Ludhiana, September 1
A nationwide campaign to make India “anaemia free”, launched by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on July 1, has made a good impact and till now more than 200 camps have been organised in the country to create awareness among the people.

Stating this here today, Dr Gursharan Singh, state secretary of IMA, Punjab unit, said realising the success of the project, the Union Government had asked the IMA to organise at least 2,500 such camps throughout the country. The government had also assured some monetary support.

He observed: “Anaemia is such a simple problem which occurs due to decrease in iron intake in the diet. This can be treated very easily and just needs awareness, whereas if it is not treated it can cause a lot of problems. Anaemia has the highest prevalence among grown up women and 60 to70 per cent of adolescent girls are suffering from iron deficiency.”

According to the IMA secretary, the national body had drawn up plans to run the campaign and accordingly the Punjab IMA branch had been assigned to hold about 100 camps.

However, senior functionaries of the IMA, including Dr R.C. Garg and Dr G.S. Gill, had decided to organise nearly 200 camps through its 60 branches in Punjab. The camps would be organised in schools and rural areas.

The camps will focus on the components of creating awareness about anaemia to vulnerable groups like schoolchildren, adolescents and pregnant women.

Doraha, September 1
A blood donation camp was organised on the 10th death anniversary of Beant Singh at Payal yesterday.

Sixty three donors contributed blood till the evening. The camp was especially organised by the blood bank society, Payal, with the collaboration of Lajwanti Maini Memorial Trust.

The President of the blood bank society and general- secretary , Punjab State Apex Body of NGO’s, Mr Gusharanjit Singh said it was 188th camp organised by the society and seventh of its kind to be organised on the 10th death anniversary of Beant Singh.

It was in the year 1983 that the first blood-donation camp was organised on the same occasion.

The camp was inaugurated by the PPCC chief, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo. Mr Tarlochan Singh, chairman of the society, and Mr Gurmit Singh, secretary, made preparations for the camp.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 1
U-16 cricket team of Anand Isher Senior Secondary School, Chhapar, and u-14 team of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial National Senior Secondary School (MGMNSSS), Ahmedgarh, have been declared winners and runners-up, respectively, in the respective districts.

According to Mr Kartar Singh, Principal, Anand Isher Senior Secondary School, the u-16 team had been declared winner in the district-level tournament held recently. Earlier, their u-14 team had finished runners-up at the zonal sports.

Mr Pardeep Sharda, Principal, MGMNSSS, said the u-14 team had finished runners-up at the district-level tournament concluded recently at Malerkotla.

Alflah Senior Secondary School, Malerkotla, defeated the MGMNSSS in the final match. Lovish Sharda and Mohamad Halin were selected in the district team that would participate in the state-level tournament scheduled to commence at Ropar on September 22.

Mohamad Halin was declared the best bowler.

Ludhiana, September 1
Girls of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School gave a stupendous performance scoring an easy victory (26-6) over Saraswati Modern School, Partap Singh Wala, to emerge as champions in the Ludhiana Inter-Schools Basketball Tournament (PAU Zone) for u-14 that concluded at BVM School, Kitchlu Nagar branch, here today.

The final turned out to be a one-sided affair as the BVM cagers gave no chance to their opponents to settle down. Deepika Pathak set the tone for the winners, dodging past the players from Saraswati School and weaved good moves

BVM girls dominated the proceedings as was evident from the score sheet which read 16-0 at the end of the second quarter. The hosts cagers went on to increase the lead at will and finally wrapped up the issue with being challenged.

Deepika Pathak contributed 16 points, while Bharti and Anchal scored four points each. Charu of Saraswati School (4 points) fought a losing battle but that was all she could do against her superior rivals.

Mr Mitter Sen, president, Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Trust, was the chief guest during the title-clash match.