HEALTH

Avoid long-term exposure to UV rays, says expert
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
At least 90 per cent of skin cancers result from long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Sunlight is also responsible for wrinkles, blotching and drying of the skin, making one age before time. According to latest findings of Dr Alka Dogra, Head, Department of Dermatology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), the best defence against the effects of sun rays is to limit time spent in the sun and to protect oneself in doors.

She said people with fair skin, blonde, red or light brown hair and blue, green or grey eyes had a higher risk of getting skin cancer. Also at risk were people with freckles. “Your skin is an excellent record-keeper. Every moment in the sun adds up, accumulating like money in the bank. The payoff, however, is damage to the skin and possibly skin cancer”, said Dr Dogra.

Babies and children need protection, not only because of their tender skin but also because they have many more years ahead of them to catch damaging solar rays. And they spend much more time out-doors than adults. Babies under six months should be kept away from the sun entirely and sunscreen should not be used on them. The babies should be protected with clothing, hats, sunscreen and shades. “One should avoid going out in sun between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the rays are strongest. Do not stay in an unshaded spot for long. Choose a sunscreen with ingredients that block both uvb and uva rays. Be sure to cover often-missed spots i.e. lips, ears, around eyes, neck, scalp, hands and feet”, she said.

Dr Dogra warned that the UV radiation emitted by indoor tanning lights was many times more intense than the natural light. Dangers include burns, premature ageing of the skin and the increased risk of skin cancer.

“One should protect children from uv radiations and teach them sun-safety at an early age. Beware, however, that sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces can reach you even beneath an umbrella or a tree. And the damage to skin, if not treated properly and in time, could bring very harmful results”, added Dr Dogra.

Admn gears up for pulse polio drive
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
To ensure complete immunisation of children in the age group zero to five years, under the intensified Pulse Polio Immunisation Campaign, 2004, the district administration has made foolproof arrangements. As many as 4.87 lakh children would be administered Polio drops at more than 2100 booths. Around 8,800 officials, including doctors, paramedical staff, employees from other departments concerned and volunteers of the Rotary Club and other NGOs will be involved in the campaign.

To give final touches to the arrangements, a meeting of the district task force for eradication of polio was held at the MiniSecretariat under the chairmanship of Mr. Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rahul Bhandari, ADC (G), Mr Sumer Gurjar, ADC (D), Dr S.N. Tiwari, Civil Surgeon, Mr Kuldip Singh, SDM (West), Mr Prem Chand, SDM (East) and Mr S.P. Karkra, state governor, Rotary Club, were among those who attended the meeting.

The Deputy Commissioner said for the 100 per cent mobilisation of eligible children, about 900 booths would be set up in Ludhiana. As many as 1,200 booths would be set up in the other parts of the district.

He said extra staff from the Education and Social Security departments was being deputed to assist the medical staff in this task. He said apart from static booths, transit booths and check posts, including 72 at scattered places and 24 at railway stations would be functional on both the days, January 4, 2004 and February 22, 2004 to cover the moving population. He said after this, a follow-up programme would be carried out for a week’s time to cover the remaining children in the hidden pockets of the district. He said special emphasis would be laid in slum areas.

Mr Verma said with a view to ensure the involvement of masses in this programme, a vigorous awareness campaign would also be launched to educate the people to get their children vaccinated. He said that the Health Department would put up banners and posters in all parts of the district. The Deputy Commissioner informed that the heads of the education institutions would be asked to educate students during morning prayers about the importance of this programme, so that they could further take the message to their families.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the DTO to ensure that buses were stopped at static booths and travelling children attended to. The teachers of K G classes would also be asked to ensure immunisation of all children in their classes. The staff of the food and Civil Supplies and labour Departments would be deputed to assist medical teams to cover children in the brick kilns and Industrial colonies.

