The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HIV/AIDS — prevention is better than cure

THE number of AIDS patients is increasing everyday. It affects all age groups. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an infectious disease caused by human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). It was first described in the United States of America in 1981. The HIV destroys the immune system which makes it impossible for the body to fight off the disease or even minor illness. AIDS is the last phase in HIV disease, when the body is unable to fight the disease or even minor illness. Someone who is HIV positive may appear to be healthy for 10 years or longer before the symptoms of AIDS develop. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 33 million adults and 1.3 million children worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS as of 1999 with 5.4 million being newly-infected that year. Most of these cases are in the developing countries of Asia and Africa.

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS

Swelling of glands in neck, armpits.

Rapid unexplained weight loss.

Persistent unexplained fever and night sweats. Persistent diarrhea and severe fatigue. Unusual sores on the skin or in the mouth, white patches in the mouth.

Unexplained shortness of breath and dry cough. Severe numbness or pain in the hands and feet. Unusual cancers and infections. Personality change or mental deterioration.

HIV is not spread by mosquitoes, toilet seats, being coughed on by an infected person, casual contact with someone who is HIV positive or who has AIDS, or by donation blood. HIV is spread when blood, semen or vaginal fluids from an infected person enter someone else’s body. The specific behaviours that spread include.

- Unprotected vaginal or oral sexual activity with someone who is HIV positive.

- Sharing injection needles and syringes with someone who is HIV positive.

- Unprotected without a condom rectal entry intercourse (anal sex). Anal sex often tears the rectal blood vessels, allowing the virus to enter the body.

- Babies born to or breast-fed by women who are HIV positive are at high risk of contracting the virus.

- HIV can take up to six months after infection for HIV antibodies to develop. The virus can be transmitted even before the anti-bodies have developed.

Prevention

The following actions will reduce your risk:

Parents and teachers educate the kids. Kids are smart. They are smarter than we give them credit for especially (regarding) sex.
Avoid unprotected sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of or who has been exposed to sexually transmitted diseases STD. Keep in mind that a person may have no symptoms but still be able to transmit the diseases.
Never share needles, or other personal items that could be contaminated with blood. Even needles that have been boiled can remain contaminated.
Avoid unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse and oral sex with anyone whose sexual history may not be risk free. Use condoms from the beginning to the end of sexual contact.
If you are beginning a sexual relationship, take time before having sex to talk about HIV and other STDs. Remember that it is possible to be infected without knowing it.

Dr Anil Dheer

Accreditation of clinical labs favoured
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
The Department of Biochemistry, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), held a symposium on the accreditation of clinical laboratories here today. Dr Bharti Uppal, organising secretary of the symposium, said over 100 delegates from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir attended the symposium, which was inaugurated by the Minister for Education and Languages, Mr Harnam Dass Johar. Other guests included Dr C.P. Bansal, Dr S.N. Tewari, Dr Anil Relia, Dr Kanagasabapathy and Dr S.K. Sood.

Dr Relia stressed on the need for testing and calibrating laboratories to conform to requirements with respect to national and international standards and user specifications. Accreditation of laboratories was considered as an essential step towards mutual acceptance of test results and certificates. He also spoke on the scope and the status of NABL accreditation.

Dr Kanagasabapathy elaborated on the quality assurance requirements for accreditation. Traceability and accountability/documentation were imperative for quality assurance programmes. He also spoke on various quality assurance schemes available in the country. He said quality costed but poor quality ended up costing more.

Dr Sood spoke on the effect of pre-analytical variables on test results, including age, gender, timing of sample collection, effect of stress, food intake, medication and smoking. He stressed upon the need to be aware of all these factors while interpreting the results.

Dr J.G. Jolly stressed upon the need for accreditation of blood centres so as to provide safe blood and its components.

Mr Johar impressed upon the need for good laboratories keeping in mind AIDS and hepatitis-B. Mr Johar applauded the efforts of the CMCH and its contribution to society. He announced a grant of Rs 50,000 to the CMCH’s charity fund.

Dr J.L. Joshi acting director, CMC, said keeping its tradition of being first the CMC shall be participating in accreditation programmes. Dr T.M. Jaison, Deputy Director CMC, was also present. Dr Mohan Verghese, Principal, CMC, applauded the role of the CMC laboratories.

Dr Basant Pawar said the accreditation procedures should be simplified to make them more lab-friendly.

Dr Bharti said the purpose of the symposium was to make the medical fraternity aware of the importance of accreditation. Quacks in the diagnostic fields should be checked as reports from laboratories played a significant role in diagnosis, management and predicting the prognosis of a patient.

Physiotherapy for elderly tomorrow

Ludhiana, December 6
In its effort to provide best health care to senior citizens (60 years and above), the Physiotherapy Department of the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, under the guidance of Dr Satwinder Kalra, will organise a free physiotherapy camp at the hospital from December 8-13.

Dr Kalra said unlike developed countries, the concept of good health for senior citizens was still in its infancy in India. OC

SPORTS

Kanika, Navneet excel in athletics
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Kanika, student of VI class, representing the Gold House and Navneet Kaur of IX class, competing from the Blue House were at the centre stage clinching two titles each on the second day the annual athletics meet of the Sacred Heart Convent Secnior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar here today. Kanika won 100m and 50m races in the group A while Navneet Kaur bagged titles in 400m and 50m races respectively.

