HEALTH

Multiple partners may invite cancer: expert
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Those who believe in free sex, should think again. “Sexual indulgence with multiple partners can invite cancer of the cervics among women”, says leading gynaecologist Dr Meenal Kumar. Dr Meenal who has also written a book, “Cancer-Free Life of Women”, based on her observations, experiences and clinical research on thousands of patients for nearly three decades, advises screening tests for cervical cancer for women in the menopausal stage.

Dr Meenal says that “50% of all female cancers are constituted by CC. Fortunately, this cancer can be fully treated, if detected early. Also, this condition can be prevented by restraint on sexual adventures. Early sexual activity, indulgence with multiple partners, poor sexual hygiene and growing extra-marital and pre-marital contacts ensure the occurrence of this cancer”.

In the West, they have succeeded in reducing its incidence by 80%, by taking preventive measures like PAP smears, HPV testing and colposcopy. “We need to follow the good example of the West. Colposcopy test is easy to perform, is painless, non- invasive and inexpensive. The most common symptom of cervical cancer is abnormal menstrual bleeding. Bleeding may start and stop between regular menstrual periods, or it may occur after sexual contact. Abnormal vaginal discharge is another symptom.”

Quoting a study on 20 young women, who had early exposure to sex and had multiple sexual partners, she says: “All these women had varying degree of chronic cervicitis i.e. chronic inflammation of the cervix of the uterus and vagina. Early detection and prompt treatment reversed the changes in all, but two. The PAP test and colposcopy of these two patients revealed precancerous changes. These cases were referred to the PGI for biopsy and further treatment”. Thus the possibility of their suffering from cancer of the cervix of the uterus was thwarted.

For prevention of breast cancer (BC), she advises a regular “self-breast examination after 25 years of age, annual check up by your gynaecologist after 30 years of age, mammography annually, after the age of 40, under supervision of your gynaecologist. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be of help in some suspected cases to avoid biopsies. Do not start or stop hormones, without the supervision of your gynaecologist”, cautions Dr Meenal.

Dental surgeons get professional update
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Live surgery demonstrations and an audio visual presentation marked a professional update on dental implants organised by the Command Military Dental Centre (CMDC) in Chandimandir, near here, today.

Inaugurating the programme, Deputy Director, Medical Services, Western Command, Major-Gen M.P. Jaiprakash said that dental surgeons from various establishments in the Western Sector would be immensely benefited from the professional update. About 40 dental surgeons as well as retired dental officers attended the programme.

In his welcome address, the CMDC Commandant, Brig K. Ravishankar, highlighted the recent achievements and activities of the center and outlined plans to upgrade the centre. He said that the programme was a step forward in keeping the dental surgeons posted in the western sector abreast of the latest developments in the field of dental implantology.

A detailed lecture covering various aspects of implantology was given by Dr Sharad Kapoor from New Delhi. Two technical sessions covered live surgical procedures and prosthetic procedures.

The Major-Gen, incharge Administration, Western Command, Major-Gen Deepak Anand honoured several retired Army Dental Corps (ADC) officers on the occasion. They included Major-Gen Kulwant Singh, the first Director- General of ADC, Brig R.D. Singh, Brig S.K. Sachdeva, Brig R.K. Sethi, Col S.S. Bajwa and Col V.S. Battoo.

Dentists updated on new trends 
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The state and Mohali branches of the Indian Dental Association (IDA) organised a one-day certificate course here today.

The state secretary of the IDA, Dr Puneet Girdhar, and Honorary Secretary IDA, Mohali branch, Dr Kamalpreet Chinna, in a statement said 210 dental surgeons from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh participated in the course on “Advanced Training on Cast Partial Dentures”.

Dr Zerxis R. Umrigar from Mumbai discussed latest technologies, materials and gadgets and developments through lectures and demonstrations with state-of-the-art supporting slides and LCD projectors.

Dr Subhash Mahajan, president IDA, Mohali branch, welcomed the dignitaries and emphasised the need for updating oneself with such interactive courses and fellowship among dental graduates.

Dr Sanjay Kalra briefed about the forthcoming project in which 25,000 schoolchildren in the city would be involved under the “IDA — Colgate National Oral Health Programme, 2004” in October. Dr Vimal Sikri said preparations were on for the inter-state dental congress and the 44th Punjab state dental conference to be held in Amritsar in December. He said more than 1,000 dental surgeons from seven states would participate in the conference.