Dr Tiwari informed that district had been divided into 14 sectors and those in charge of these sectors would ensure complete immunisation of their areas by keeping liaison with all teams working under them. He requested the PSEB authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply of power during these days so that the polio vaccine could be kept safely. He said SMOs would be overall incharge for the supply of the vaccine and providing other facilities in their areas.

The representatives of the IMA, the IAP, main hospitals of the city and rotary club assured full cooperation for the Immunisation of 100 per cent children in the district.

Jain doctors to hold international conference
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 12
The first-ever international Jain doctors’ conference will be held at Koba (Gandhinagar) on January 3-4. Dr Satish Jain, Medical Superintendent, Mohan Dai Cancer Hospital in a press note yesterday said about 1500-2000 delegates from all over the country and abroad were expected to attend it. The main theme of the conference would be non-sampradayak philosophy of Jain religion, Jain’s unity, spread of Ahinsa. The method of treatment would be based on science.

The conference will be organised under the presidentship of Dr K.K.Shah, president, Jain Doctor’s Federation, Ahmedabad.

“Good health is a state of the body, the mind and the surroundings. Prominent speakers will lead us through the best path of life,” said Dr Satish Jain.

P.J. Singh, Gurmeet win shot put titles
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 12
P.J. Singh of the Bikaner division in the men’s section and Gurmeet Kaur of the Delhi division in the women’s section emerged victorious in the shot put event in the 37th Zonal Athletics Meet of the Life Insurance Corporation of India, which began at Punjab Agricultural University ground here today. In the gruelling 5000m race for men, Love Kumar and Dheeraj Dass of Jalandhar and Amritsar divisions, respectively, finished first and second.

Earlier, Mr R.S. Sodhi, Regional Manager (Personnel), LIC, Northern Zonal Office, Delhi, inaugurated the two-day meet in which around 100 participants from as many as 15 divisions are taking part. Before the formal inauguration, Mr P.K. Rath, Senior Divisional Manager, welcomed the chief guest and participants.

Gurmeet Kaur, an Arjuna awardee and bronze medal winner (javelin throw) in the 2002 Busan Asian Games, and Sunil Goswami, national champion in javelin throw, both of the Delhi division took the oath on behalf of the participants and took pledge to play in the true spirits of the games. The chief guest released the first edition of the house magazine, Sports Vision, of the LIC Employees’ Sports and Recreation Club, Ludhiana Division, on this occasion.

Today’s results: ( Men) 800m- Manvir Singh of Karnal Div 1, Mukesh Kumar of Delhi Div 2, Hira Lal of Shimla Div 3; Shot put- P.J. Singh of Bikaner Div 1, J.S. Bains of Chandigarh Div 2, S.S. Mann of Bikaner Div 3; 5000m race- Love Kumar of Jalandhar Div 1, Dheeraj Dass of Amritsar Div 2; Long jump- Shiv Singh of Jaipur Div 1, Arun Barua of Delhi Div 2; Bhupinder Kumar of Shimla Div 3; 110m hurdles- Naresh Dalla of Chandigarh Div 1, Rajesh Meena of Bikaner Div 2, Ramesh Chand of Jaipur Div 3.

400m hurdles: S.C. Sumani of Ajmer Div 1, Manoj Kumar of Karnal Div 2, G.I. Chapparwal of Bikaner Div 3; Discus throw- P.J. Singh of Bikaner Div 1, S.S. Mann of Delhi Div 2, Rohtas Kumar of Delhi Div 3; Javelin throw- Sunil Goswami of Delhi Div 1, Rohtas Kumar of Delhi Div 2, Kuldeep Singh of Karnal Div 3.

Shot put (women): Gurmeet Kaur of Delhi Div 1, Ritu Bhatia of Delhi Div 2, Kamlesh Bhardwaj of Delhi Div 3; Discus throw- Gurmeet Kaur of Delhi Div 1, Ritu Bhatia of Delhi Div 2, Kamlesh Bhardwaj of Delhi Div 3.