2nd phase of revised national TB project on
Payal Pruthi
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
With almost all the states having access to DOTS services, barring a few districts in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, the planning for the second phase of the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), which began on October 1 envisages the inclusion of second line therapy for the patients.

In town to attend the Zonal Task Force (North Zone) Workshop at the PGI, officials from the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said in DOTS Plus new accredited laboratories which included at least one in each state would be set up which further would help in the diagnosis of MDR. In Punjab and Haryana deliberations are being made to set up the laboratory in Patiala and Karnal.

Describing the second line therapy as an expensive one, the CTB officials said it was a lengthy process stretching uptil three and a half years and the results were also not encouraging. The stress, he added, will be on the prevention of MDR (multi-drug resistance).

Under the second phase, a close coordination between the VCTC (Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre) and the RNTCP has also been planned. The officials said collaborative efforts at the state and district level in 14 states were being made in this direction. In addition to this drug-resistance, surveillance centres and intermediate reference labs were also being set up in more and more states.

The PGI, which remains the zonal centre for the assessment of the entire programme in the eight states, will emphasise on operational research in medical colleges. Under the RNTCP one thesis per medical college annually will be sought for which a grant of Rs 20,000 has been earmarked.

Gurmat society honours Fortis Hospital
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
On the occasion of the 401st anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib Prakash mahotsav, the Gurmat Parsar Seva Society of Chandigarh/Mohali felicitated Fortis Hospital for providing medical assistance to the community by conducting free medical camps and public awareness lectures in various gurdwaras over the past two years.

At a function attended by over 400 people at the Sector 34 gurdwara, the Gurmat Prasar Seva Society honored Mr Jasbir Grewal, Chief Operating Officer, Fortis Hospital, by presenting a siropa and a memento.

Mr. Sunder Singh, president of the society said, "Helping mankind is the biggest virtue for any person or organisation. By holding free medical camps and educating the public on health issues, Fortis is doing a truly commendable task and we are happy to honor them for this."

According to Mr Jasbir Grewal, Chief Operating Officer, Fortis Hospital, "It is our duty to continuously serve society. We have many more such programmes planned."

Non-communicable diseases workshop from today
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
A three-day workshop for the Health Secretaries and Director Health Services of the north Indian states on “Non-communicable diseases, prevention and control” is being organised by the School of Public Health, PGI, from tomorrow.

The workshop will focus on the review of the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Identifying strategies and defining approaches for prevention and smoking action plan for control of NCDs in various states will also be discussed.

The participants will deliberate on several key issues of national importance concerning non-communicable diseases. On the second day, various sessions on tobacco control and management guidelines will be discussed.

St John’s lift cricket title
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, October 23
Hosts St John’s High School, Sector 26, won the finals of the 8th Blessed Edmund Rice U-11 Cricket tournament, played here today. St. John’s outplayed YPS, Mohali, by 34 runs.

Earlier, St. John’s won the toss and elected to bat. The team scored 114 for 8 in stipulated 25 overs. Prithvi remained unbeaten with 36 runs, Jayant scored 25 runs and Gaurav 14 runs. For YPS, Ameen took two wickets for just six runs. For St. John’s, Vardhan Arora took six wickets for 22 runs and Aditya Duggal also bowled well Subeer Hayer with 33 runs and Ameen with 12 runs were the main scorers for the YPS, who were all out for 80 in 22 overs. D.P. Azad, who was the chief guest, gave away the prizes to the winning and the runners-up teams.

Brief scores: St. John’s High School: 114 for 8 in 25 overs (Prithvi Bharat 36 not out, Gaurav 14, Jayant 25, Ameen 2 for 6).

YPS School, Mohali: 80 all out in 22 overs: (Subeer 33, Ameen 12, Vardhan Arora 6 for 22 overs).

The man of the match award went to Vardhan Arora, best batsman to Subeer Hayer, best bowler to Vardhan Arora while best fielder to Jayant Choudhary.

3,000 athletes to participate in Chandigarh Games
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, October 23
More than 3,000 athletes, both men and women, will participate in as many as 21 sport disciplines in the first ever Chandigarh Games being organised by the Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA) from Thursday at various venues in the city.

