Mandi Gobindgarh, September 24
Desh Bhagat Ayurvedic College and Hospital organised a seminar on traditional Chinese medicines on the college campus here today. Dr l. Wang, founder and Principal of Academy of Chinese Medicine, Melbourne, Australia, Ms Glengs Savage, Vice-Principal of the institute, Mr James Middleton, Ms Falm Nixon and Mr Micheal Wong spoke on the need to explore the Chinese and Indian traditional system of medicines. This system was not only gaining popularly in Asia but was being adopted in European countries as well, said the speakers.

Chinese medicine has developed several new therapeutic modalities which are useful in clinical practices and have stood the test of time asserted, Dr L.Wang. By adopting this system of medicine, people could get treatment at affordable expenses.

The programme started with ‘Vande Matram’ presented by the students. The Principal of the college, Dr Loveleen Kaur Ahuja, welcomed the dignitaries.

Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine system and traditional Chinese medicine system, both share a rich heritage. That is why a deep look into both these systems would tell us that they had a lot of similarity in principle and practices, she added.

Dr Zora Singh, chairman, Desh Bhagat Group of institutes, spoke on the performance of 12 institutes run by the group. The brilliant and poor students were given special concessions in the institutes run by Desh Bhagat Group, asserted Mr Zora Singh.

College students presented a cultural programme. Ms Shalini Gupta, Director, Dr T.L. Sagar, Principal, College of Education, Dr R.C. Jain, Dr Arjun Singh, Principal, Engineering College, Dr Kulbhushan and Ms Tejinder Kaur, vice-chairperson, also spoke on the occasion. 

Ludhiana, September 24
The World Heart Day (which falls tomorrow) was observed today at Hero DMC Heart Institute to increase awareness on prevention of cardiovascular diseases with special emphasis on physical fitness.

The Joint Labour Commissioner (retd) of the state, Mr A.S. Talabgar, presided over the function as the chief guest. Besides, informative lectures being delivered by cardiologists of HDHI, a declamation contest, a painting competition and an exhibition were also held.

Commenting upon the motto of the day, “healthy weight, healthy shape”, the Chief Cardiologist, HDHI, Dr G.S. Wander, said a controlled weight and healthy shape dramatically reduced the risk of heart diseases and stroke.

Instilling the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and healthy shape in children, Dr Wander emphasised that childhood obesity had soared throughout the world. “Maintaining a healthy weight consists of a balance in calories consumed and calories burned. For adults, at least 30 minutes of brisk walking a day will help reduce risk factors. Adopting a balanced diet, including plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat and fat-free products is the best,” he stressed.

A senior cardiac surgeon Dr V.K. Sharma, said due to high level of stress and over burden, lot many young people had become prone to the heart ailments. He also laid stress on congenital heart disease, which was the most common birth defect and affected a large number of children.

He said the six fundamental risk factors resulting in cardiovascular diseases were smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes and obesity. “These can be modified and controlled. Other risk factors, which are not modifiable, include genetics, sex and age . Thus, if we try to modify the risk factors that are controllable, we can avoid the disease and prevent premature death. Cardiovascular diseases, in particular, can be controlled and even prevented, if the disease is identified in time,” he said.

The cardiac physician, Dr Shalendra Kumbkarni, said heart diseases were rapidly growing in developing countries. He said,”In the present times, people often tend to ignore the habits required for healthy living. Heart diseases have already become a major cause of death and disability in the new millennium”. He informed the audience that the recent study of the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that out of a population of five billion in the world, 15 million deaths occurred every year owing to heart diseases, 10 million of which were in developing countries.

Most parents do not believe their child could be taking drugs. But statistics suggest otherwise. Each year, thousands of young people get hooked to drugs and alcohol. Parents must learn to recognise the symptoms of drug abuse. The following is a checklist of warning signs of alcohol abuse:

Loss of motivation, energy, self discipline, interest of activities, tariness, truancy in school and college, declining grades, forgetfulness, anger, hostility, irritability, family arguments, strife with family members, disappearance valuables from home. Unhealthy appearance, bloodshot eyes, sullen behaviour, uncaring attitudes and behaviour, change in friend circle, evasiveness about new friends; unusually large appetite, changes in personal dress on grooming, small boxes, rolling papers peculiar odours seeds, leaves in ashtrays or pockets.

Drugs pose a threat to our children, but parents can protect them from this threat by working on the following preventive measures.

An important first step in keeping children off drugs is to build up their self - esteem. Children with a positive self-image stand a better chance against peer pressure to take drugs.

Parents must help them to see the dangers of trying to confirm to peer pressure by going along with its drug habits . Kids often think drugs are chic and cool . But parents must show their children that drugs are dangerous and work to counter the cliches of kids who will tempt their children to use drugs.

