors to maintain watch in their respective wards. He said non-government organisations, panchayats and aanganwari workers should also help in identifying residents with TB symptoms and also assist them in diagnosing and treating the patients.

The Director, Health Services, Dr C.P. Bansal, said slum areas were highly infected.

About 85 per cent of TB patients were residing in slums and villages as there was a close link between the disease and poverty.

He stressed upon the need to make this programme community based by involving all segments of society.

Medical Officer Dr Sawhney apprised the audience about the steps being taken to control TB by creating awareness. He added that training was also being imparted to medical and paramedical officials, along with private practitioners and NGOs.

Later during the day, Dr Bansal inaugurated designated microscopy centre at the civil dispensary in Sector 26. Mr M.P. Singh also gave away prizes to the winners of a poster-painting competition.

Beware! your servant may be infected with TB
Monica Sharma

Chandigarh, March 24
In India, one person dies of tuberculosis (TB) every minute. Over 20,000 get infected everyday. More than 5,000 develop this disease. It claims about 4 lakh lives every year in the country. Every third TB patient in the world is an Indian. Fatal form of the disease claims about 4 lakh lives each year, assert doctors in the city.

In Chandigarh, 3600 patients were diagnosed till December, 2003. As many as 1700 patients have so far been cured. Contrary to the common belief, even members of affluent families are acquiring the disease here and other places largely through maid servants and domestic helps.

According to an estimate, almost one of three maid servants and domestic helps coming from certain slums and colonies in the city, are infected with the disease. Director Health Services Dr C P Bansal confirms that 85 per cent of TB patients reside in slum and villages.

The doctors add that “the disease was prevalent earlier also even among the elite class, but people used to hide the fact. Now they were coming to terms with the disease.”

For the treatment of over 33,000 patients suffering from TB in Punjab, centres have been set up. Special boxes, with the names of the patients, are being kept in the centres with medicines in them. The idea is to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential drugs.

According to the doctors, Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) centres are currently functioning in several districts, including Amritsar, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Bathinda.

In Haryana, Sonepat, Faridabad and Gurgaon also have DOT centres, along with other districts. The doctors add that the entire health care system in different hospitals all over the region is being given a boost. Senior health department officials and the workers are being motivated to work towards achieving the goals with a new zeal. They are required to attend a two-week training for better functioning of the DOT centres.

Regarding the cure, the doctors says that under the revised programme, around 85 per cent of the patients walk out of the clinics cured against 30 per cent under the earlier programme.

Even the time required for treatment has decreased to six months from 18 months initially. During the first two months, the patient has to visit a DOT centre every alternate day. Afterwards, the first dose of the week is administered at the centre under observation. The remaining dosage is handed over to the patient for taking it at home on alternate days.

PGI alumni body to meet on March 27
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 24
About 250 delegates from all over the country are expected to participate in a meeting of the PGI Doctors Alumni Association. It will be held after five years on Saturday in the lecture theatre complex of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here.

The PGIMER’s Director-designate Prof K.K. Talwar is expected to talk about his impressions about the institute. Present Director S.K. Sharma will be the chief guest.

According to the association’s honorary general secretary Dr K.L. Gupta of the Nephrology Department, the delegates will talk about their knowledge and achievements during a “scientific and social programme” to be held on that day. It would include a symposium on HIV and AIDS.

Lectures on the management of “type-II diabetes mellitus, besides managing patients with viral hepatitis B and C, along with prevention of coronary disease” will also be organised.

SPORTS

Amit, Anant upset fancied opponents
in tennis meet
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 24
Isha Toor, top seed in girls under-18 age group, edged past Poorna to move into the third round of the AITA Talent Series Tennis Tournament at CLTA Tennis Stadium, Sector 10, here today. Fourth seed Navjot Saini of Punjab got the better of Noor Paul of Chandigarh in straight sets.

Girls under 18 (second round): Isha Toor (CHD) b Poorna (CHD) 6-3, 6-1; Alisha Talwar (PB) b Jaanesh M. Kaur (CHD) 6-1, 6-1; Sweta Kumari Solanki (DLI) b Sumandeep Kaur (PB) 6-0, 6-1; Ankita Singh (CHD) b Nandini Singh (RAJ) 6-3, 6-3; Navjot Saini (PB) b Noor Paul (CHD) 6-3, 6-3; Ankita Raina (GUJ) b Perumbeti Vipanchika (RAJ) 6-1, 6-0.

Football academy trials from April 5
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 24
Twentyfour new soccer trainees will be enrolled in Chandigarh Football Academy in the under-14 age group by the Sports Department, UT Administration.

According to a press note issued by the department, the trials will begin from April 5 at Gurdaspur followed by another trials on April 7, on April 15 at Hoshiarpur, again on April 17, on April 20 at Sangrur, on April 23 at Yamunanagar, on April 26 at Hisar, on May 3 at Dharamshala, on May 5 at Mandi, on May 8 at Chandigarh and on May 12 at Delhi. The boys born between April 1,1993 and March 31, 1994 will be eligible for the trials.

St. John’s beat Little Flower

St John’s High School, Sector 26, Chandigarh defeated Little Flower Convent School, Sector 14, Panchkula, by 15 runs in the under-10 section tournament for the Blessed Edmund Rice trophy.

Brief scores; St John’s: 94 runs for four in 20 overs (Rahul 23 n.o, Umed 20 n.o, Triraj 2 for 21).

Little Flower School: 79 runs all out in 17.3 overs (Sidharth 30, Ravpritpal 2 for 12, Umed 2 for 16).

Parnita maintains lead in Ladies Open Golf
Tribune News Service

First time participants: Sania Babuta 104+107=211, Twinkle Shahi 105+112=217.

ADMINISTRATION

UT Wakf Board to claim its land
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, March 24
The Chandigarh Wakf Board, recently established by the Central Government, will not allow encroachers to usurp its property. The board is writing to the Chandigarh Administration for the appointment of a survey commissioner.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, Chairman Mansur Ali said the survey commissioner would locate Wakf Board land in the Union Territory. This, he said, would enable the board to get the “land mutated in its name”.

The youngest ever Chairman of any Wakf Board in the country, Mr Ali added that so far Wakf land had not been mutated in the name of the Chandigarh Wakf Board”. Mr Ali, who is also Deputy Advocate-General, Punjab, added that strict action would be initiated against the defaulters or those who had encroached upon the board land.

Mr Ali said the board was formulating welfare schemes. Emphasis would be laid on providing scholarships to deserving students and remuneration to widows.

The board, would also work for the uplift of the student community by introducing vocational courses, including computer training. The board was currently framing policies for proper utilisation of funds. It would also write to the administration for grants so that it could be included in the budget.

Regarding the board, he earlier there had been a joint Punjab Wakf Board, covering Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. It was directly under the Central Government.

In August 2003, the Central government dissolved the joint board and the management was handed over to state governments. The Centre had kept Chandigarh under its control so far as the appointment of board members was concerned.