HEALTH

Tips to stay healthy in monsoon
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 29
For the sun scorched city residents nothing can be more welcome than the cool showers of the monsoons. But monsoons are known to bring hoards of health problems, many of which can easily be prevented only if a little care is taken in our day today patterns of eating, clothing and personal hygiene.

The Fortis Hospital here today released a number of health guidelines and tips for the monsoons. Persons with joint aches or who have been surgically operated upon recently need to take special care during the monsoons. According to Dr. T. S. Mahant, Executive Director - Cardio Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, “Patients with old scars of surgery do feel a bit tender at the scar site and sometimes fresh wounds take longer to heal. The longer healing period is attributed to increase in humidity, which prevents wounds from drying early. After surgery, if the patient has pains during the monsoon, the relief is through simple painkillers such as paracetamol. Fresh wounds which are over a week old should be kept under minimum cover to prevent sweat accumulation due to humidity; breathing cottons should be the choice. The monsoons are also a time when pregnant women need to be more careful. According to Dr Rashmi Garg, MD, Gynaecology, “Taking care of personal hygiene is critical as hot humid weather results in more chances of fungal infections. Pregnant women should wear soft, loose, pure cotton clothing and skid proof shoes. Pregnant women should also pay special attention to their diet and home cooked fresh food should be the rule. Stale or raw foods i.e. salads and dressings should be avoided. They should drink plenty of safe, pure water as excessive perspiration dehydrates the body more in these months. They should avoid crowded and humid places as these can lead to diseases, mosquito bites, insect bites etc.”

Monsoon means extra attention as far as children are concerned. According to Dr Gaurav Gupta, MD, Paediatrics, “Dirty water can be a big risk for children, leading to diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. Treatment would involve giving adequate fluids like ORS, nimbu paani, salted lassi (buttermilk), light juices, curd, bananas etc. Antibiotics should not be taken without a doctor’s consent. Dirty water can also lead to Typhoid and Hepatitis A. Using a filtered or boiling the water can prevent these.

Malaria is another side effect of the abundance of stagnant water during the monsoons. Avoid having stagnant water in your house. Empty the water coolers, unused flowerpots etc. Use a mosquito repellant and a mosquito net if possible. Children are likely to get difficult to diagnose symptoms from malaria and any high grade fever should prompt a visit to your Pediatrician.”

A common problem during the monsoons is eye flu or acute conjunctivitis. Dr Rajan Chugh, MS, Ophthalmology, said, “Rains and humidity are perfect conditions for Eye Flu. It is heralded by redness, watering, pain, stickiness of the eye-lids and discharge with swelling etc. It is transmitted by contact, by shaking hands or using things like handkerchief and towel used by the infected person. You can surely escape from being infected if you are careful.

During the monsoon, acute diarrhoeal illnesses are a major public health problem and are almost universally infectious in origin. For centuries, most people have reeled under the mistaken assumption that it is important to rest the gut during diarrhoea.

According to Dr Arvind Sahni, Director - Gastroenterology, “Normal food intake should be promoted, if the person is able to eat, and, in case of dehydration oral re-hydration solutions (ORS) should be used. Unnecessary prescription of drugs and antibiotics do more of harm than good in treatment of diarrhoea. To avoid diarrhoeal illnesses it is very important to handle food well.

The time between preparation and consumption should be kept short. Food must be adequately cooked and heat must penetrate the centre of the food leaving no cool spots. Food should not be left in warm pantries because few germs can multiply to a couple of million in a few hours. Food not eaten should be properly refrigerated in temperatures less than 4°C.”

Minister chairs meeting of civil surgeons
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 29
The Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, Mr R.C. Dogra, today directed the various civil surgeons in the state to take the help MLAs and other socially influential persons to motivate and sensitise people in their respective constituencies to avail free treatment for tuberculosis under the directly observed treatment (DOT) programme.

Mr Dogra was chairing a meeting to review the implementation of various national and state health programme with senior state health administrators and civil surgeons held in Chandigarh today.

Mr Dogra emphasised that quality health service should be provided to the community and people should be given the birth and death certificates promptly by taking personal interest. He said implementation of national health programmes was important especially for curbing the menace of tuberculosis. Mr Dogra exhorted the civil surgeons to ensure that poor patients were provided treatment, free of cost, in the government health institutions and also ensure that doctors and para-medical workers behave politely with the patients.

Mr D.S. Guru, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, while reviewing the various national health programmes asked the civil surgeons about their performance of their districts. He further laid emphasis on the PNDT Act and asked the civil surgeons to ensure that no ultrasound centre in their districts indulges in sex determination tests.

Dr D.S. Virk, Director, Health Services (Family Welfare), informed that a study of Nawanshahr and Fathegarh Sahib had been under taken that has revealed that sex ratio in the state was improving.

During the meeting, Dr G.L. Goyal directed the rapid response teams, constituted to control water borne diseases, that they must remain alert and adequate water samples must be obtained for effectively detecting the source of water contamination. 

Help given to leprosy patients
Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 29
The State Bank of Patiala Ladies Club, awarded a scholarships of Rs 200 each to the four residents of local Dr Khushdeva Singh Leprosy Colony, today. In a press note issued by the Chief Manager, Community Services Banking, State Bank of Patiala, said the members of the club visited the colony to solve some of the difficulties faced by the leprosy patients.

He said to help these patients, the Ladies Club had constructed a shed on the community kitchen as requested by the colony members. He added the club had donated Rs 3,000 for shed and Rs 7,200 for providing scholarship to the students and cash worth Rs 2,000 was also presented to Col Karminder Singh, the president of the Leprosy Patients’ Welfare Society to help these patients.