Dr Bhagwant Singh, president-elect, IDA, said a number of new projects were being planned at the head office for the betterment of the association. Dr Umrigar, course coordinator, shared his experience and skills in the field of dentistry. He talked at length about the problems and solutions in daily practice related to artificial teeth and dentures.

Focus on curing retinal diseases
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Internationally renowned ophthalmologist Dr S. Natrajan delivered the Dr A.D. Grover Memorial Oration at the 19th annual conference of the Chandigarh Ophthalmologists Society at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, today.

Dr Natrajan spoke on “Recent advances in management of retinal diseases”. He also demonstrated endoscopic surgery for macular degeneration and said it was a new step in the sub-macular surgery. He also talked about the ongoing research work to help the blind see.

Dr M.R. Dogra, chairman of the organising committee, stressed the need for awareness among ophthalmologists and paediatricians about the screening of premature and underweight babies to detect retinopathy of the maturity — which is a preventable blinding conditions in infants.

Recent advances in diagnosis and treatment of macular hole and retinal detachment were discussed by Dr Vaishali Gupta of the PGI. Prof Amod Gupta, Head of Department of Ophthalmology, PGI, spoke on the changing trends on the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. He stressed early detection of the diabetic macular edema.

53 donate blood at camp
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Various functions were organised by the Central Bank Officers’ Association (CBOA), Chandigarh Zone, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its national body, All-India Central Bank Officers’ Federation.

As many as 53 volunteers donated blood at a blood donation camp organised at the bank square, Sector 17.

An interactive session was organised by students of SD College, Sector 32, to inculcate banking habits and to apprise them of various loan schemes available for higher studies. The college Principal, Mr A.C. Vaid, and Prof Jitender Mohan from the Department of Psychology, PU, addressed the students.

A cultural programme was also organised by families of bank employees.

Mr N.K. Pareek, president of the federation, was the chief guest at the concluding function. The blood donors were also honoured.

Pak homoeopathic doctors arrive
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
A delegation of institutionally qualified homoeopathic doctors from Pakistan arrived in the city on Saturday evening from Delhi en route to Shimla to take part in the two day Indo-Pak seminar on homoeopathy which began today.

The delegation is led by Dr Sheikh Azhar Intsar, President of the Pakistan branch of the AHML and comprises 25 senior leading practioners, principals and teachers in the field. 

80 cyclists pedal it out for honours
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 29
The Kelvin Mountain Bike Cycling Championships, organised by the Chandigarh Amateur Cycling Association, was held at Forest Hill Resort, this morning. More than 80 cyclists took part in cross country and MTB cycling races, braving sultry weather conditions.

New bikes were given to winners and winning mountain bikers were adopted by a cycle manufacturer for coaching programme.

Earlier, Radhika of St Anne’s School won one-lap cross country MTB race in junior girls section leaving behind Amol and Ritika Khurana, who finished second and third, respectively. Rohan Kakar retained his title in junior boys biking, ahead of 16 other cyclists in the fray in two-lap cross country MTB race. He suffered a flat tyre in the second lap. Kapil Kumar and Rahul Anand finished second and third, respectively.

Final results: Lap Cross Country MTB Race Girls Junior under-16 yrs: Radhika (St. Anne's-32) 1, Amol (Sacred Heart-26) 2, Ritika Khurana 3.

Lap Cross Country MTB Race Boys Junior under-16 yrs: Rohan Kakar (GMSSS-35) 1, Kapil Kumar (Modern Ways) 2, Rahul Anand (GMSSS-35) 3.

Lap Cross Country MTB Race Boys Junior under-14 yrs: Salil (Gian Jyoti) 1, Amit Yadav (SDPS-32) 2, and Abhinav Katyal (St John’s-26) 3.

Lap Cross Country MTB Race Men: Ajit Singh (SDC-32) 1, Balwant Singh (CCC-27) 2, Ajay Trehan (SDC-32) 3.

Lap Cross Country MTB Race Girls above 16 yrs: Aashi (SDPS-32) 1, Mandeep Kaur (CCC-27) 2, Rachna (CCC-27) 3.