The games will have athletics, archery, basketball, boxing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey (both men and women), judo, kayaking, rowing, volleyball, canoeing, kho-kho, tennis, table tennis, shooting, weightlifting and swimming. However, the games would not have badminton, cycling, skating, wrestling and netball. While badminton, cycling, wrestling are all played in Asian Games and Olympics, roller skating and netball are also a recognised sport by the Government of India. Moreover, in the last National Games held in Hyderabad, roller skating was one of the medal sport. A sports official was of the view that when kayaking and canoeing, a less popular sport in the city could be organised, why not badminton, cycling and skating, which are quite popular among the masses.

It is for the first time perhaps in the history of City Beautiful that such a mega sport extravaganza is being organised here for city-based sportspersons in coordination with more than 20 sport federations.

Expressing his pleasure at the support and cooperation shown by the Chandigarh Administration, Mr Ravinder Talwar, secretary-general of the Chandigarh Olympic Association, who is also the organising secretary, said the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, has been chosen as the control centre for the games.

Talwar added that their was great enthusiasm among the participants and the organisers. Though it was really an herculean task to hold these games in a smaller city like Chandigarh but eventually it would help the COA in getting organised for bigger ventures, may be National Games, in longer run.

Gen S.F. Rodrigues (retd), Administrator, UT, is the Chief Patron of the COA. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held on a grand scale at the Football Grounds, Sector 17.

Meanwhile, the following committees have been formed for the smooth conduct of the tournament.

Organising Committee: chairman-Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi; co-chairman- Mr S.K. Sandhu, Finance Secretary, UT; working chairman- Mr Chander Shekhar, IPS; and organising secretary- Mr Ravinder Talwar.

Finance Committee: chairman- Mr S.K. Sandhu, IAS; and members — Mr Chander Shekhar, IPS, Mr Kewal Dhillon, Mr Satya Pal Jain, Mr Ashok Goel, IAS, Mr J.S. Kandhari, Mr Som Parkash, IAS, Dr B.C. Gupta, IAS, and Mr Bedi, IRS, Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise.

Games Technical Conduct Committee: chairman- Mr T.C. Gupta; and convener - Mr Vijay Pal Singh.

Ceremonies and Medal Committee: chairman- Mr Ravinder Talwar; and members — Mr Maha Singh and Mr Balwinder Singh Johal.

Media and Publicity Committee: chairman- Mr Jagdeep Cheema; and member — Mr Raman Kalia.

Transport and Catering Committee: chairman- Mr Satish Chandra, IAS, ; and convener- Mr R. Sharan.

CRY cricket challenge begins
Our Correspondent

PEC boys are football champs
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
The hosts Punjab Engineering College thrashed NIT Jalandhar by 4-0 on the final day of football tournament organised by the inter engineering Deemed University Sports Association at Punjab Engineering College here today.

Earlier, PEC, Chandigarh, had defeated NIT Hamirpur by 3-0. The NIT Hamirpur, captained by Sangat Santra remained at the second slot whereas NIT Jalandhar, by Anjee Lepcha got the third position.

At the prize distribution ceremony, certificates were distributed by Sh. S.K. Suman, Registrar, PEC, Chandigarh and the winning trophy was presented by Dr. Vijay Gupta, Director, PEC, Chandigarh to the host captain Jastej Singh Sra.

The guest of honour for the event was Mr Som Dutt Vasudeva, Additional Advocate General, Himachal Pradesh.

St Peter’s, St Stephen’s enter final
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
Two brilliant goals by Chirag Verma enabled St Peter’s School of Sector 37 to move into the final of St Kabir Under-12 Football Trophy by thrashing Shivalik Public School by 4-0 in a semi-finals match at St Kabir’s School in Sector 26 here today.

In the second semi-finals match, St Stephen’s boys beat St Soldier’s International School, Sector 28, by 5-2. The tournament is being organised by the Chandigarh Football Association. Tomorrow, St Peter’s will meet St Stephen’s School of Sector 45 in the final at 10 am.

Aero sports display on Oct 25
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 23
The Prachute Regiment of the Indian Army will organise an aero sports display on October 25 at the Territorial Army Ground (opposite Durga Nursery, Mani Majra). The show, which will be open to public, starts at 3.30 pm and a display will be presented by the para motor flying team.

The team will perform skydiving, winch paragliding, parasailing and hot air ballooning.