The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

British varsities for MBBS aspirants
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, February 10
Kamalpreet Kaur Phallewal, a resident of Phallewal village in Ludhiana district and an MBBS student of University of Sheffield, England recommended that medical students from mediocre families should consult British counselors at the time of admission in professional medical colleges as the studies were more economical and practical oriented in British universities than in local institutes .

The British universities offered self financing to deserving candidates, she said.

Kamalpreet, a former student of local Anand Isher Senior Secondary School, after securing 80 per cent marks in class 12, was uncertain about her career, when she received a telephone call from Ludhiana-based institute, offering her admission to one of the medical courses at certain British universities. "Initially we interpreted their offer as fraud, but found the proposal worth accepting when dean of the University of East London assured that the admission was genuine," explained Kamalpreet.

On the onset, she joined B.Sc Microbiology, but later joined the MBBS class being conducted by the University of Sheffield. She was the only one to be offered unconditional admission. "At present, I am the only Indian student in my university and the authorities have offered me an education loan that was returnable after the completion of my degree," she said.

On the quality of education, Kamalpreet claimed that the study there was more practical oriented, than in India. "Even during theory periods, we are given practical training simultaneously. We hope to be ready for the service of the ailing humanity immediately after completion of degree," she maintained.

On her future plans, Kamalpreet said as there were wide opportunities in medicine in England, she would practice there at least till the loans were repaid.

Apollo opens rheumatology clinic
Kuldip Bhatia
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 10
SPS Apollo Hospital here has started a rheumatology aaide state-of-the-art care to patients suffering from various musculo-skeletal and joint disordnd immunology unit that will provide state-of-the-art care to patients suffering from various musculo-skeletal and joint disorder. According to Dr Parshant Aggarwal, who joined the institution as consultant in rheumatology and immunology, the super-speciality clinic would attend to patients suffering from arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout), systemic auto-immune and connective tissue diseases which often presented with multi-system involvement like rash, SLE, vasculitis and scleroderma, while at the same time offering treatment for immune mediated haematologic diseases, immuno-deficiency disorders, including primary immuno-deficiency syndromes and AIDS etc.

Dr Aggarwal, a post graduate in medicine, has done DM (Clinical Immunology) from Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, which is the only institute in Indi Medical Sciences, Lucknow, which is the only institute in India offering a doctorate degree in this specialty.

He is a recipient of the Delhi Rheumatology Association Young Investigator Award 2005. Recently he was awarded the Indo UK rheumatoloigator Award 2004, Japan College of Rheumatology International Scholarship-2005. Recently, he was awarded the Indo-UK Rheumatology Fellowship 2006 to get further exposure to the recent advances in the specialty of rheumatology at the prestigious University of Bristol, North Bristol, NHS Trust and Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath (UK).

Commenting on rheumatological and immunological diseases, Dr Aggarwal observed these were the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the community suffering from these diseases.”

This specialty unit at SPS Apollo will go a long way in serving the people of Punjab and adjoining areas, he remarked.

‘Stigma of AIDS hinders awareness’
Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, February 10
The Ludhiana Citizens’ Health Council, a voluntary body working to promote health awareness among different sections of people, has expressed its concern over the stigma and fear of discrimination attached to HIV/AIDS. This was proving to be a big stumbling block in the way of free exchange of information and interaction for the prevention of the disease.

During a series of meetings organised at different industrial units in the city, the council discussed various issues coming in the way of promoting HIV/AIDS awareness among the industrial workers. Different aspects concerning employees, employers and the work place were also deliberated at length.

Dr A. P. S. Gogia, coordinator, HIV/AIDS Prevention Project, felt that workers were not ready or mentally prepared to get their blood tested for social stigma attached to the disease. Further, the workers were also apprehensive that if tested positive for the infection, they might lose their job besides becoming a target of ridicule.

In the course of extensive interaction with the employers and industrial workers, the functionaries of the council stressed the need for appropriate steps to enable the workers to overcome the misgivings and stigma about the disease and develop labour-friendly culture in industrial units and business establishments. The members of business and industry were urged to create such work culture that workers could freely seek information on HIV.

Dr Gogia further said that need was also felt to sort out many other related issues like the right to know the HIV status of an employee in a large industrial unit. With certain exceptions, it was generally agreed that the employers must have the information about HIV status of the affected employee in the interest of other workers. This information was vital, particularly in the context of such workplaces where workers were exposed to the risk of accidental transmission of HIV infection.

The council had sought more involvement of the employers for dissemination of information on prevention of HIV/AIDS among the workers and to intensify the drive to propagate safe sex which was one of the major factors for prevention against HIV infection.

SPORTS

North zone athletes sparkle at All India LIC meet
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, FEBRUARY 9
Athletes from the Northern gave a good account of themselves winning three gold medals on the opening day of the 39th All India Life Insurance Corporation of India Athletics Meet at Guru Nanank Stadium here today.

While Amit Tyagi and Gurmeet Kaur bagged top honours in shot put, Renu Sharma won in the 400m race bagged top honours for the Northern zone.

Amit Tyagi hurled the iron ball to a distance of 15.61 metres to finish well ahead of others. The silver medal winner, P.J. Singh of the Northern zone threw the ball to 13.04 metres. Shailendra Thakur of Western zone with an attempt of 12.57 meters fetched the bronze medal.

In the women’s section, Gmeet Kurmeet Kaur’s throw of 12.49 metres helped her clinch the gold medal while K.G. Kavitha of South Central zone won the silver medal with a throw of 10.99 metres. Manisha Sudame of Western zone with a throw of 9.47 metres had to content with the third position.

The 400m race turned out to be a nerve-wrecking event as the two contenders, Renu Sharma of the North zone and Madhuri Gurnule of the Western zone, fought closely. Renu clocked 1.03 minutes to romp home victory while Madhuri followed her with closely with 1.04 minutes to finish runners up.

Earlier, Mr D.K. Mehrotra, Managing Director, LIC inaugurated the meet in which more than one hundred athletes from across the country took part. Mr S Roy Chowdhary, Chairman, LIC Sports Promotion Board read out the achievements of the athletes of national and international repute, who brought laurels to the corporation. Mr D.K. Bhagat, Senior Divisional Manager, Ludhiana Division welcomed the participants and wished them good luck in the med luck in the meet.

First day’s results: (Men)- 800m- Bhupinder Singh Jadon of Central zone 1, M A Venu of Southern zone 2 and D P Singh of North Central zone 3; shot put- Amit Tyagi of Northern zone 1, P J Singh of Northern zone 2 and Shailender Thakur of Western zone 3; high jump- K R Roshan of Soutghern zone 1, M V Nagender Prasad of South Central zone 2 and Utpal Kumar Dey of Eastern zone 3.

(Women)- 800m- Madhuri Gurnule of Western zone 1, H G Apsara of South Central zone 2; 100m- Vasanthi Bijoor of South Central zon1, Anju Khare of North Central zone 2 and G D’souza of Western zone 3; shot put- Gurmeet Kaur of Northern zone 1, K G Kavitha of South Central zone 2 and Manisha Sudame of Western zone 3; long jump- Lekha Roy of Southern zone 1, Harshini Kumari of South Cen (Women)- 800m- Madhuri Gurnule of Western zone 1, H G Apsara of South Central zone 2; 100m- Vasanthi Bijoor of South Central zone 2 and Jetty C Joseph of Southern zone 3; 400m- Renu Sharma of Northern zone 1 and Madhuri Gurnule of Western zone 2; 100m hurdles- Sylvina Pais of South Central zone 1 and N Packialakshmi of South zone 2.