Prostate check-up advised for men after 50 years
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, September 26
“Prostate cancer can now be detected early and cure accomplished by radical surgery or radiotherapy. Public awareness of the early diagnosis and increasing information provided by the media has sensitised male population about prostatic diseases,” said Dr Kim Mammen, HoD-Urology, CMCH.

“Every person must have a prostate check-up after the age of 50. New technology and efficient medications have improved the survival of prostate cancer patients after their diagnosis,” said Prof S.K. Sharma, former Director of the PGIMER, Chandigarh, and past president of the Urological Society of India, while inaugurating a CME programme on Prostate Cancer at CMCH here today.

Prof Anant Kumar (president of the North Zone Chapter of the Urological Society of India and HoD-Urology, SGPGIMS, Lucknow ), Prof NP Gupta (HoD Urology, AIIMS, New Delhi), Prof A.K. Mandal (HoD Urology, PGIMER, Chandigarh), Prof NK Mahanty (HoD Urology Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi ), Dr Rajeev Sood (HoD Urology RML Hospital New Delhi ), Prof M.K. Mahajan (HoD Radiotherapy, CMCH ) and Prof Kim Mammen (HoD Urology CMCH ) gave lectures, participated in a panel discussion and shared their experience in treating prostate cancer.

“Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in men. Early prostate cancer usually does not show any symptoms. However, as the tumour grows, it may spread from the prostate to surrounding areas. Change in urination, including increased frequency, hesitancy or dribbling of urine may be experienced. Prostate cancer can spread from the prostate to nearby lymph nodes, bones or other organs. This spread is called metastasis. For example, as a result of metastasis to the spine, some men experience back pain. The overall prognosis for prostate cancer patients has dramatically improved over the years. During the past 20 years, the overall survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer combined has increased from 67 to 97 per cent. This means more men are living longer after diagnosis. Some of the possible reasons for this increase in survival rate include public awareness and early detection,” said Dr Kim Mammen.

Free medical camp marks World Heart Day
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, September 26
Cardiac experts today stressed the need for regular health check ups, particularly after the age of 40 to ensure good health. These doctors including Dr GS Wander, Director Hero DMC Heart Centre and Dr Gursharan Singh, Director GS Heart Centre were speaking at a function organised at the conclusion of a free heart check up camp here today.

Dr Grusharan Singh disclosed that 200 patients were checked at the camp. They were provided free consultation, investigation and medicines. A cake was also cut to mark the World Heart Day on the occasion. Several other senior doctors were also present on the occasion offering free consultation on various health problems to the patients.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Wander said due to food habits, people in this part of the region were more prone to heart ailments. He said, the best thing was diet control regular exercise and regular health check up. Cardiac problems, Dr Wander maintained, were becoming more frequent now. He said, these could always be avoided with due care.

Dr Gursharan Singh said that although the heart ailments were found mostly in the people above 40, but that did not mean people below this age could not have heart problems. He suggested that besides regular health check up people should ensure a disciplined lifestyle with regular exercises. He said, the greatest problem of the lifestyle that had been adopted by people without caring about their health. 

No strike threat in CMCH: Director

Ludhiana, September 26
Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) faces no strike threat from any self-styled union and it would not bow to pressure tactics of such people, said Dr Silas Charles, Director, CMC, while reacting to the Brown Memorial Hospital Employees Union’s strike threat.

Talking to Ludhiana Tribune here today, Dr Charles said a handful of people wanted to bring disrepute to the institution. “These self-styled office-bearers of the union are not even the employees of the CMC. How can they threaten to go on strike? These are all gossips which should be immediately stopped”, he said.

Dr Charles, who chaired the governing body meeting of the CMC recently, claimed that the institution was progressing well and moving forward and an electronic channel had rated it to be amongst the best medical institutes in the country.

Giving details about the governing body meeting, Dr Charles said Dr Mohan Verghese was given an extension for being the Principal of the CMC. Three new Vice-Principals were also elected during the meeting. They are Dr (Ms) Sheela Das — Vice-Principal for students affairs, Dr Tejinder Singh — Vice-Principal for undergraduates and Dr M.K. Mam — Vice-Principal for postgraduate students.

