HEALTH

Help mentally challenged, NGOs urged
Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, October 10
The District and Sessions Judge, Mr Harbans Lal, today stressed the need to provide proper medical care, educational facilities to the mentally challenged and handicapped persons. He said it was the moral duty of the society to ensure that such persons were taken care of.

He appealed to NGO's to come forward for the cause.

He was addressing a seminar organised by the District Legal Services Authority, at Civil Hospital here, today, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. He apprised the audience about the "legal rights" of mentally challenged persons.

Mr Lal said any such person was entitled for free legal services. In case, the legal rights of any such persons were infringed upon or there was necessity of filing any case to protect their rights, the guardian of such person could submit an application to the District Legal Services Authority or directly to him. They would be provided a lawyer free of cost and the incidental expenses incurred during the case would also be borne by the authority.

Several mentally challenged students of Nirdosh school performed an impressive cultural programme on the occasion. To encourage the participants the judges presented cash gifts to them.

The Additional Sessions Judges-Mr S.P. Bangarh, Mr Gurbir Singh, Civil Judge Senior Division-cum-Secretary Legal Services Authority, MrS.S.Dhaliwal,District Attorney,Mr Amar Ashok Pathak, Social workers, Ms Pappu Avinash Singh, Ms Ruby Fernandez, Prof Kuldip Sood, SMO, Civil Hospital- Dr Manjeet Kaur, Mr Sarwan Kumar of Nishkam Sewa Sangh shared their views on the upliftment of such children.

World Mental Health Day was observed by Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here today. Based on the theme “Physical and mental health across life span”, emphasis was laid on a healthy start to life for every mother and child, physical and mental health in adolescence, ways to promote mental health in infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities.

A poster exhibition was organised on the occasion by first year psychiatry group students of M.Sc (Nursing) to educate the public about treatments of mental health problems.

The function was presided over by Dr John Abraham, Medical Superintendent of the CMCH. He appreciated the initiative taken by the Nursing Department to hold the event.

Dr Kanwaljeet Gill, Professor of Psychiatry in the College of Nursing, said that mother and children were the main victims of mental illness. “It is observed that every year 1.6 million children die in the first year of life and one out of 12 do not reach his or her fifth birthday. The condition of women become worse, supported by WHO facts that 41.9 per cent of women are depressed and one out of five suffer rape or attempt of rape in their life.”

She emphasised the need to find the reason of the mental illness and efforts to nip it in the bud. She also spoke on the need for government funding research programs for better treatments.

Dr R.S. Deswal, Head of Department Psychotherapy, CMCH, stated that ignorance was rampant in society about the relation between the mental and physical health. 

Take action against quacks: samiti 
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, October 10
Activists of the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Suraksha Samiti, led by district president, Mr Rajeev Tandon, held a demonstration and a road show at Mata Rani Chowk here today.

They were demanding action against unauthorised medical practice by self-styled doctors who were posing grave threat to lakhs of city residents, particularly those belonging to weaker sections.

The protesters also presented a road show in the course of demonstration, depicting dispensation of medicines by quacks and alleged connivance between the law-breakers and officials of enforcement agencies like the Health Department and the police.

The speakers said the health officials and the police did not take any action on quacks even after four children lost their lives in the city recently due to wrong medication.

They were particularly harsh over police inaction, even after lists of quacks, operating in their respective areas, were submitted to concerned officials.

The samiti functionaries served an ultimatum to the Health Department and the police to take steps to curb quackery in the district without any delay, failing which they would launch a mass agitation against the state government.

They would also meet the Chief Minister and Health Minister soon in this regard, they added.

350 examined at medical camp

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 10
A free medical camp for cardiac problems and diabetes was organised by the Senior Citizen and Pensioners Welfare Society, Mandi Gobindgarh, at Ram Bhavan, here yesterday.

The camp was inaugurated by social worker Seth Khanya Lal Bardeja.He donated Rs 31,000 to the society.

As many as 350 patients were checked up by Dr Vinod Gupta of the DMC, Ludhiana , Dr Bishav Mohan, Dr Naveen Mittal and their team. 

SPORTS

Municipal club beat Raman XI
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 10
Sunny Bhalla (47 n.o.) and Harmit Batra (33) helped Municipal Corporation Club to beat Raman XI by eight wickets in a cricket match played here yesterday. Batting first after winning the toss, Raman XI scored 127 runs in 24.3 overs.

Manu top scored with 35 runs, while Happy made 23. For the club, Rajesh captured four wickets for 11 runs and Sunny took two for 13, while Pappu Thaman grabbed two wickets for 16 runs.

The club achieved the target in 18.3 overs, losing just two wickets. Besides Sanjay Bhalla (47), other notable scorers were Harmit Batra (33) and Salil Kaushal (24).

Vidya Mandir excel in athletics championship
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 10
Athletes of Bharatiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School stole limelight in the recently held Punjab State Athletics Championship for boys and girls (under-11, under-14, under-17 and under-19 years) organised by the Sarvhitkari Educational Society at Talwara.

As many as 49 students of the school took part in the four-day competition and four of them were adjudged the best athletes in different age groups.

The athletes of this school also emerged overall champions. The medal winners of this schools are: Priya Bawa- first in 1500m, first in 5000 m and first in 3 km cross -country race and was named the best athlete in the under-19 years age group; Rupali Arora came first in 100 m, 200 m and discus throw and was declared the best athlete.

Deepak Gautam stood first in 800 m, 1500 m and 5 km cross-country race and was adjudged the best athlete in the boy's under-19 years group; Amandeep Singh secured first position in 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m and bagged the best athlete award in the boy's under-17 years category.

Other medal winners were: boys (under-11 years)- Prabhat Singh second in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m; Tarun Thapar third in shot put; (boys under-14 years)- Akshin Jain,first in 100 m; Raghav Mahendru -first in 600 m and second in 400 m; Harpreet, Uday, Akshin and Raghav- first in 4x100 m relay; (boys under-17 years)- Tarun Sood- first in 100 m and second in 200 m; Rushkar- second in shot put; Tarun, Pushkar, Amandeep and Simranpreet- first in 4x100 m relay.

Girls (under-14 years): Ganga Gautam- first in 600 m, second in 400 m and 200 m; Priya- first in shot put; Kajal Vohra-second in discus throw; Diksha Bharti, Deepika and Ganga- second in 4x100 m relay race.

Girls (under-17 years): Kirti Sharma- second in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m; Kamaldeep Kaur- first in shot put, second in 800 m and discus throw; Vishali Bawa- first in 3000 m; Kirti, Shivani, Jaspreet and Sakshi- second in 4x100 m relay race.

Girls (under-19 years): Manisha Gupta- second in 400 m; Manisha Verma- second in 800 m and shot put; Saloni Madhok- second in javelin throw; Priya Bawa, Rupali Arora, Manisha Gupta and Manisha Verma- first in 4x100 m relay race;and Manisha, Priya, Manisha Gupta and Rupali- first in 4x400 m relay.