Docs dispel myths about epilepsy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 13
“Over the past few years, tremendous progress has been made in the field of treatment of epilepsy. More and more people with epilepsy are leading a productive life nowadays. This has helped decrease the social stigma associated with this disease. The introduction of new anti-epileptic drugs, with much lesser side effects, has made the task of doctors relatively easier.”

These observations were made by Dr Parampreet Singh Kharbanda, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the PGI, Chandigarh, while delivering a lecture at a CME on epilepsy, organised by the Physicians Association, Ludhiana, here last night. Nearly 70 physicians from the city and surrounding areas attended the programme.

Dr K.L. Dhar, who presided over the session, said the disease affected predominantly the young and productive age group. He said nearly 1 per cent of the population suffered from epilepsy. This was a disease associated with a lot of myths, but with the present-day treatment, along with surgical support, it could be easily controlled, he added.

Dr Gagandeep Singh, Professor and Head, Department of Neurology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, focused on the latest trends in management of epilepsy. “The new treatment has changed the outcome in most epileptic patients.”

Dr Tarun Satija welcomed the guests while Dr Karamvir Goyal introduced the speakers. Dr Vikas Loomba expressed gratitude to the speakers.

Rare surgery on urinary bladder
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 13
In a rare case of reconstruction of the urinary bladder, doctors at S.A.S. Grewal Multispeciality Hospital at Gurdev Nagar claimed to have cured the chronic illness of a female patient who had the complaint of frequent urination at regular intervals of about 10 to 15 minutes.

According to Dr Nitin Aggarwal, a leading urologist, the 40-year-old patient had come to the hospital with a complaint of over five years. Earlier the time gap was slightly wider and ultimately it came to 10 to 15 minutes. Dr Aggarwal said her bladder had completely lost the retention capacity and she had to urinate almost continuously. Although cystoscopy was performed at 3 places but no definite diagnosis was made. Finally she was diagnosed of the tuberculosis of the urinary bladder at the PGI, Chandigarh.

She ultimately came to the S.A.S. Grewal Multispeciality Hospital where she underwent a six-hour long surgery performed by Dr Nitin Agarwal and a new urinary bladder was reconstructed formed from the small intestine (food pipe) and was connected to very small left out urinary bladder. Ureters (pipes draining the kidneys) were connected to the newly formed urinary bladder (from food pipes) utilising the most modern and challenging technique to prevent deterioration of kidney functions. Deterioration of kidney functions is a usual sequel of classical technique of ureteric reimplantation. After 4 weeks of the operation, the patient is passing urine with 4-5 hours gap.

Dr Agarwal, has done 4 augmentation cystoplasties during last 8 years and all the patients have been doing well with good quality of life. Moreover, such type of long and challenging surgeries are possible with team effort and a good physIcian is a must for this type of surgeries because long surgical procedures are prone for medical complications.

Hara Trust donates ambulance
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 13
Family members of Hara Charitable Trust, Capt Sukhjit Singh Hara, Mr Kamaljit Singh Hara and Dr Gurshminder Singh Hara, donated an ambulance to Mr Narinderpal Singh, SSP, Ludhiana, at a function held at Sahnewal near here yesterday.

Keys of the ambulance were presented to the SSP in the presence of several other dignitaries, including Ms Harbans Kaur Dullo, Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab, Mr Gurcharan Singh Galib, former MP and Mr Krishan Kumar Bawa, Chairman, Housefed.

Mr Narinderpal Singh appreciated the gesture of the Hara family for the noble cause. He described in details various safety measures being taken by the district police to check road accidents and render assistance to accident victims. He said to motivate people come to the rescue of accident victims, the district police had launched a scheme to honour such persons.

Ms Dullo, Mr Ghalib and Mr Bawa, while addressing the function, appreciated the role of district police. Capt Sukhjit Singh Hara and other members of the trust explained in detail various welfare activities being undertaken by them. 

Birthday with a difference
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, November 13
Dr Araya, a consultant anaesthetist at a local hospital on Saturday donated blood for the 50th time to celebrate his birthday. Dr Araya not only donates blood twice a year, once on his own birthday and again on his father’s birthday, but he comes forward for blood donation whenever a critically ill patient or trauma victims needs it to save his life.

A felicitation function was organised at the blood bank by the students and staff members of Dayanand Medical College and the HDHI to place on record his contribution to the cause of suffering humanity and to give an impetus to the blood donation movement. A trophy and memento was presented to Dr Araya by Dr G.S. Wander, Director and chief cardiologist of HDHI.

Dr Amarjit Kaur, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine, at DMCH observed that the noble deed of Dr Araya ought to be emulated by people from different walks of life as they could save many precious human lives through voluntary blood donation.

