Ludhiana, December 2
The saying "all doctors are bookworms with no artistic bone" was proved wrong by the talent young dentists displayed at Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College and Hospital, here on Thursday evening. They were celebrating the annual day of the college.

The spirited show put up by the faculty and students left the audience, comprising around 400 NRIs from the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, the UAE, Australia and other countries, asking for more.

The celebrations commenced with the singing of a shabad followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp.

Principal Dr (Col) V.K. Rana presented the annual report, highlighting the milestones achieved by the institution in the field of dental education and provision of oral healthcare.

"As latest diagnostic and treatment facilities are being introduced, our faculty and students are taking the academic standards to new heights by getting distinctions in university examinations," he remarked.

In his inaugural address, college managing committee chairman Baba Jaswant Singh accorded a warm welcome to the guests and stressed the mission of “sewa” (service) and “simran” (prayer), coupled with selfless work toward providing education - spiritual and academic.

He also reminded doctors of the ideals and ethics of their profession.

"A degree in respective field is not enough to make one a doctor; the most vital requirement is to have compassion, care and humility to alleviate the suffering and sickness of those in need. As a human being, we all have to render our social responsibilities and work toward the betterment of society," he observed.

He added that a Sri Guru Amar Das Hospital, a 300-bed super-speciality hospital on the Chandigarh road and an international standard school for children were on the anvil. Land for both projects had been acquired and work would start soon.

A multimedia presentation showcasing the advancements in the field of cosmetic dentistry, crowns and bridges prosthesis through cases successfully performed at the hospital was presented by Dr K.B.S. Kukreja, Professor and Head, Department of Prosthodontics, and Dr Sameer Kaur, Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Celebrations were then kicked off by spirited students. Hindi melodies and evergreen Punjabi songs of Surinder Kaur reverberated the arena. The contemporary fusion of dandiya, sword dance and instrumental remix, staged with the help of many interesting props, added colour to the musical bonanza.

The programme wasn’t without a message - highlighting the ill-effects of liquor and drug abuse through “Amlian Di Jaago” or focusing on the menace of female foeticide through witty stand-up acts.

Other performances included semi-classical dance forms, rendition on guitar, a satirical take on cricket through a choreography, the traditional Punjabi jesters “bhands”.

Giddha, bhangra and jhoomer wrapped up the programme.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, December 2
The Sangrur District Health authorities have called upon leaders of various social organisations of the area to join hands with a group of local organisations and help the department check the spread of hepatitis B virus and associated deceases.

The call came at a vaccination camp organised at a local hospital under aegis of the Royal Society for Education, Environment and Rural Health Care, Lucknow, today.

Over 300 persons were vaccinated against the disease at the camp, which was presided over by Dr K.C. Goel, District Health Officer. Mr Mukesh Sharma, Executive Magistrate, was the chief guest.

Addressing a gathering, Dr Goel cautioned the masses against deleterious affects of Hepatitis B virus infection.

Appreciating the role of organisers in coordinating with the parent institute, Dr Goel maintained that social organisations could play a pivotal role in utilising government projects to the benefit of the masses.

"Office-bearers of social organisations being closer to masses, knew more about the their problems and could guide them properly," said Dr Goel.

Dr Jyoti Kapoor, Dr Sunit Hind, Dr Jaspreet Kaur and Dr Gurtej Singh spoke on the occasion.

Ludhiana, December 2
Having received a kidney from his son Abhishek Lal after undergoing a renal transplant at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here, the victim of kidney failure Satish Lal now looks toward good samaritans and voluntary organisations to come to his rescue in his effort to recuperate and rehabilitate.

Satish Lal, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, had come here along with his family to seek treatment at the CMCH. Maintained on haemodialysis during his prolonged illness, the patient with meagre financial resources had to stop working, which further added to his misery, as the family members were dependent on him.

According to Dr Kim Mammen, Head of Urology at the CMCH, Mr Lal underwent successful kidney transplantation and had normal kidney function.

Having said goodbye to the traumatic experience of prolonged haemodialysis and a stormy post-operative period, the patient feels indebted to the team of doctors at the hospital for their compassionate medical and nursing care, as also for the “gift of life” from his son.

The gloomy side of the picture, however, is that Mr Lal and his family have exhausted all their financial resources on the treatment. A minor procedure for the removal of his “peritoneal dialysis catheter” is still pending and the family has an unpaid bill of Rs 1.5 lakh at the hospital.

Mr Lal hopes to get back to work and repay the debts he had incurred. "I will also motivate patients with acute kidney failure to undergo kidney transplantation from a related kidney donor as this appears to be the best way to improve ones quality of life and get back to normal life.”

“Any donation or philanthropic financial support will be appreciated by my family and even small contributions will go a long way in ameliorating our sufferings,” he pleaded.

