HEALTH

Women over 40 prone to knee problems
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 3
Knee problems occur in mid thirties and the risk increases with age and more commonly develops in women over 40 who are five times more likely to have this problem than men.

Stating this here yesterday, Dr Ashok Rajgopal, a wellknown knee replacement surgeon of India observed that “most of the osteo - arthritis patients in India who seek knee replacement are in the advanced stage of the disease, with a high degree of deformity but treating such cases has its own research related advantage and the effect of the treatment is dramatic which changes the complete lifestyle of the patient”.

Dr Rajgopal, who will be visiting Fortis Heart Institute and Multi-Speciality Hospital, Mohali, on July 4 is credited with having successfully completed over 9700 arthroscopies and 3000 total knee arthroplasties. A scholar at heart, Dr Rajgopal has conducted over 40 national level workshops in arthroscopy in various parts of the country and delivered several guest lectures at national level conferences.

According to him, there are many factors that can lead to this problem which can range from very mild to very severe. Although age is indeed a risk factor, research has shown that knee problem is not an inevitable part of aging, and that a variety of factors like obesity, joint injuries due to sports, work-related activity or accidents, sedentary lifestyle may lead to the disease. Research clearly shows that getting on a good strength and flexibility programme can reduce the risk of injury. Cardiovascular training in the form of cycling, running, swimming, or stair machines improves endurance. 

AIDS threatens street children, says survey
Neelam Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 3
They are clubbed in the high-risk behaviour population for contracting the dreaded disease HIV/ AIDS. Street and working children, below the age of 14, are scattered in various pockets of the city in every nook and corner, while carrying on with their “casual activities” in all innocence. And the glaring fact remains that barely 17 per cent of them perceive themselves to be at the risk of getting AIDS. The rest, from the total estimated population of 6319, may be trapped one day unguarded.

Based on the facts culled out from the High-risk behaviour mapping done by the Indian Public Health association, PGI, a survey points towards the many high-risk street children having sexual relations with several other categories of HIV high-risk groups.

In fact, 67 per cent of the street children, were having sexual relationships with their friends and as many as 52.7 per cent of the street children have been found active with the commercial sex workers. In all, 18.8 per cent boys and 30.7 per cent girls were found to sexually active.

It had also been pointed out that 80 per cent of them practised casual sex without using any condoms, their’s being the highest even when compared to other categories of high-risk groups, including truck drivers, commercial sex workers, injecting drug users youth in slums areas of the city and the youth in general.

Even as AIDS awareness drives have been continuing in the form of awareness campaigns in various areas, the presence of the female street children and workers was minimal, despite they being equally susceptible to getting the infection. On the other hand, as many as 50 per cent male street children had attended the awareness drives.

In the survey undertaken by the team, they have identified more than 6000 street children in the city, forming the high-risk behaviour population who are concentrated in Kajheri, Sector 45, Dadu Majra, Maloya, Burail, Bapu Dham, Palsora, Colony No 4 and 5, Dhanas, Indira Colony, Mauli Jagran and Ram Darbar. “The awareness drives and various campaigns are under way in various colonies to educate street children and the working children to be aware about the infections,’’ said a senior doctor. 

Blood donation camp at PGI
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 3
The Thalassaemic Children’s Welfare Association, Chandigarh, organised a blood donation camp at PGI lecture theatre 1, here today. It was the fifth camp in the series which was organised by the association with the objective of overcoming the shortage of blood in summer especially for the thalassaemic children who require blood transfusion almost every fortnight.

In all more than 100 units of blood was collected at the camp which was inaugurated by the Deputy General Manager of State Bank of India, Panchkula, Mr Mrinal Shanker.

The team of doctors from the PGI’s department of transfusion medicine conducted the camp. The sixth and the last camp of the series is scheduled to be organised on July 17 at the same venue. 

Cricket, volleyball  trials on July 5
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 3
Trials to select players for cricket and volleyball centres in Sector 36 MCM DAV College will be held on July 5 at 3 pm at the college ground. All the college and school cricket and volleyball players of Chandigarh are eligible to appear in the trials.

According to a press note, all modern coaching facilities will be provided by the coaching centre. The coaching centre has appointed NIS-trained women coaches for coaching to players.

Swimming competition: Lake Club, Chandigarh, is organising a swimming competition for pool members on July 4. The competition for various age groups will start at 7 am. The different categories include under 10 years, under-14 years, under-17 years and under-35 years. Recreational events for selected swimmers, including men and women, will also be organised. The Additional Deputy Commissioner-cum-Director Sports will be the chief guest.

Mountain bike cycle race: The Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association, in collaboration with Forest Hill Resort, is conducting the Chandigarh mountain bike cycling races for boys and girls on July 11 at Forest Hill Resort in Karoran village. The events will held in senior and junior categories.

Students interested in taking part in the mountain bike cycling competitions may submit their entries with date of birth certificate duly attested from their respective school and college Principals.