Muktsar school shoots to glory
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 29
Dashmesh Girls School, Badal, Muktsar bagged the overall first position in the Punjab state inter-school shooting championship which concluded here today at the Shooting Ranges, Phase VI, Mohali. Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana got second place.

Winners of different events are, Gurparneet Sekhon, Sumanpreet Sran, Sachin Jain, Guramandeep Sidhu, Shivi Bansal, Tanya Singhania, Arshdeep Singh Panwar, Jagpreet Virk, Sahej Mast, Preeti Tomar, Amanpreet Singh, Lakhveer Kaur, Manmeet Singh, Atinder Singh Garcha, Poooja Tomar and Nisha Panwar.

Gymnastics champ: Yogita cornered glory to enable her team from GGS College for Women, Sector 26 to win the title in the Panjab University Inter College Gymnastics Championship played here today. They got 124.60 points. Government College for Women, Ludhiana, secured second place.

Yogita won gold in balancing beam, vaulting horse and floor exercises while Pinki of same college won gold medal in Uneven Bars.

Basketball tourney: Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, and hosts PML SD Public School, Sector 32, posted easy wins over their respective rivals in the boys section in the fifth Pandit Mohan Lal Memorial Basketball Tournament which began here today at SD School, Sector 32. Earlier Mr KK Sharma, Chairman of the school inaugurated the meet.

In other matches of the day, Shishu Niketan School, Sector 22 also won its tie in the boys section.

In the girls section,Carmel Convent School, Sector 9 and Sacred Heart School also surged ahead by winning their league matches.

Best shooters: Gursimran Sekhon in girls section and Shivendu Sharma in the boys section were adjudged best shooters in the Vith Chandigarh state -inter school shooting championship held today at Patiali ki Rao Shooting Ranges, Sector 25. In various events held today, those who attained first position are, Jagraj Sandhu, Abhinav Kumar, Karanbir Brar, Harmandeep Sidhu, Natasha Singh and Arjun Singh Chandel.

Ball badminton meet: Manav Mangal School, Sector 21 in boys section and St Joseph’s School, Sector 44 in girls section emerged winners in the 10th Chandigarh Sub-Junior State Ball Badminton championship played here today at St Joseph’s School, Sector 44. Naveen and Reena of Government High school, Khuda Lahora were declared best players of the meet.

Carrom champs: Sushila Prasad and Gagandeep Singh bagged the women and men section titles respectively in the 14th Chandigarh State Carrom championship which concluded here today at St Stephen’s School, Sector 45. While Sushila got the better of Anjali Yadav 25-15, 25-20 , Gagandeep defeated Asif Iqbal 25-5, 6-25, 25-19.

Asif Iqbal and Mohd Amjad won the men doubles title while Abhinandan and Mohammad Shahzad clinched the boys’ junior doubles title. The girls junior doubles title went in favour of Bhanu Sadan and Neha Goel. Viren Sood and Nikhil Patwal bagged the sub-junior boys doubles title.

Volleyball shooting: Chandigarh Police ‘A’ team lifted the Second Anoop Singh Memorial Volleyball (shooting) tournament played here today at Police Lines, Sector 26. In the final, they defeated Chandigarh Police ‘B’ team. Mr LS Sandhu, IPS and SSP (Operations) UT was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Football champ: Government Model High School, Sector 42, outplayed St Stephen’s School, Sector 45 by two goals to nil to win the Chandigarh Sub-junior Boys Football championship for Mahatma Hansraj Trophy which concluded here today at Football Stadium, Sector 17. The tournament was organised by the Chandigarh Football Association.

Sports day goes sans celebrations
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, August 29
Except the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, no other sports institute today celebrated National Sports Day. In Panchkula, the Administration and Gurukul School yesterday celebrated the day by holding events.

Chandigarh, which is considered to be the hub of various sports centres having the full-fledged Sports Department and the regional offices of the Sports Authority of India and the Directorate of Sports, Punjab, also failed to celebrate the day.

Mr Kartar Singh, Director Sports, Punjab, said due to Olympics and other official matters they could not organise any sport event. He said they would try to celebrate the day in the future.

Similar was the reply of the Director, Sports, UT, Mr Inderjit Sandhu. He replied,”You can check it with the department as I am busy at a meeting.”

Meanwhile, Government College, Sector 11, organised various events, including cross country and brisk walk.