HEALTH

Peer pressure fuelling drug addiction
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 13
Abrupt change in weather and peer pressure were the main reasons behind spurt in number of youths getting hooked on narcotics; this was observed during a de-addiction camp held at a local hospital here yesterday.

Dr Anshu Gupta, a psychiatrist, said most of the addicts who came for enrollment at local Hind Hospital had just crossed the adolescent period of their lives. While most of them were enthusiastic about getting rid of the evil habit, only 50 per cent came forward for the free follow-up at the hospital.

Dr Anshu said the younger generation preferred opium to poppy husk that was used by the older generation of the rural area. Alcohol had become a formal antidepressant, he added.

“Besides falling prey to the peer pressure, the youth between 25 to 30 years of age misconceived that drugs and narcotics helped in sex arousal,” opined Dr Anshu.

On the other hand, elders used these so that they could work for long hours. Those living a relatively tense life found these products to be tension-relieving.

Commenting upon the success of de-addiction camps, the psychiatrist said counselling and psychiatric courses were required in addition to pharmacological treatment.

“If not checked, the evil might negate the benefits of the fast growing development of the state as it was responsible for majority of the crimes,” warned Dr Anshu.

Expert dwells upon knee injuries
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 13
Dr Harpreet Singh Gill, Consultant in the Department of Orthopaedics at SPS Apollo Hospitals here, has stressed the need for early diagnosis of ligament injuries of the knee and prompt treatment of the same to prevent disability in later life.

Dr Gill was delivering a guest lecture at a two-day international symposium on current concepts of ligament reconstruction of the knee at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, on March 11 and 12. The symposium was sponsored by the Indian Arthroscopy Society, and attended by national and international faculty which dwelt upon ligament injuries of the knee.

While focusing on newer techniques of corrective surgery for injury of the ligaments of the knee, Dr Gill said even though Indian people had access to facilities for treatment, which were comparable to the best in the world, the reporting time of the Indian patients to a specialist was quite late.

Hence, there was dire need to create awareness among the masses about early reporting to a specialist. Neglected ligament injuries of the knee were difficult to treat and were also associated with morbidity. Prevalence of osteoarthritis knee was also more in such people who persisted with ligament injuries and delayed in getting specialised treatment, he added.

Dr Gill has also been invited for a guest lecture on shoulder problems at the annual conference of the North Zone Indian Orthopaedic Association, being held at Government Medical College, Patiala, from March 17 to 19.

Homeopaths form body in city
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 13
Homeopaths of the city have come together to form a Ludhiana chapter of the Indian Institute of Homeopathic Physician Organisation, a national body for institutionally qualified homeopathic doctors.

The first meeting of the organisation took place at the clinic of Dr Muktinder Singh, in which the following were unanimously elected office-bearers: president — Dr Rajesh Sofat; vice-president — Dr R.S. Sodhi;general secretary —Dr Muktinder Singh; joint secretary — Dr Devinder Raheja; and cashier — Dr Raminder Singla.

Dr Muktinder Singh said in a press statement issued here today that the organisation would hold a three-day intensive workshop on homeopathic education titled, Prerna 2006, on March 31 at Students Home Auditorium, PAU, Ludhiana.

Cardiac check-up camp
Our Correspondent

Amloh, March 13
The Satguru Partap Singh Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana, in collaboration with the Youth Sports and Welfare Club organised a cardiac check-up camp at the municipal complex here yesterday.

A team of doctors led by Dr Chetan Sharma, DM (Cardiology), examined 109 persons at the camp. ECG test were done free of cost.

The patients were also given free medicines for 4 days.

Mr Sadhu Singh Dharamsaut, Parliamentary Secretary, Home, Justice and PWD, was the chief guest.

He announced a grant of Rs 11,000 to the club. Mr Satwinder Sood, president of the club, thanked the team of doctors and the chief guest.

Talking to the mediapersons, Dr Sharma stressed the need to organise such camps in rural areas.

SPORTS

NRI sets up lawn tennis academy at village
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 13
Mr Harvinder Singh, an NRI from Jassowal Kular village, about 25 km from here, has spent more than Rs 3 crore in setting up a lawn tennis academy at the village. Mr Harvinder Singh is in his 70s and loves the game. He along with the help of villagers created an infrastructure at the Government Primary School ground where promising players in the age group of u-14 and u-16 years are being imparted training by two qualified coaches.

Mr Pargat Singh, Director, Sports, Punjab, accompanied by Mr Gianinder Singh Sandhu, District Sports Officer, Ludhiana, and Mr Harbans Singh, coordinator, Sports Authority of India (North), visited the village today.

Mr Harvinder Singh said there were six deco-turf courts and the coaches were Sadhana Goel from Lucknow and Vikramjit Singh from Kurukshetra. A foreign coach had also been invited for two months to teach the finer points of the game.

"A team from Pakistan would be invited to the village. We have chalked out a plan to develop a football ground in the village and for this purpose the formalities have been completed," he said.

Though the lawn tennis academy in the village has been operational since September, the formal inauguration will be held on April 1, he added.

All set for kabaddi meet
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, March 13
The police has made all arrangements for an international kabaddi tournament to be held at Zakir Hussain Stadium, Malerkotla, on Thursday. Addressing kabaddi players and the organisers at the local police station, Mr Rachhpal Singh, DSP, Malerkotla, and convener of the event, said committees had been constituted for the success of the meet.

Mr S. M. Sharma, IG, Patiala, will inaugurate the tournament and Mr Harinder Singh Chahal, SSP, Sangrur, and Mr Surjit Singh Grewal, SP (D), will be the guests of honour.