SPORTS

Multan Hockey Club beat CHA XI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29
The Multan Hockey Club registered a 3-2 triumph over the Chandigarh Hockey Association XI in an exhibition hockey match played at the Sector 42 Astroturf Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, here, today. Muhammad Waqas starred in MHC’s victory as he alone accounted for two goals.

Straight coming from Nainital after taking part in the All-India Traders’ Hockey Tournament, the Multan Hockey Club players looked tired. Despite this, they enjoyed territorial supremacy in the first session.

Within 19 minutes of play, the visitors were two goals up. Muhammad Raouf dispatched the ball to the goal post in the sixth minute. Again, he displayed individual brilliance in the 19 th minute. Getting possession of the ball , he dribbled past two CHA XI defenders and goalkeeper Pawan before guiding the ball into the goal with a swift action.

In the defence-dominated game, the Chandigarh Hockey Association XI reorganised their strategy. Pressing hard, the hosts team got their first success in the 29th minute as Vikram found the Multan Hockey Club defence napping with a measured shot.

They maintained their pressure and soon after the resumption Saurabh neutralised the lead with a goal in the 32nd minute.

Muhammad Waqas snatched the match winner for the Multan Hockey Club in the 41 th minute after Rana Javed had initiated the move.

The Additional Director-General of Police Chandersekhar, who is also president of the Chandigarh Hockey Association, distributed prizes.

Tahira, Nonie move to finals in tennis tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 29
Tahira in under-10 section while Nonie Sidhu in the under-12 section moved to the finals of the CLTA Open Hot Weather Tennis Tournament, being played here today, at Tennis Stadium, Sector 10.

In the under-10 section, it will be a clash between Digvijay Singh and Arjun Mehra. Shilpa Naruka played a valiant game to down Arshee Khosla and will vie with Prabhamrit in the final to be held tomorrow.

Earlier Prabhamrit had beaten Ikktesh Chahal. Tomorrow the prize distribution function will be held at 5.30 pm.

Results: Girls under-10 (semi-finals): Tahira bt Priyadarshni Bhagat 8-2; Sheshna Sekhri bt Chahat 8-0. Girls under-12 (semi-finals): Nonie Sidhu bt Ramneek 7-5; Ikktesh Chahal bt Avneet 7-2. Boys under-10 (semi-finals): Digvijay S. Naruka bt Harmeet Singh 9-5; Arjun Mehra bt Nischay Rawal 9-4. Boys under-10 (quarter-finals): Digvijay S. Naruka bt Shubham Viz 7-3; Harmeet Singh bt Kritarth 7-6 (10-8); Nischay Rawal bt Rijul Jain 7-0; Arjun Mehra bt Pranav Suri 7-2. Boys under-12 (semi-finals): Jaivardhan Gupta bt Jashanveer Singh 7-5, 6-4.

Boys under-12 (quarter-finals): Jaivardhan Gupta bt Nikhil Bansal 7-1; Jashanveer bt Uday Singh Mann 7-1; Arjun Mehra bt Karan Kapoor 7-4; Samin Bhargava bt Ravisher Singh 7-5. Girls under-14 (semi-finals): Prabhamrit Kaur bt Ikttesh Chahal 6-2, 6-1; Shilpa Naruka bt Arshee Khosla 6-3, 6-4. Boys under-14 (semi-finals): Akshat Joshi bt Nitin 6-2, 6-4; Karanvir Singh bt Raghav Singla 6-1, 6-2. Boys under-14 (quarter-finals): Akshat Joshi bt Akshat Kumar 8-1; Nitin bt Jivtesh Singh Kang 8-2; Karan Vir Singh bt Vishal Suri 8-6; Raghav Singla bt Gagandeep Singh Gill 8-6.

Thapa first Indian to get 4th degree Black Belt
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, June 29
Bikram S. Thapa, Technical Director, Choi Kwang Do Martial Art International India, is the first Indian who have received the fourth Degree Black Belt from Grand Master Kwang Jo Choi. He was conferred this degree on his visit to the USA where he has also attended an international seminar held in Life University, Atlanta.

Thapa returned last evening from the USA and also learnt more tips on Choi Kwang Do from the Grand Master. Thapa said self-defence training should be made part of educational curriculum in India. He said there was no competition involved in this art worldwide and the public given traning on self-defence.

Summer coaching camps from mid-July
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29
Summer coaching camps, held annually under the aegis of the Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration, are likely to start by mid July. The proposal for the expenditure on the camps, slated to be over Rs 80,000, has been cleared by the authorities concerned and the date of the camps will be decided within four or five days.

The camps were usually conducted in the last week of May or in the first week of June for junior category and for the seniors, these usually started in July. “This time the department was contemplating to club both the categories because these could not be commenced at the right time”, said Mr J.P.S. Sidhu, Joint Director, Sports Department, Chandigarh Administration. The delay was attributed due to the deployment of the coaches of the department for census duty which will only conclude in the first week of July.

The idea of conducting these camps is to sharpen the skills of sportspersons as well as to prepare the promising players for the competitions.

Cricket academy at Sector 36 school
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29
The Chandigarh Cricket Association (CCA), affiliated to Punjab Cricket Association, is going to start its third academy at Guru Nanak Public School (GNPS), Sector 36, here.

This was announced by Mr Mohinder Singh, secretary, CCA, at a press conference here yesterday. The CCA is already running two academies at DAV School, Sector 8, and St. John Public School, Sector 26. The new academy would cater to the children residing in the southern sectors of the city. Initially boys under-12 to under-17 age group will be admitted to the academy. Three coaches will impart training to them. “The players would be divided into three categories according to their age,” said Mr Mohinder Singh.