The CMC governing body had more than 60 members including Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, Director Health Serices, Chandigarh, Director-General Health, Government of India, and Nursing Advisor, Government of India. Other members represent various churches, Church organisations and Christian associations. More than 45 members had attended the recently held meeting. Meanwhile, Mr B.M. Fredrick, secretary, Brown Memorial Hospital Employees Union, alleged that the management did not let the union members meet the governing body members. He said the union members were being given step-motherly treatment by the management. “The governing body meeting is the time when we can meet all members and brief them about our grievances but we are not allowed to meet them. The issue of the DMCH union was resolved only when they went on strike. We are also planning to do the same”, threatened Mr Fredrick. — OC

Visually impaired cricketers express resentment 
Anil Datt

Ludhiana, September 26
The office-bearers of the Sports Association for the Blinds, Punjab (SAB) and members of Punjab visually impaired cricket team expressed resentment over the state government's attitude towards games played by the physically handicapped. Mr Gurpreet Singh, a spokesman of the association who had participated in a cricket series against Pakistan recently in Pakistan, while talking to the Ludhiana Tribune rued that they had been facing adverse conditions in the state since the authorities turned a blind eye in their case.

He urged the state government to arrange proper infrastructure for them so that they could also exhibit their skills. He demanded that the coaches of the Punjab Sports Department should be asked to train the visually impaired players and cricket grounds be spared for them one in a month.

Mr Parminder Singh, president of the SAB echoed the same sentiments when he told that they had faced a lot of hardships while organising a cricket match for the visually impaired players of Punjab and Delhi. “No local government official came forward to help them in conducting the match. They, themselves had to go from pillar to post to arrange funds to hold the match,’’ he explained.

He further told that they wanted to play the match either at the Punjab Agricultural University ground or at the Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for boys ground but the authorities concerned there expressed their inability to allow them to play the match at these venues since they charge for playing at these grounds.

Mr Gurpreet and Mr Parminder Singh thanked the Lions Club, Ludhiana and District Bar Association in extending support for organising the cricket match between Punjab XI and Delhi XI at the Sarpanch Bachan Singh Academy ground at village Ballokey near here.

Girls in volleyball semifinals
Our Correspondent

Mandi Gobindgarh, September 26
Following were the today’s results of C.B.S.E. Cluster-XVI (Punjab) Volleyball Tournament 2004 which was inaugurated by Mr Rajeshwar Sharma, Assistant Secretary on Saturday.

Girls: GPS Mandi Gobindgarh enters semi-final beating KVM Ludhiana by 2-0; Army Public School, Jallandhar enters semi-final after beating Kirpal Sagar Academy, Rahon by 2-1; N.S.P.S., Gill Road, Ludhiana enters semi-final after beating DAV Ludhiana by 2-0 and SIS Memorial Public School, Rara Sahib defeated BCM Ludhiana by 2-0.

Boys Semifinal: DAV Ludhiana beat DAV Model Senior Secpndary School, Batala by 2-1; MK DAV Public School Neshta Attari beat GPS Mandi Gobindgarh by 2-1; MRS Police Public School, Phillore beat Kirpal Sagar Academy, Rahon by 2-0 and Apeejay School Jallandhar beat SAS Academy Roop Nagar by 2-0. The tournament was declared open by the chief guest Mr. Rajeshwar Sharma with the hoisting of the school flag, release of balloons and bursting of crackers and oath taking ceremony by the players. 

Delhi beat Punjab in cricket for visually impaired 
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 26
Delhi beat Punjab by five wickets in the cricket match for the visually impaired played at the Sarpanch Bachan Singh Academy ground at Balloke village on the Hambran-Road here today.

Delhi XI won the toss and invited the hosts to bat. Thanks of Gurveer Singh of Dehlon and Jarnail Singh of Ludhiana, Punjab XI were all out for 158 after 33.1 overs. Other scorers were Ankit Kapoor of Ludhiana (6), Vivek Monga of Ludhiana (12), Raj Kiran Pandey of Ludhiana (8), Gurpret Singh of Machhiwara (18), Sohrab Singh of Ludhiana (2), Raj Kumar of Ludhiana (4) and Harjinder Singh of Nakodar (8 n.o). For Delhi, Sachin Kapoor and Parkash Gupta claimed two wickets each conceding 23 and 28 runs respectively while Krishan Kumar, Sunil and Rakesh Kumar grabbed one wicket each.

The visitors made the required runs after losing five wickets in the 30th over. The main architect of their innings were Manvinder Singh and Sachin Kapoor who contributed 44 and 34 runs respectively and remained unbeaten. Parkash Gupta made 14 while Gurpreet Singh and Gurveer Singh of Punjab took one wicket each. Manvinder Singh of Delhi XI was declared the best batsman and the player of the match while Gurpreet Singh of Punjab XI was named the best bowler. 

MC XI record 30-run victory over Unique Club
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, September 26
Salil Kaushal remained unbeaten at 108 as MC XI recorded a 30-run victory over Unique Club in the ongoing cricket tournament at Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for Boys here today.

Batting first, MC XI scored 232 runs for the loss of four wickets in the stipulated 30 overs.

In reply, Unique Club were all out for 202 runs in 29.4 overs. Bunty top scored with 61 runs, followed by Shaloo (32) and Sunny (24).