HEALTH

Talk delivered on cancer of cervix
Tribune news service

Chandigarh, March 12
A symposium on “Management of Cervical Pre-cancer at the Grassroots Level” was organised by the Indian Menopause Society here today. Dr R. Nijhawan from the Department of Cytology and Gynaecological Pathology at the PGI talking on the cervical cancer said that it was the commonest type of among the Indian women, especially among those in the lower socio-economic status of the society.

He also highlighted the role of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), responsible for the infection, which can lead to cancer.

Prof Kusum Verma of the AIIMS, talked of limitations of poor country like India. Dr Neerja Bhatla gave an account of the clinical features of the cervical pre-cancer and the diagnostic procedures.

Dr Arvind Rajwanshi of the PGI projected the morphological spectrum of cervical pre-cancer and Dr Dinesh Dupta, Director, National Clinical Reference Laboratory, New Delhi talked on the hybrid capture 2, is currently the most popular HPV testing system. 

Sanction given to set up cancer treatment centre
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
To provide a comprehensive treatment to the cancer patients in the region, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given its sanction to establish a regional cancer treatment and Research Centre at the Postgraduate Institute (PGI) here. The Centre will come up under the National Cancer Control Programme.

Talking to The Tribune today, the Head of the Department of Radiotherapy , Prof S.C. Sharma, said the Centre would serve the needs of the cancer patients from the entire region as all the facilities for carrying out the treatment to the patients would be available under one roof.

“At the PGI alone we get more than 3500 cancers patients every year. With some cancer treatment centres at Ludhiana and Patiala, annual load of the new patients affected by the disease easily crosses 10,000,” he said.

The most common cancer affecting the women in the region is the cervical cancer followed by breast cancer while among the males the head and neck cancers and the lung cancers are most common.

The comprehensive cancer centre is envisaged to provide total care to cancer patients, which currently is being provided at the PGI under separate departments.

“The PGI already has a state of art cancer management facilities and radiation oncology department is one of the best-equipped departments in the country to provide the latest treatment. Rs 10 crore high energy linear accelerator with multileaf collimator has been installed and commissioned recently. The machine would provide all the latest techniques of radiations such as intensity modulated radiation therapy and three dimensional conformal radiation therapy,” said Prof Sharma.

Other specialties of Onclogy will be established under the Centre, including the department of surgical oncology, medical oncology, palliative care and rehabilitation facilities.

Water-borne diseases on the rise
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 12
Water samples collected from Old Panchkula, its adjoining villages, Kalka and Pinjore are infected with bacteria. As a result there has been a sharp increase in the number of cases of water-borne infections.

Sources in the Health Department say in the past two months all water samples collected from Kalka, including the samples collected from Community Health Centre, were bacteria infected. Samples collected from Model Town, Abdullapur in Pinjore, Gate No 3 and 4 in Old Panchkula, Hangola village, Alipur village and Sectors 18 and 15 in Panchkula too failed to meet the specifications.

The sources say 55 water samples were collected from various parts of the district in January. The bacteriological tests revealed that the water samples from these places had failed and the bacteria count was more than what is considered safe. The department again collected samples in February and sent for analysis at a government laboratory in Chandigarh. The results were again the same — the bacteria count was much higher.

Even as water supplied in the district by the Public Health and Haryana Urban Development Authority failed to meet the specifications. Water-borne diseases have risen to an alarming level (see box). The diarrhoea, typhoid and jaundice cases in the district have increased from 28 per cent to 64 per cent in the first two months, says Dr Lalit Virmani, District Health Officer, Panchkula.

The department has now asked its staff to take bacteriological samples from government and private schools in the district and monitor that the water supplied to schoolchildren is safe. While 10 samples from schools have been collected and sent for bacteriological analysis, the samples from other schools in the district will be collected soon.

The department says they have sent notices to the Public Health Department and HUDA for failure to ensure a clean water supply.

Meanwhile, the Health Department has asked all Senior Medical Officers and Medical Officers to check tubewells in their respective areas.

Do not ignore persistent headache: experts
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
A persistent headache that does not go away with regular medicine may not be as benign as one would like to believe. Experts warn that these could be the initial signs of brain tumour, which if diagnosed at an initial stage has higher chance of cure.

“Not every headache should be taken lightly. The patients need to be aware that these could be the symptoms of the brain tumours, which should be diagnosed at an early stage for an effective treatment,” says Head of department of neurology, PGI Prof S. Prabhakar.

With headaches, other symptoms include vomiting, fits of epilepsy, weakness in limbs, hearing and memory loss and problems relating to the person’s vision. Behavioural changes too come about in a person with brain tumour.

“If tumour is small it can be cured even with medicines. Surgery is required when the patient’s tumour in the brain has substantially increased in size,” adds the doctor.

