Ludhiana, March 6
A team of cosmetic and plastic surgery experts from Canada, led by Dr Kimat Rai, has arrived at Ludhiana Mediciti Hospital here for a free surgery camp for children with cleft lip and cleft palate. During the fortnight long camp, sponsored by Operation Rainbow, Canada, an NGO, the doctors would perform corrective reconstructive surgery on around 250 patients till March 13.

The team of visiting doctors and supporting staff was accorded a warm welcome on their arrival by Dr Harjit Singh, chairman of the hospital, along with Dr B.S. Sekhon, Dr H.S. Bedi and Dr Gaurav Sachdeva.

Giving this information here today, Dr Sekhon informed that the Canadian team comprised super specialists in different fields like paediatrics, cosmetic surgery, ENT, paediatric cardiology and reconstructive surgery. During the camp, the beneficiaries would not only get free surgery, but they would have to incur no expenditure on hospital stay, medicines and laboratory tests.

The visiting doctors, added Dr Sekhon, would also educate and train the local doctors in latest techniques of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. — OC

Ludhiana, March 6
With the date for withdrawal of nomination for the lone seat of Medical Council of India (MCI) to be filled from Punjab over and nomination papers of two candidates - Dr Parveen Garg and Dr Vijay - having been rejected, four candidates were left in the field. The elections to be held through postal ballot from April 12 were being conducted under the directions of Delhi High Court.

Dr G.S. Gill, president, IMA Jalandhar, Dr Navjot Dahiya from Jalandhar, Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, a noted urologist and transplant surgeon and Dr Navdeep Khaira, a nephrologist, both from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital here, were among the aspirants to make it to the august body of the medical professionals from all over the country.

While all candidates were leaving nothing to chance and hectic campaigning was on to seek support of the members of medical fraternity, the candidature of Dr Aulakh got a shot in the arm when Dr OPS Kande, three times president of the state unit of IMA and one of the contenders for yet another term, withdrew his papers in favour of Dr Aulakh.

Announcing total support to Dr Aulakh from his home town (Patiala), Dr Kande asserted that his entire group will stand by Dr Aulakh and ensure his victory with a record margin.

His views were echoed by Dr R.C. Garg, a former state president of IMA from Barnala. Dr Kande further said that IMA activists, including Dr Gursharan Singh, district president, IMA Ludhiana, along with Dr Anurag Goswami and Dr Vinod Sood, both members of Punjab Medical Council, had taken upon themselves to mobilise support for Dr Aulakh.

Dr Navdeep Khaira was reported to be having an edge and ahead of other contenders as he had launched his election campaign much earlier. His supporters in the medical community here claimed that it would be a very close contest.

Dr Gill, the incumbent IMA chief of Punjab, was banking on his colleagues in the professional body, spread all across the state. However, a section of his opponents from his home city and elsewhere, was working for Dr Dahiya, a relatively new-comer in the professional politics.

The members of medical fraternity, said sources, might spring a surprise as quite a few relatives of Dr Dahiya were highly respected and prominent doctors in the holy city.

SPORTS

Fun, frolic at sports day
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, March 6
Children took part in various fun games in the annual sports day of Home and Heaven Nursery School, Model Town, here today. Dressed in colourful clothes, kids enjoyed the games. Principal of the school Inderjeet Pal Kaur and parents were present on the occasion.

Results: Races (girls) section A- Simranjeet Kaur 1, Jasmanpreet Kaur 2, Savleen Kaur 3; section B- Shreya 1, Ishita 2 Anureet 3; (boys ) section A- Bismandeep 1, Birdevidner 2, Gurbaksh Singh 3; section B- Jasroop Singh 1, Aditya 2, Ketan 3.