SPORTS

Special Olympics conclude
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 13
After two days of hectic schedule of competitions, ‘special’ children had a fun time today. The mentally challenged boys and girls from Punjab and a contingent from Pakistan taking part in the 8th Punjab Special Olympics which concluded here at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar, were a relaxed lot. The visitors from Pakistan gave an impressive performance and bagged the overall trophy in the four discplines- athletics, basketball, badminton and bocce in which they competed.

Children from Pakistan who won medals were seen showing them to their guardians, accompanying them. Mudassir Mirza, a player from Lahore, speaking in chaste Punjabi told that he would not forget his visit to India. He proudly showed his medal and said that he enjoyed his stay here very much. When asked what did he like the most during his visit to the city, Mirza said that he felt at home here and relished the food.

The Pakistan contingent will leave for Delhi tomorrow after which they plan to visit Agra.

Ms Raunaq Lakhani, head of the Paksitan squad thanked the organisers for making excellent arrangements for their stay in the city. “We never thought that we would be accorded so warm reception and looked after here. We had been thinking of inviting a team of mentally challenged boys and girls during the first half of next year and would try to reciprocate the hospitality which we received here. The frequent visits of our players and those from India would certainly further strengthen ties between two nations,” Ms Lakhani added.

Mr Surinder Singh, general secretary, Guru Nanak Public School, was the chief guest on the occasion. He distributed the prizes to the position holders. This was followed by a parade by the participants who marched into the ground at the tune of the school band.

Results: 50 m lower ability (boys) — Shabh of Amritsar 1, AZmritpal of Roapr 2 and Rahul Khosla of Pathankot 3; bocce- gorup A — Navjivni of Patiala 1, Prayas of Jalandhar 2 and Ek Pryaas of Ludhiana 3; Group B- Pakistan 1, Asha Kiran of Hoshairpur 2 and SBRC of Patiala 3; basketball- Pakistan boys and girls teams 1.

Badminton — Imraan Khan of Pakistan 1, Vinod Kumar of Patiala 2 and Arsalan Rizwi of Pakistan 3; 200 m dash (boys 16-21 years) — Gurparsad of Patiala 1, Kamaljeet of Ropar 2 and Mohd Yousaf of Pakistan 3; shot put (boys 8-11 years) — Malkit Singh of Pathankot 1, Satinder singh of Pathankot 2 and Simran of Ludhiana 3; shot put (girls 8-11 years) — Lovely Deni of Pathankot 1, Amrit Pal of Pathankot 2 and Anu Yadav of Pathankot 3.

25 m walk low ability (girls) — Mala of Jalandhar 1, Manjot Kaur of Patiala 2 and Karuna of Amritsar 3; 100 m walk (girls 16-21 years) — Shalu of Amritsar 1, Gurpreet of Amritsar 2 and Megha Uppal of Jalandhar 3; running long jump (girls 12-15 years) — Amritpal Singh of Jalandhar 1, Arjun Singh of Moga 2 and Beant Singh of Faridkot 3; relay race (boys) — Pakistan 1 and Patiala 2.

GNM romp home in hockey
Our Correspondent

Doraha, November 13
Guru Nanak Model School, Doraha (A), defeated Government Senior Secondary School, Doraha, by a margin of 3-0 on the second day of the 7th Inter-School Divali Hockey Tournament being organised in the memory of the late founder president of the college, Dr Ishwar Singh, at the Guru Nanak Stadium of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha.

Among the other matches played on the day, Govt Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal, defeated Malwa Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana, by 2-0 and Shakti Public School, Doraha, defeated NS Public School, Kila Raipur, by 6-1.

Mr Jogeshwar Singh Mangat, the chief guest, congratulated the participating teams and said the game of hockey should be promoted at all levels.

He said it would enable many students to expose their talent and rise in sports circles.

Bibi Bhagwant Kaur, president, College management committee, Mr Jaswant Singh Gill, director of the college, Prof Balwant Singh Pangali, general-secretary, Mr Harjinwan Pal Singh Gill, and Mr Harpartap Singh were also present on the occasion.

Mr Jagdev Singh Grewal, Principal of the college, said,” The 7th Divali Hockey Tournament, as in the past six years, is being organised due to the sincere wish of the late founder president of the college, Dr Ishwar Singh, who wanted to promote this game among the youngsters and thus provide an impetus to them.

The results of the match are as follows: In the first match of Pool-A Government Senior Secondary School, Jatana, got a walk-over on Akal Academy, Dhindlsa. In the second match, Malwa Senior Secondary School defeated R S Khalsa High School, Jaspalon by 6-2.

In the third match, Government Senior Secondary School, Sahnewal, got a walk-over by Government High School, Rampur.

In the fourth match of Pool-B, N.S. Public School, Kila Raipur defeated Malwa Senior Secondary School, Ludhiana (B).