Highlighting brain-related disorders in the country, the doctors present the grim statistics as for the 2.2 million patients of these diseases in the developing world, and merely one doctor is available. This against the figures in the USA, where a neurologist is available for every 26,000 patients.

The burden of the neurological disorder is going to increase in the coming years. Currently at PGI, we are attending to 27000 out patients per year, 2300 in patients every year and 2100 patients arrive per year in the emergency, says Dr D. Khurana of the neurology department.

Brain Awareness Week from March 14: The PGI along with the European Dana Alliance for the Brain (EDAB), London is observing brain awareness week from March 14 to March 20. The programmes have been designed by the department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the PGI to create awareness among the public about various neurological disorders. A painting competition for the children suffering from epilepsy would also be organised in the OPD complex. Information regarding common diseases like stroke, epilepsy, brain fever, headache, and movement disorders and head injury would be disseminated.

Medical camp held
Our correspondent

Zirakpur, March 12
More than 500 slum dwellers were examined at a medical camp jointly organised by the SDS Memorial Charitable Trust, Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection Limited, behind Lohgarh police post, here today. The patients were also distributed medicines free of cost on the occasion. 

SPORTS

Pooja moves ahead in judo
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 12
Pooja Jalan of Chandigarh outplayed Afsana of Uttar Pradesh to move ahead on the opening day of the Senior National Judo Championships that began here today at the Skating Rink, Sector 10. In this meet, more than 300 judokas in different weight categories in both men and women section from various states and units affiliated to the Judo Federation of India are taking part. The meet is being organised by Amateur Judo Association, Chandigarh.

Athletics meet: Supreet and Kavita were adjudged best girls athletes in degree and diploma stream respectively in the two day Annual Athletics meet of the Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology, Sector 26, which concluded last evening. Varun Dhiman and Vishek Sehgal were declared best athletes in boys section in degree and diploma stream respectively.

Mr Baljit S. Kapoor, Principal, appreciated the winners and gave away the prizes.

Athletics meet held
Our Sports reporter

Chandigarh, March 12
Annual Athletics Meet of National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research, Sector 26, Chandigarh was held last evening at the institute campus. All 34 events were organised and the winners of various events are, 100 M Race : Nasib Singh, 50 m Race : Sarita , Discus Throw: Rajwinder Singh, Discus Throw (Ladies): Rama Chabbra, Shotput Throw (Ladies): Rama Chabbra, 200 M Race:(Gents), Kuldeep Singh High Jump, Nasib Singh.

Other events organised are, Three Legged Race, Chatti Race, Banana Eating Race, Musical Chair, Tug of War, Special events for children were also conducted. A special event (50 M Race) for staff members above 55 years was also conducted in which Ranbir Singh secured first. The athletics meet concluded with National Anthem. Earlier Ms Rajesh Kumari, Chairperson, Board of Governors, NITTTR, Chandigarh inaugurated the function by hoisting the flag. Dr OP.Bajpai, Director, NITTTR, Chandigarh also graced the occasion and encouraged the participants.

Trekking expedition flagged off
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The Tivraghat Nabho Trekking Expedition organised by 323 Air Defence (AD) Regiment was flagged off by the Brigade Commander, Brig Kuldip Singh, from Chandimandir Cantonment, near here, today.

Earlier, the Commanding Officer of the regiment, Col Vijay Kumar, made a presentation on the concept and planning of the expedition, according to a statement issued here.

The expedition team comprising two officers, four JCOs and 20 other ranks is being led by Lieut-Col Sarbjeet Singh. it will cover a distance of about 100 km in the challenging Shivalik Hills located at an average height of 15,000 feet.

The team members will trek through the snow-clad mountains, nallahs, dense jungles and gorges of Pooh, Namgiya, Shipki La and Leo in Kinnaur district.

Brahma Kumaris meet cricket players
Our Correspondent

Mohali, March 12
A delegation of Brahma Kumaris met players of the cricket teams of India and Pakistan at PCA Stadium here yesterday. Members of the delegation, led by B.K. Prem, congratulated Saurav Ganguly and Inzamam-Ul-Haq, presidents of the two teams, for bringing people of both the countries closer by such matches. The efforts of Mr I.S. Bindra, Chairman of the Punjab Cricket Association, were also appreciated for organising the match at Mohali.

A Global Cooperation Peace Exhibition was organised by the Brahma Kumaris outside the stadium in honour of the visitors from Pakistan.

Pitch and Putt competition
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
A Pitch and Putt Competition for business men and women from Chandigarh and around will be held at the Chandigarh Golf Range, near Kishangarh village, on March 25.

Lt Col B.S. Chahal (retd), Joint Secretary of the Chandigarh Golf Association, said the tournament would be played over nine/18 holes. Prizes will be given to individual winners on stroke-play basis, with no handicap allowed. Entry forms are available at the CGA Golf Range.