Those keen on lending a helping hand may contact Dr John Abraham, Medical Superintendent, CMCH. Donations may also be made through crossed cheque in favour of “Christian Medical College, Ludhiana”, with “Treatment of Satish Lal”, marked on the reverse of the cheque or draft.

Ludhiana, December 2
A family welfare camp was organised at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) under the guidance of Dr Mary Abraham, Project Director of the post partum unit and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, here yesterday.

The camp was held in collaboration with the district health administration.

While inaugurating the camp, Dr Yash Pal Singla, Civil Surgeon, stressed on the need for family planning so as to combat the devastating effects of increasing population on the entire process of development. He termed the NSV (Non-Scalpel Vasectomy), the male sterilisation technique, as a better and safer alternative to Tubal Ligation, the female sterilisation technique.

In this camp, 100 patients were registered, of which 83 underwent the Tubal Ligation surgery by the laproscopic technique. All the women undergoing surgery were given a sum of Rs 150 and a wall clock as an incentive.

Others present on this occasion were Dr Reena Sandhu, District Family Welfare Officer, Dr John Promod, Director CMCH, Dr John Abraham, Medical Superintendent CMCH and Dr Mohan Verghese, Principal CMC.

Ludhiana, December 2
The Department of Pharmacology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), today organised a workshop on “Clinical Research Methodology”. It was conducted by the faculty of the Department of Pharmacology, JIPMER, Pondicherry; and Government Medical College, Amritsar.

During interactive sessions, common problems encountered during research and methods to overcome these were discussed by faculty and delegates.

In his inaugural speech, Dr Daljit Singh, Principal, DMCH, underlined the key factors needed to follow while undertaking research projects.

He stressed that researchers should be motivated to equip themselves with clear-cut model and methodological tools.

Dr S.C. Chopra, Dean Academics at DMCH, and chairman, organising committee, welcomed the participants.

He said the department had been organising workshops in research methodology for 
postgraduate students of the institution in the past.

Introducing the theme, Dr Sandeep Kaushal, organising secretary, said the workshop would help participants in formulating a hypothesis, preparing a research protocol, writing a proposal for research grant and seeking ethical clearance for projects.

Dr R. Raaveendran, Professor, Department of Pharmacology at JIPMER, Pondicherry, spoke on “Steps in research”, while Dr Jatinder Singh, Additional Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the GMC, Amritsar, said an e-group would soon be set up to facilitate interaction among participants with the faculty so as to give proper support and assistance to research projects as per the requirements.

Ludhiana, December 2
To provide ultra modern facilities for the members of the Lodhi Club, Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, Deputy Commissioner-cum-president of the club, laid the foundation stone of an all weather swimming pool to be constructed at a cost of Rs 60 lakh in a brief function here late last night.

He also inaugurated the new gymnasium fitted with the latest equipment costing Rs 22 lakh.

Giving details of the further plans, he informed that after the completion of the pool a wet area with all facilities, including sauna, steam bath, etc., would also be added to the health club.

Mr Gupta said the cultural and sports activities in the club were being substantially improved and the quality of the facilities in the club would be monitored strictly by executive members.

He informed that some more members were being enrolled in the club shortly and after January 2007 the membership fee of the new members would be doubled. The club would celebrate the New Year’s function on January 1 in a befitting manner.

With the opening of the railway line near the club, the location of the club had emerged as the central point for the posh localities of the city along the Ferozepur road and the public activities in the area had enhanced many folds, he pointed out.

He said the quality of services in the club had also been upgraded and a new caterer had been engaged.

Others who attended the meeting included Mr K.L. Chhabra, general secretary, Mr Manider Singh Bedi, joint secretary, Mr Sudhir K. Bhambri, treasurer, Mr Amrit Bhambri, bar secretary, and Dr D.S. Ladder, mess secretary of the club.

Ludhiana, December 2
Students of Bhartiya Vidya Mandir (BVM) Senior Secondary School won 10 medals, including four gold medals, in the 19th National Athletics and Judo Championship, which was organised by Vidya Bharti at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, from November 26 to 29.

According to Mr Baljeet Singh Gill, Director, Sports, BVM Schools, Ludhiana, 16 players of the Kitchlu Nagar and Udham Singh Nagar branches represented the North Zone in this championship. In athletics, the players of this school bagged two gold, three silver and two bronze medals wh ile in judo, they won three gold and one bronze medals.

In judo, Nidhi Arora and Manjeet Kaur won gold medals while Viphali Bawa won the bronze medal in the below-48 kg category.

In athletics, Amandeep Singh won silver medals in 200 m, 400 m and 4x400m relay; Narinder Soni and Harpreet Singh won gold medals in cross country races; Rohit Sharma won the bronze medal in 1500 m and Shivam won the bronze medal in 4x100m relay race.