Ludhiana, February 27
As part of its community outreach programme, Hero DMC Heart Institute (HDHI) organised two free cardiac check-up and awareness camps in two different localities in the city while another camp was organised at Rampura Phul.

The camp at Shivpuri colony was held under the auspices of the Atam Jain Society, while the other was held at Arya Samaj Mandir, Habibganj, in collaboration with Dharamdevi Arya Dispensary. Chief cardiologist at HDHI Dr G.S. Wander and Dr N.K. Sood, senior consultant, along with Dr Naved Aslam, attended to the patients at these camps.

Both camps witnessed a heavy inflow of patients and about 500 patients availed the expertise of the superspecialists. The camps were held in localities where there existed a dire need for superspecialist advice, said Pandit Yograj Shastri, one of the organisers. Both societies, which sponsored the camps, were run entirely by contributions from the general public.

Counselling patients on the occasion, Dr Wander urged them to give maximum attention to their lifestyles to keep their hearts young. He said what one needed for a healthy heart were a balanced diet, regular exercise, mental relaxation and a strict no to smoking.

"Also, one needs to keep a check on one’s blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, because these two parameters are the indicators of the risk of cardiac disease. If kept at the right level, these can go a long way to keep one’s heart fit and healthy," added Dr Wander.

In addition to free consultation and follow-up advice, free investigative tests like blood sugar testing and ECG were made available.

In the camp held at Rampura Phul town, the cardiac consultant Dr Bishav Mohan, examined more than 200 patients. Free laboratory investigations and echocardiography test were also offered to patients. 

Ludhiana, February 27
The 6th annual conference of Indian Society of Psychiatric Nurses (ISPN) will be held from March 3 to 5 at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here.

Giving this information here today, Dr Jasbir Kaur, Principal, College of Nursing, DMCH, and the chairperson of conference said that the meet was being organised for the first time in the state of Punjab. The deliberations would aim at creating a platform for ISPN to increase awareness among the general public and the professionals in the field of psychiatric nursing.

The conference would provide a forum to the mental health professionals with purpose to have brain storming scientific sessions, continuing nursing education (CNE) programme, presentation of research papers and poster competition, which will undoubtedly increase the knowledge of participants, said the conference organising secretary Suresh Sharma.

According to Dr Jasbir Kaur, the theme of the national conclave was 'substance abuse---psychiatric nursing perspective'---while the related issues like impact of substance abuse on the adolescents, elderly and women would also come under focus. A poster competition based on a scientific study on the theme will be held for the delegates. 

Ludhiana, February 27
A super-specialty medical camp for persons suffering from chest diseases was held by the Department of Community Medicine, in collaboration with the unit of chest diseases of the Christian Medical College and Hospital, in Kucha No-16 of Field Ganj locality here on Sunday.

Facilities of free consultation, examination and spirometry test were extended to the patients. More than 100 patients suffering from diseases related to chest conditions, were examined by the specialist in chest diseases Dr Akaashdeep Singh.

Free medicines, including antibiotics and rota-halers were given to patients. In his interaction with the patients, Dr Akaashdeep Singh said that one of the major causes of lung and chest diseases was air pollution, mainly caused by emission of motor vehicles.

He pointed out that auto-rickshaws were the major contributors of toxic emissions. In addition, industrial smoke, indoor chullahs, active as well as passive smoking, lack of green cover, unhygienic living conditions and poor sanitary habits were other factors responsible for respiratory diseases like chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma and tuberculosis. These diseases, he explained, could be curbed, controlled and prevented if the society, and public at large, could rise up to face the challenge of reducing the atmospheric pollution as also stop beedi and cigarette-smoking. 

Ludhiana, February 27
The storing of EVMs and poll counting at the multi-purpose hall of Guru Nanak sports complex has left a trail of destruction with litter strewn all around and damage done to the wooden floor, walls, and seating place.

The hall which was occupied by the administration days before the polling day - February 13 was first used for rehearsals by the polling staff and today it was the venue for counting purposes.

Iron poles were installed, and chairs were dragged on the expensive floor besides a number of people stormed it wearing shoes which are otherwise not allowed.

During a visit to the hall in the evening, one could see the floor was peeled of at some places as the people threw water causing dampness. Depressions on the floor were seen at many places due to placing of chairs and heavy objects such as iron boxes.

Sports activities, which came to a standstill during this period, will be further affected for another forthnight or so as repairs to the hall would take some time.

During the last Assembly elections as well the parliamentary elections, the stadia in the city were used for election purposes despite strong opposition by the sports fraternity.