Need for data on neo-natal health, says expert
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 29
Dr O.N. Bhakoo, former Head of Paediatrics, PGI, Chandigarh, expressed concern at the receding interest of medical fraternity in attending conference, which play an important role in updating knowledge and could improve the quality of medical facilities in the country. This was happening due to several reasons like availability of information on the internet and specialised interest of doctors, he said.

Delivering the keynote address at the CME on paediatrics, which coincided with a conference of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) here today, he brought up the issue of the Consumer Protection Act and urged paediatricians to put emphasis on the counselling of attendants and patients by explaining the nature of the disease and the treatment being given to them.

Dr Bhakoo was of the view that the paediatricians should avoid giving telephonic consultations as it could land them in trouble. He also stressed on the need to encourage health insurance and preparations of a national report by the IAP on the status of the neo-natal health in India. “We must work towards the concept of group practice and the development of protocol for the management of common illnesses in children,” he said.

More than 150 paediatricians from all over the region attended the conference. Eminent speakers from Mumbai, New Delhi and Chandigarh discussed various problems, including HIV and AIDS.

Dr Harmesh Singh Bains, organising secretary and Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, DMCH, said the idea was to bring the latest information to the paediatricians for improvement in child healthcare.

Dr Daljit Singh, Principal and Professor, Department of Paediatrics, DMCH remarked that the topics discussed in the conference like the recent advances in immunisation and HIV/AIDS in children had been chosen as these needed special attention.

The scientific session started with the lecture of Dr Nitin K. Shah from Mumbai who talked about the approach to a child with HIV/AIDS, Dr Sunit Singhi from Chandigarh focussed on the evaluation of a child in emergency, while Dr B.R. Thapa dwelt on the practical management of chronic liver diseases. Dr A.P. Dubey from New Delhi discussed the recent advances in immunisation.

Seminar on hepatitis-B
Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 29
The Jagraon district police organised a multi-dimensional camp and a seminar at Government Senior Secondary School in Chhappar village.

Mr Rajiv Ahir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) posted at Jagraon, presided over the seminar on “Drug de-addiction and eradication of hepatitis-B”.

An immunisation camp was also organised for the prevention of the dreaded decease.

While addressing the gathering, Mr Ahir said the addiction to drugs was the root cause of the slow pace of development of small and marginal farmers of the area of the state. “It is a matter of concern that even the educated people do not refrain from the use of various kinds of drugs and intoxicants. While youngsters start taking these for adventure and pleasure, elders have become addict. Some people supply poppy husk and similar materials to the labourers employed at their fields, obviously to allure them and get extra working hours,” Mr Ahir said.

He called upon the social organisations of the area to associate with the Community Policing Programme started by the district police and help achieve its target to bring awareness among masses about the adverse effects of drugs and intoxicants.

Mr Jatinder Singh Khaira, DSP at Mullanpur Dakha, claimed that the projects launched by the Jagraon police had been widely appreciated by various sections of society.

Dr Beant Kaur of the Institute of Nursing at Narangwal village, elaborated the causes, symptoms and prevention of hepatitis B.

An on-the-spot painting competition was also organised. The students of the school presented songs, skits, bhangra and gidda during a cultural programme. Students of Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon, and Dashmesh Public School, Kaind, who had responded best to the police interaction session recently at Dehlon police station, were honoured.

Four-day camp for cricket probables
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 29
The cricket grounds at the local Satish Dhawan Government College for Boys have hosted a number of matches, including some inter-varisty and Ranji encounters. In 1999, the ground was “hijacked” by some political parties and rallies were organised at the venue. The pitch located at the centre and two practice strips were damaged and the boundary wall was demolished to enable people to participate in the rallies.

Till then, the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) had been maintaining the grounds and conducted a number of tournaments there for about two decades. The LDCA also used to hold a centre at the ground for the training of young cricketers.

However, the rallies in 1999 opened up the way for the district administration to use the venue for other than sports activities. The LDCA was forced to shift the centre at the Arya College for Boys and prepared a pitch for the trainees there.

Now, the Punjab Cricket Association, under a plan to train budding players, has given the charge of the four-day camp for probables (u-19) to the LDCA. The local association has chosen the ground as the venue for the conditioning -cum-practice camp. As many as 26 probables are attending the camp which began today.

