Panchkula, June 20
The new- age teeth implant system launched on Monday by Biolok Dental Implants, USA, aims at getting a share in the booming dental tourism sector, besides offering world-class oral healthcare here.

Stating this after the inauguration of a clinic, Dr Manpreet Walia of Biolok said they hope to rope in patients from foreign countries who visit India and prefer to get oral healthcare at costs much cheaper than abroad.

Chandigarh, June 20
Chandigarh ranks among the top three states of the country in the case detection and cure rate of tuberculosis and also effectively implementing the revised National Tuberculosis Programme.

It was disclosed at a meeting of the governing body of the State TB Control Society, held here today under the chairmanship of the Home Secretary, UT, Mr Krishna Mohan. Chandigarh has achieved the cure rate and case detection since June 2003.

He said strenuous efforts had been made by the Administration to break the chain of transmission of tuberculosis. Over 5,500 case had been treated in three years. The city had also achieved the target of putting the smear positive patient on DOTS of 96 per cent whereas it was 86 per cent in 2003 and 81 per cent in 2002. In 2002, as many as 1245 patients were treated and in 2003, 1918 patients and during 2004 2164 patients were treated. The cure rate of the new smear positive patients was 79 per cent in 2003 whereas it gone up to 86 per cent in 2004.

Mr Mohan further added that the expansion of microscopy facilities and inter-personal communication through the counselling cell had reduced the defaulter rate to less than 4 per cent in 2003.

He called upon the doctors, especially private practitioners to coordinate their efforts in controlling the disease, which would be a step towards completely eliminating it.

He informed that the infrastructure had been strengthened and two treatments units and 13 microscopy centres established in the city. These units and centres provide free sputum examination, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. There are 104 COT centres in Chandigarh, where treatment of tuberculosis is provided under direct supervision. Both the PGI and GMCH-32 have been actively involved under the RNTCP. Zonal Task Force of Medical College of North Zone had been established in the PGI and the State Task Force has been constituted in GMCH-32.

He further said that the problem of migratory population living in slum areas and affected by tuberculosis was being looked into seriously. Municipal Councillors, NGOs and panchayat members had been involved to persuade chest symptomatic persons to get them selves diagnosed and treated so that they did not further spread the disease. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme was launched in Chandigarh on January 25, 2002.

Chandigarh, June 20
It is difficult for girls to adopt sports as career as compared to boys due to gender bias in society. It has been noticed that girls face the first opposition from their parents for not ‘indulging’ in sports. Though situation is still better in cities than in smaller towns, but still most of the girls have to pass through difficult times to overcome the societal pressure. Chandigarh Tribune talked to women who love sports or are associated with sport for their opinion on this issue.

Ms Bandhana Bhaika, an entrepreneur and a keen sports lover, is of the view that if both son and daughter in any family wants to go in for sports, then parents feel proud of their son and give him total freedom to undergo any sports activity but are reluctant to give a go ahead to their daughter. Every parent feels insecure about their daughter when the teams go out for participation as many a times only male coaches accompany them.

Ms Ranjana Shahi, a lawyer and a regular badminton player, said Indian society was very conservative. There have been cases when the career of many talented girls was by male coaches or the officials. Though on few occasions, the girl players become submissive and do not speak openly against any such mischievous act by any male team member or any official.

Archana Malik, a sports teacher and a golfer, said in the growing young westernised society, girl players were at the risk with their male counterparts. I think parents need to educate their daughters on this front and not to scare but report back any misbehaving to their coach or manager. She said whenever any team is sent out, it should be made mandatory by the government to have responsible female coaches to accompany.

It would also help in getting better performance from a girl player. Ms Malik said in most of the coaching centres, one could find presence of male coaches that deters parents to send their daughters. Another fact is that girls do not find a stable career in sports and also not much of money or sponsorships.

Chandigarh, June 20
Enthusiasm galore among 14 probable paddlers who are undergoing the national schools table tennis camp here at DAV Public School, Sector 8. The Indian schools under-18 team is to take part in the 3rd Asian Schools TT Championship going to be held in Malaysia in the first week of July. The camp is being organised by the Schools Games Federation of India (SGFI). Mr Rajeev Kaushal, coach UT Sports Department, has been appointed the local coach.

Mr P.S. Chhabra, secretary-general of the SGFI, said from Wednesday the camp would be shifted to Sector 23 TT hall. He said the team was balanced with top ranked players from West Bengal also included in the side. They are: Shubham Kundu, Saugata Sarkar, Jayanta Sarkar in the boys section. In the girls section, Agamani Mitra, Kajol Das and Samapati Biswas, all from West Bengal are good players. Dev Saini, Nadia Saini and Sadhika Kaushal are local contenders among oher players.

CONCLUDED: Three-week summer coaching camps of basketball and cricket ended on Sunday. The concluding function was presided over by Mr Mohinder Singh, honorary secretary, Chandigarh Cricket Association. He exhorted the campers to adopt sports for the healthy living. OC

Chandigarh, June 20
The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, will hold a special mini tennis camp at the CLTA Tennis Stadium, Sector 10, for young tennis players in the age group of four to seven years . The duration of the camp will be from June 21 to June 30, Mr Rajan Kashyap, Chairman, CLTA, said. The timings will be from 6.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. everyday.