Parents should monitor their children’s friendships. Before they allow their children to spend time with another child, parents should get to know the other child’s family . Does the child come home to an empty house after school ? Is there adult supervision of the children’s activities ? An unsupervised home often invites drug experimentation.

Parents should provide alternative activities for their children. Sports, school clubs, hobbies are all positive alternatives to the negate influence of drugs, At home children should be encouraged to read books, play on a computer, or be involved in other activities that use the mind.

Parents should teach their children about drugs. Drug education cannot be left to the schools. Parents have to be personally involved and let their kids know that drugs will not be tolerated. Parents themselves should be educated about drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Parents too must be set a good example. Parents who do not use drugs have a much better chance to rear drug-free children.

If parents are using drugs, they should stop immediately. The unconditional message to kids must be that drugs are wrong and these will not be tolerated at home.

All preventive measures in the world cannot assure that our children will not experiment with drugs . If parents suspect that their child is already using drugs immediately consult a doctor or a drug de-addiction centre.

— Dr Anil Dheer

Ludhiana, September 24
Ludhiana players dominated the proceedings in the ongoing 51st Punjab State Schools Inter-District Games being held at different venues, here today.

In the girls (under-19) hockey category, hosts scored a facile 14-0 victory over Ferozepore. Amandeep Kaur scored seven goals, Gurpreet found the target five times, while Kulwinder and Manpreet scored one each.

In the boy’s section, Ludhiana stunned Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, 2-0.

In the girls’ (under-17) badminton category, Ludhiana recorded 2-0 win over Sangrur and boys beat Nawanshahr, 2-0.

Today’s results: hockey (girls 19 years) — Moga beat Patiala, 2-0; Gurdaspur beat Amritsar, 1-0; Jalandhar beat Bathinda, 1-0; Mukatsar beat Ropar, 5-0; Ludhiana beat Ferozepore, 14-0; (boys under-19) — Moga beat Amritsar, 1-0; Ludhiana beat Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, 2-0; Bhaini Sahib beat Ropar, 3-1; Kila Raipur beat Gurdaspur, 6-0; and SPDA, Patiala, beat Sangrur, 3-1.

Badminton (girls under-17) — Ludhiana beat Sangrur, 2-0; Ropar beat Kapurthala, 2-0; Amritsar beat Fatehgarh Sahib, 2-0; Jalandhar beat Nawanshahr, 2-0; Mukatsar beat Mansa, 2-0; Ferozepore beat Faridkot, 2-0; Moga beat Bathinda, 2-0; Patiala beat Gurdaspur, 2-0; Mukatsar beat Kapurthala, 2-0; Ludhiana beat Faridkot, 2-0; Fatehgarh Sahib beat Bathinda, 2-0; and Jalandhar beat Patiala, 2-0; (boys’ under-17) — Ludhiana beat Nawanshahr, 2-0; Ropar beat Mukatsar, 2-0; Amritsar beat Jalandhar, 2-0; Ferozepore beat Patiala, 2-0; Moga beat Kapurthala, 2-0; Fatehgarh Sahib beat Faridkot, 2-1; Bathinda beat Mansa, 2-0; Gurdaspur beat Hoshiarpur, 2-0; Sangrur beat Ferozepore, 2-0; Patiala beat Kapurthala, 2-0.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, September 24
The Indian Air Force shooters hope to win laurels for their respective commands in the forthcoming All-India Malvankar Championship and the National Shooting Championship.

Terming their teams in infancy, the organisers hoped the AIF would produce a contingent of shooters that would be one of the largest and the most efficient.

“Though we started late, persistent efforts of our shooters supplemented by the inspiration and guidance by our seniors enabled them make a mark at the national level,” said Wg Cdr Rajwant Singh, Organising Secretary of the All-India Inter-Command Air Force Small Arms Shooting Championship that concluded at the Air Force Range, Halwara, yesterday.

Wg Cdr Shakti Singh Thakur, South-Western Air Command, one of the pioneer shooters of the AIF, claimed the Air Force team constituted in 2000 had proved its ascendancy in the national championship last year.

He had been achieving distinguished positions in the All-India Malvankar Championship and the National Shooting Championship over the years. He had also been imparting training to other IAF personnel in rifle, sten machine carbine, pistol and skeet shooting.

Mr A.S. Chauhan, a national shooter and gold medalist of the All-India Malvankar Championship, said the championship was the gateway to the National Shooting Championship. “Now when our shooters have started capturing positions in the Malvankar Championship, we will certainly bag frontier positions in the nationals also,” said Mr Chauhan.