The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Ozone therapy for back pain
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 8
Ozone discectomy, where the ozone is injected in the spinal disc to heal the patients suffering from acute back pain has been introduced in the city today by Dr Vijay Sheel Kumar of the Kumar Pain management and speciality centre, Delhi. Dr Kumar in fact claims to be the only person currently performing this latest surgery in the country, which is already been accepted in the western countries.

Describing the non-surgical technique for treating disc herniation (one of the commonest causes of back pain), Dr Kumar said the treatment is cost effective and the recovery time was reduced to a couple of weeks as the operation is performed under local anaesthesia. He said that as the disc consists of 80 per cent water, the ozone when injected dissolves in the disc water and gets attached to the three dimensional molecular contents of the core protein of the disc which starts to collapse and the water is let free. This results in less pressure exerted on the disc which relieves the patients of back pain.

Citing the studies done in the USA, the speaker said that while the success rate of the other surgeries does not exceed 40 to 50 per cent, the ozone treatment has the success rate of around 75 per cent. The technique is hailed as cost effective too as the entire treatment, including ozone injections, physiotherapy and nutrition costs a patient Rs 35,000.

Drive against cholera intensified
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 8
Drive against cholera continued in the city colonies today by officials of the UT Health Department. The officials went out to various colonies to spread the message among the residents to keep hygienic conditions. The mobile dispensary vans were also stationed in the affected colonies to distribute free medicines to the affected persons. While the department had confirmed six cholera positive cases in the city yesterday, there were no confirmations of any positive case today.

SPORTS

Scholarships for sportspersons
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 8
The Sports Authority India, on behalf of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, will award the national and state level scholarships for 2004-05. The scholarships will be awarded to sportspersons studying in schools, colleges and university who have secured first, second or third positions in individual events. The last date for submitting the form is September 30.

It will also be awarded to runners up in team events in the recognised international, national or state-level competitions, including state school competitions conducted between April 1, 2003 and March 31 this year subject to fulfilling other eligibility conditions.

Special scholarships are also available for unemployed women champions above 19 years of age who have secured first, second or third position in the recognised senior nationals in individual events only conducted between April 1, 2003 and March 31. Eligible sportspersons should write to the Director (Scheme), NS NIS SAI, Moti Bagh, Patiala or the Regional Director, SAI NSNC, Hockey Stadium, Sector 42, Chandigarh.

Singla, Gill to attend workshop in Goa
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 8
The Area Director of Chandigarh Chapter, Dr S.N. Singla, and a Physical Education Teacher with the UT Education Department, Mr Gurcharan Gill, will be attending a seminar-cum-workshop being conducted by Special Olympics Inc, Washington, in Goa from July 10 to 12.

Area directors across the country, affiliated to the programme, are participating in this training programme. The Vice-President of Special Olympics Inc, Mr Troy Greisen, will be coming from Washington to train the participants.