The following were the second day's results: 100m (girls) group A- Kanika 1, Inderpal Kaur 2, Ashima Gupta 3; 400m (boys ) group A- Aditya Gupta 1, Charanjeev Singh 2, Gunveer singh 3; 50m (girls) group A- Kanika 1, Bhakti 2, Pallavi Sharma 3.

50m (girls) group B- Navneet 1, Shreya Behl 2, Guneet 3; 800m (girls )- Vibha Babbar 1, Shreya Behal 2, Isha Lamba 3; 800m (boys) group C- Rahul Khanna 1, Puneet Sobti 2, Jaspreet Brar 3; 800m (boys) group B- Harkirat Singh 1, Simar 2, Waris Bawa 3; Discus throw (boys) Group C- Gurinder Singh 1, Mandeep Singh 2, Nikhil Whig 3.

400m (boys) group C- Parvesh paul 1, Sandeep Dhand 2, Varun Bhatia 3; 400m (girls) group B- Navneet Kaur 1, Gunreet Kaur 2, Navreen Pooni 3; Obstacle race (boys) group C- Sandeep Dhand 1, Achint Salopal 2, Inder Rishi Kochhar 3.

Skipping race (girls) group B- Ashna Jain 1, Ritika Kapoor 2, Ridhi Sood 3; Hurdle race (boys) group B- Amit Garg 1, Sahil Bajaj 2, David 3; Book race (girls) group A- Jasleen 1, Sumeet 2, Kajal 3;High jump (girls) group B- Geetinder Kaur 1, Deep Shikha Sohal 2, Jasleen Panesar 3; 100m (girls) group A- Bhakti Kohli 1, Ishnimrat 2, Aditi 3.

Long jump (girls) group B- Sargam Shukla 1, Merciline 2, Guneet 3; 200m (girls) group A- Ravneet 1, Ashima 2, Jasnoor 3; 400m (girls) group B- Ikjot 1, Mariam 2, Anupam 3. Alisha Bajaj 4; Ball throw (girls) group A- Vanishka Vij 1, Smriti Kapoor 2, Mehak Gupta 3; Long jump (boys) group A- Gunveer Grewal 1, Gurtej 2, Ayush Nayyar 3; 1500m (open boys) Sapneesh 1, Tajinder 2, Parvesh 3; Shot put (boys) group B- Gurtej Singh Grewal 1, Charanjot Singh 2, Ayush Kumar 3; Discus throw (boys) group A- Yogesh Hora 1, Ayush Nayyar 2, Gurmeet singh 3.

Long jump (girls) group C- Neelima 1, Shaffie 2, Navdeep Dhillon 3; 200m (boys) group A- Gaganpreet Singh 1, Revant 2, Raghuvir Joshi 3; High jump (boys) group C- Royan Baptist 1, Rohit Masih 2, Maneet Sobti 3; Shot put (boys) group C- Mandeep singh 1, Gurinder Singh 2, Harsimarbir Singh 3.

Women’s hockey meet from January 5
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Twelve top women hockey outfits of the country will be vying for top honours during the VIIIth edition of the All India Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Women Hockey Tournament scheduled to be held here at the astroturf ground of Punjab Agricultural University from January 5 to 9.

According to Mr D.S. Grewal, working president of the Mohinder Partap Singh Grewal Memorial Charitable Trust, the teams from holders Northern Railway Delhi, Orissa, Punjab, Hayana, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chandigarh, Delhi, Air India, Rail Coach Factory Kapurthala, North Eastern Railway Gorakhpur, Western Railway Mumbai and South Eastern Railway, Kolkata, have confirmed their participation.

The IWHF has deputed Satinder Walia, an ex-international hockey player and umpire as tournament director while Pritpal Kohli, Saranjit Kaur, Gurvinder Singh and Harinder Singh Bhullar have been nominated as judges for the tournament. Madhu Yadav, Saroj Bansal, Happy Mann and Rajinder Gandhi will be supervising the tournament as umpires. Attractive cash prizes will be given to the winners. The best goalkeeper, full back, forward and the best player of the tournament will also be sutiably awarded by the organisers, Mr Grewal said.

Annual sports begin at Gill village
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Fireman owned by Sarabjit of Narangwal won the dog race on the first day of the annual sports being organised by the Golden Youth Club in collaboration with the gram panchayat and residents of the area at Gill village, near here, yesterday. Rambo of Godhi Dodar finished second and Danny of Manjeet Jandali secured third spot. Sparrow of Harjinder Bhadaur, Dizen of Bhupinder Dhoorkot and Mauji of Surinder Uppla finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectivley.

In kabaddi (47 kg), Natt beat Bhanduri, Kaind beat Damdama Sahib, Sahijada defeated Ranian and Lohara beat Daba.In football, Guram beat Gill 4-3; Nawan pind beat Manakwal 2-1 and Sarabha beat Manji Sahib 2-0. Earlier, Mr Vikramjit Singh Khalsa, former MLA, inaugurated the sports festival.