The PCA has appointed Arun Bedi, former Ranji seamer as in charge of the camp. Arun said the probables had been divided into two teams which would play two matches of 100 overs each during the course of the camp, besides an hour’s morning session during which the players would take part in exercises.

In the evening, the campers would be told about fielding and stretching exercises. Manmohan Bedi, an NIS coach, is assisting Arun.

The probables are: Karan Goel, Ashish Sehgal, Gurpreet Khaira, Deepak Gatta, Gaurav Kumar, Dushyant Kohli and Rattan Bricher from Ludhiana; Vikramjeet Singh, Rahul, Arminder Singh and Sumit Kalia from Jalandhar; Rooptinder Singh, Shiv Karan, Ankur Jhand, Sarabjeet Ladda and Hardevinder Singh from Patiala; Gauravjeet, Harpreet and Sumit Ohri from Mohali; Harpreet Singh, Akashdeep and Bharat Sharma from Chandigarh; Tarun Sharma and Munish Bhatia from Amritsar; Sumit Kumar from Kapurthala and Himanshu Sharma from Bathinda.

Pooja wins karate championship
Our Correspondent

Khanna, August 29
Pooja won the first position in the sub-junior category of under 20 kg in the seventh District Karate Championship here today. The championship was organised by the District Ludhiana Karate Association at A.S Senior Secondary School here. The function was inaugurated by DSP Des Raj. In the 46 to 50 kg girls category, Amandeep Kaur got the first position, Babita second while Gurminder Kaur third.

In the 41 to 45 kg girls category, Juvita Rani bagged the first prize, Manpreet second and Shivani Sharma third.

In the 36 to 40 kg girls category, Jatinder Kaur came first, Shikha second and Jaspreet third.

In the 30 to 36 kg girls category, Vabhia Jassal got the first position, Harmandeep Kaur second and Aditi third.

In boys competition, Munish Kumar stood first in 35 kg weight group while Sudagar Singh got the second position and Deepak and Yaman Jindal secured the third position jointly.

In 36 to 40 kg weight group, Alen Chitar got the first position, Surinder Singh second and Karun Kumar and Daljeet Kumar third.

In the 41 to 45 kg weight group, Bahadar Singh bagged the first prize while Ritesh Kumar got the second and Rajbir and Ram Dev third positions.

Parents’ meeting ends in a huff
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 29
The meeting of the parents of the wards who attended the coaching centre being run by the Ludhiana District Cricket Association (LDCA) here on Sunday ended in a huff. The meeting ended without arriving at any conclusion.

The parents of a couple of cricketers had convened a meeting to delibrate on two-point agenda, to applaud and encourage the LDCA’s positive activities and suggest ways and means to improve association’s working, where they feel, it is lacking.

A handful of participants who were there to attend the meeting, refused to listen which resulted the meeting ending without serving any purpose. Only seven persons namely Mr Sarbjeet Singh Kahlon, Mr Jagjit Singh Brar, Mr Subhash Arora, Mr Keshav Goel, Mr Pawan Sood, Mr Ravinder Sharma and Mr Kapil Vats out of 95 parents turned up for the meeting.

When a participant tried to raise a point alleging that his son was not included into the probables (u-15) selected by the Punjab Cricket Association for the camp which was held at PCA Stadium, Mohali recently, the other parent objected to it saying it was not included into the agenda circulated to them.

This followed the levelling of charges and counter charges against each other. Others present there, tried to pacify the participants but in vain. Then the meeting was called off without passing any resolution.

Ramgarhia boys are softball champs
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, August 29
Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School, Miller Ganj, and Teja Singh Swantantar Memorial Senior Secondary emerged as champions in the boys’ and girls’ sections, respectively, in the 4th Ludhiana District Softball Championship which concluded at the Ramgarhia Complex here today.

In the final (girls), Teja Singh Swatantar Memorial Senior Secondary School proved too good for their opponents, Guru Nanak International Public School whom they beat 12-0. Gurpreet Kaur, Karmajit Kaur, Navdeep, Amandeep and Parminder Kaur chipped in with two points each.

In the boys’ final, Ramgarhia Senior Secondary School faced little challenge from the Ramgarhia Club before romping home victorious 7-3. For Ramgarhia School, Chander Shekhar contributed two points while Pawan, Gurmangat Singh, Amit, Jatinder and Pawan Kumar scored a point each.