The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Workshop on disability prevention
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4
A three-day workshop on orientation of medical officers in disability prevention and rehabilitation started at Government Medical College and Hospital here today.

Second in the series of six workshops to be organised under the aegis of the Rehabilitation Council of India, more than 25 doctors from the city are participating in the workshop.

Prof Raj Bahadur of the GMCH stated that India had as many as 100 million disabled persons and the figure was likely to increase in view of the rapid changing demographic profiles and morbidity patterns. ‘‘No country can afford to carry such a heavy load of disability as it would affect the quality of human life and productivity of the nation. Services for the prevention, early detection, intervention and rehabilitation in rural areas even after 54 years of Independence is minimal. Hence there is an urgent need to develop services for the disabled, especially in the rural areas by building linkages through convergence. These workshops are aimed at building such linkages between the primary health institutions and the target population on one end and the primary institutions with the tertiary institutions on the other,’’ he said.

In the session on visual disabilities, Prof M.R. Dogra of the PGI gave an overview of the problem and highlighted that out of the total 40 million blind people of the world, 13 million were in India. The important causes of blindness in India, Dr Dogra said, included cataract, trachoma, vitamin-A deficiency, measles and glaucoma, which were all preventable.

Prof Sunandan Sudan, Head of Department of Ophthalmology, GMCH, discussed the role of early identification of visual impairments so that the final disability could be minimised. Methods to evaluate visual disability and various concessions and relaxations to these persons from the government were also discussed.

Free treatment camp
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4
The National Institute of Alternative Medicines will organise a free acu-magnetic treatment camp from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3206, Sector 44, from tomorrow, according to a press note.

A team of nature care doctors under the supervision of Dr Iqbal Bhalla will treat chronic diseases like cervical and lumber spondylitis, arthritis, asthma, migraine and piles without medicine.

SPORTS

SPORTS ROUND-UP
Fencing becoming popular
Arvind Katyal

Fencers at a state-level meet held recently at Anandpur Sahib.

Chandigarh
The martial art of fencing is gaining popularity in this region. In recent years, a number of fencing tournaments have been held and people have started showing greater interest in this sport. The Chandigarh Fencing Association and the Punjab Fencing Association are the two bodies in this region which are working to promote this sport. This week, the Dashmesh Academy of Martial Arts, Anandpur Sahib, held a two-day Punjab State Senior Fencing meet in which teams from several districts took part. Association officials said that for the second year, a one-year diploma course was in progress at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, to prepare fencing coaches. The presence of nearly 200 fencers from the state testified to the fact that this sport was on an upswing.

To promote this sport, these associations and other controlling bodies will have to tap talent from the rural areas which have considerable potential for it. An academy can be started by the Sports Authority of India or the sports department of the state.

However, the beginners may find it difficult to invest in the costly equipment. That is where government help will be needed.

Fitness centre

The much delayed sports sciences-cum fitness centre was opened this week at the sports complex in Sector 42. This facility for sportspersons has been welcomed by the staff of the SAI, and other coaches. Sportspersons will not have to pay the heavy fees of private gymnasiums. Sports experts are of the view that if the centre is fully utilised by SAI trainees, campers and former sportspersons, it will develop into a unique centre unlike other private fitness centres. The SAI could also initiate other facilities for trainees, such as a sports library, so that a proper sports environment is created.

City boys triumph in carrom
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, November 4
Chandigarh overwhelmed Punjab by 3-0 in the boys section while city girls lost to Andhra Pradesh at 1-2 on the opening day of the 47th Edition of the National School Games where carrom was having its maiden venture. In other matches for boys section, Maharashtra beat Andhra Pradesh at 2-1 and Andhra Pradesh defeated Punjab at 3-0. In girls section, Maharashtra defeated Punjab at 3-0.

Earlier, the four-day meet was inaugurated by Mr T.S. Bawa, former hockey Olympian. Surprisingly, very few teams had reported for the meet despite the efforts made by the organisers. Another notable omission was the flag of the School Games Federation of India at the venue, under whose aegis the meet was being conducted. When asked Mr P.S. Chhabra, secretary general of the SGFI, said he and even the President of the SGFI, Mr C.L. Negi, were not even invited for the meet.

The Food Corporation of India defeated Inde -Dutch XI by seven wickets in the second Dilawari Cricket Tournament played here today. Amarjit Kaypee of the FCI was declared the player of the tourbnament.

Brief scores: Inde DutchXI: 165 runs allout (Jagjit Saini 39, Rajeev 29, Amarjeet Kaypee 3 for 19, Kulwinder 3 for 21); FCI: 167 runs for three (Amarjeet Kaypee 44, Kamal Thakur 38).

Tennis meet

The All-India Civil Services Tennis Meet will begin here tomorrow at Tennis Stadium, Sector 10. As many as 12 teams will take part in the three-day meet.