Substandard drugs to be replaced
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 13
The district health administration will replace substandard drugs and material supplied to government hospitals and dispensaries with those of good quality on need basis. Further, the alleged victimisation and favouritism regarding annual confidential reports (ACRs) of the previous year will be rectified and erring senior medical officers (SMOs), accused of demanding money, will be punished if found guilty in an inquiry.

This assurance was given by the Civil Surgeon, Dr S.N. Tiwari, at a meeting with the executive committee members of the district unit of the PCMS Association here today. Dr Hardeep Singh, state president of the body, who led the delegation, pointed out during the meeting that the association had been raising the issue of misappropriation of funds in the recent purchase of low-quality medicines and material in bulk. The association had also charged senior health officials with threatening behaviour towards their subordinates and motivated violation of rules in the case of writing ACRs for the previous year.

Giving details of the meeting, Dr Balwinder Kumar, district general secretary of the PCMSA, said the Civil Surgeon had agreed to take back the supply of the low-quality and unneeded drugs and materials, like soap, mackintosh, surgical items and carrying cases, purchased in the bulk for hospitals and dispensaries, would be taken back and replaced with the desired material and drugs of better quality.

He further said the administration had also agreed to make all purchases in future in consultation with the representatives of the association and the medical officers would not be compelled to receive or consume superfluous medicines or material.

On being apprised of the objectionable behaviour of certain officials regarding ACRs during a recent block-level meeting, Dr Tiwari assured that “proforma B”, which had attracted objections from the MOs, would not be tagged with the previous ACRs, deliberate delays in writing ACRs would be checked and other irregularities would be sternly dealt with.

Training programme on AIDS prevention 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 13
To increase awareness about the prevention and control of HIV (AIDS) among ESI beneficiaries, the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has launched a project with the collaboration of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

Under the project, 43 STD clinics have been set up. As an extension of the project, the ESIC is also involved in ensuring safe blood supply to patients through donations.

This was stated by Dr A.K. Khokhar, Deputy Medical Commissioner (Headquarters), based in New Delhi, while speaking at a training programme on “Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS” for medical officers of ESI health institutions at the ESIC Model Hospital here today.

Dr Khokhar, who is heading the team of trainers and is also a project director of the programme, said the main thrust of the project was on educating people and creating awareness about the deadly disease.

The training of different categories of ESI staff and various IEC activities in the forms of making posters and hoardings, organising road shows, health melas and exhibitions are being given primary importance.

The training programme organised here focused on epidemiological aspects of HIV, information, education and communication (IEC) activities, blood safety, STD control, counselling, workplace intervention and treatment of HIV/AIDS cases. Besides this, health workers were also oriented to take up their role in the prevention of disease.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr Hardial Singh, Medical Superintendent of the ESI Hospital, said the ESI medical scheme was providing comprehensive medical care to the beneficiaries covered under the ESI Act. It has a network of 143 hospitals, 1,447 dispensaries, 43 annexes and 3,000 IMP clinics. The services provided by the ESIC cover around 3.3 crore persons.

Other trainers included Dr Ramesh Chand, Medical Superintendent, ESIC Model Hospital, Chandigarh, Dr S.K. Raju, Dr Madhu Chaudhary, Dr Rajiv Garg and Dr Poonam Srivastava, all from New Delhi.

Dr Rajinder Gulati, who coordinated the training programme, said 30 participants were taking part in the two-day workshop. Beside this, a simultaneous orientation programme for nursing, paramedical and ministerial staff is also being organised to make the hospital staff aware of various activities for the control of HIV/AIDS.

‘Basketball gaining popularity in India’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, May 13
The game of basketball is no longer confined to America. Its popularity is on the rise throughout the world. Though football is the most popular sport, basketball has also seen an increase in popularity. And in India, too, the game is becoming popular among youngsters by the day. Cagers from the northern and the southern states have proved their mettle at the national-level meets and many of them have represented India in international tournaments.

These were the views expressed by Mr Rajdeep Singh Gill, president, Basketball Federation of India (BFI). He was here on Tuesday to preside over the match between JCT, Phagwara, and Mahindra United in the National Football League.

He said the BFI, in association with the Punjab Basketball Association, had chalked out a plan to popularise the game in the region. He expressed happiness that basketball was also attracting sponsors like other sports.

He expressed gratitude towards Mr Harjinder Singh Dhanoa, an NRI, who has been sponsoring the local Baba Lodhiana Basketball Academy. Boys and girls from different parts of the state are being imparted training at the academy.

He added that the 55th edition of the Senior National Basketball Meet for Men and Women would be held here in the last week of December, this year, in which 55 teams in both sections would take part. He added that Mr Dhanoa had promised to sponsor the meet.

Mr Gill said on the pattern of the National Football League, the BFI had planned to begin a national basketball league. For this purpose, basketball courts were being created in the rural areas also.

Swimming meet on May 15, 16
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, May 13
The district swimming championship for the sub-junior and junior boys and girls in the age groups of 15-17 years, 13-14 years, 11-12 years, 9-10 years and up to 8 years will be held at the local municipal corporation swimming pool on May 15 and 16, according to Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, president of the District Swimming Association.

Players born in 1987, 88 and 89 are eligible for the under-17 group; in 1990-91 for under-14; in 1992-93 for under-12; in 1994-95 for under-10 and those born on or after January 1, 1996, for the under-8 group.

Entries are to be submitted with Mr Balraj Sharma, general secretary of the association; they close on May 14.

Performance during this two-day championship will be taken into the consideration while selecting the Ludhiana sub-junior and junior entrants for the 20th Sub-Junior Punjab State Swimming Championship to be held at Sangrur on May 29 and 30 and the 29th Junior Punjab State Swimming and Waterpolo Championship scheduled to be conducted from June 4 to 6 at Amritsar.