Bathinda, November 28
With detection of more than 100 HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) positive cases and death of two AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) patients in the first 10 months of this calendar year in Bathinda district, the situation seems to be alarming and grim in the district.

Sources in the Health Department told The Tribune that from January to October 2009, as many as 111 HIV positive cases had been detected at three Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTCs) situated at Bathinda, Rampura and Talwandi Sabo while two AIDS patients died during this period in the district. Besides, there could be more HIV cases in the district that are still undetected.

As many as 77 HIV positive cases were detected at Bathinda ICTC while 21 and 13 such cases were detected at Talwandi Sabo and Rampura ICTCs, respectively, till October this year. One person died of AIDS in Bathinda sub-division while the other died in Rampura area this year. Both were reportedly truck drivers.

As compared to the last year, more HIV positive cases have been detected in Bathinda district during the current calendar year as during 2008, 91 HIV positive cases had been detected while three persons had died of AIDS. Besides, the AIDS claimed four lives in 2002 while 2003 and 2004 saw one patient each succumbing to the disease. In 2005, four patients had died due to AIDS. In all, 15 persons had died due to AIDS since 2002 in the district so far.

During the first 10 months of the current year, 3,556 blood samples were tested in Bathinda, of which 77 tested positive for HIV while 1,828 blood samples were tested in Talwandi Sabo, of which 21 HIV cases were detected. In Rampura, out of 1,973 blood samples, 13 were tested positive for HIV. The authorities had tested blood samples of the pregnant women, blood donors, the cases referred by doctors, TB patients etc.

In many cases, extra-marital sexual relation had caused HIV infection while in other cases, it was due to drug addiction, use of untreated syringes, blood donation by professionals etc. However, the record of the HIV and AIDS patients is kept confidential to save them from social stigma attached to the disease.

Chandigarh, November 28
The Punjab government is considering declaring cancer as a notified disease.In case this is done, Punjab would be the first state in the country to wake up to the need to notify the disease in order to gauge the extent of the problem in the state.

Members of the Cancer Council of India (CCI), a Patiala-based NGO, met the Principal Secretary (Health) Satish Chandra today in this regard. “Once the disease is notified it will be binding on all doctors across the state to report to the government in case they come across a patient suffering from cancer. This will help bring out the true picture of the quantum of the problem in the state,” said Karamvir Karan, secretary of the CCI.

Satish Chandra said the matter was under active consideration of the government. “We will have to see under which section of the Act can we notify this disease. Normally notified diseases are infectious diseases which spread quickly,” he said. The last disease to be notified was swine flu following which it was mandatory for all private health practitioners to inform the government about every such case.

Dr Aslam Parvez, president of the Rural Medical Services Association and executive member of the CCI said it was essential to notify cancer as it would help in knowing about the cancer causing agents across the state and region specific causes. Once we have data about this we can direct our efforts in a focused direction,” he said. Karamvir Karan added that this would also help identifying the disease early and preventing delay in treatment.

“Also once the state has statistically proved knowledge it can start a ‘cleansing’ procedure to remove cancer causing agents,” he said.

Quoting an article from the journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research Dr Parvez said the premature greying of hair and premature ageing and predisposition to cancer at Jajjal village in Punjab was studied by a team from AIIMS and is now being studied internationally. “Punjab should be the repository of such research and gather under one cell all information that is available or is being generated in this regard,” he said.

Bathinda, November 28
In response to a call given by the Private College Non-Teaching Employees Union (Punjab and Chandigarh), the non-teaching employees of the local DAV College observed a strike today. The employees agitated against the state government for not implementing the revised pay scales from January 1, 2006, even as their counterparts in government colleges were already getting the revised pay scales.

District president of the union Sat Pal Sharma asked the government to pay them salaries as per the revised pay scales, besides fulfilling their other demands like interim relief, enhancement in medical allowance, lifting of ban imposed on new recruitment, rural area allowance and implementation of pension and gratuity scheme.

President of local unit of the union Mohinder Pal has appealed to the government to accept their ‘genuine’ demands at the earliest. 

Bathinda, November 28
Delhi Public School, Bathinda, celebrated its athletic meet today. Ashok Chandra, (retd IAS), chairman, Delhi Public School Society, New Delhi, and C Sibin, IAS, ADC, Bathinda, were the chief guest and the guest of honour, respectively. The chief guest took the salute of the march past and released the balloons spreading the message of peace and love. 

The highlights of the function was the mascot ‘Pingoo – the Penguin’. Pingoo is an endeavour on the part of the school to sensitise the public about the issues of global warming. 

The gala cultural events were a hit with the guests and parents. Around 1000 students participated in various events. The drill with synchronised actions was presented by the students of classes III to V.  

Balzadpreet Singh and Harsangeet Kaur were adjudged the best athletes and Rishi Sahni and Manpreet Kaur were adjudged the fastest runners.  

Chief guest Ashok Chandra appreciated the efforts made by the school and wished them all success in their endeavours.

Sriganganagar/Abohar, November 28
Cross-voting by the Congress and BJP councillors is believed to have facilitated the victory of Sita Devi Soni as vice-president of the Sriganganagar municipal council late on Friday evening. She secured 27 votes while Congress nominee Prem Kumar polled 23.

Earlier, Congress rebel Jagdish Jandu, a former president of the MC, who contested as an independent, was elected president in the first ever direct polling, by defeating the party candidate Kashmiri Lal Jasuja by a margin of more than 14,000 votes.

BJP candidate Manmohan Sharma alias Mannu lost even his security deposit in the fray. The Congress candidates had won in 19 wards; an equal number of independents emerged victorious while the BJP candidates could win in 12 wards.

In Suratgarh, Congress candidate Deen Bandhu Rathi, has been unanimously elected as vice-president of the municipal council. BJP candidate Kalu Ram has been elected vice-president during the first meeting of the MC in Hanumangarh. He polled 30 votes against 15 polled by the Congress nominee Madan Lal, returning officer KR Sharma said. — OC

Mansa, November 28
Sabhyachar and Samajsewa Manch Mansa would hold its fifth cultural festival on November 29 at Khalsa High School, Mansa.

Different items like gidha, bhangra and sangeet would be performed by the artists. Sukhwinder Sukhi and Mintupuri would perform during this mela.

Manch president Rakesh Garg said the chief parliamentary secretary Jagdeep Singh Nakai would preside over the function and DC Kumar Rahul and SSP Hardyal Singh Maan would also be present in the mela.