The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Executive body of IMA takes charge
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
The new executive body of the Chandigarh chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), based at Sector 35-B, has taken charge. Dr Zora Singh, chairman of Desh Bhagat Group of Institutes, was elected to the posts of both president and vice-president of the body.

Following have been elected as other office-bearers of the association: vice presidents — Dr J.S. Sandhu and Dr Suman Kocchar; honorary secretary — Dr Nitin M. Nagarkar; honorary joint secretaries — Dr Gurvinder Pal Singh and Dr R.S. Bedi; working committee member — Dr A.P. Sanwaria.

Dr Sushil Kumar Gupta, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Dr K.K. Sharma, Dr M. Amaravani, Dr Biren Suri, Dr R.K. Gupta and Dr R.K. Dhiman were installed as central council members.

Other members include Dr A.K. Attri, who took charge as chairman, IMA Academy of Medical Specialities, Dr Anil Kumar as secretary, Dr Neeraj Nagpal as director of IMA College of General Practitioners and Dr C.N. Malia as secretary. Dr B.S. Chawan, governing council member, Dr Rajan Chugh, convener, ‘Aao Goan Chale’ programme, Dr Ramneek Sharma, in-charge, women wing, and Dr Neeraj Kumar, treasurer, also took charge.

Population on high HIV risk rising in Chandigarh
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
Population of three core groups, identified as high risk by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), has been on the rise in Chandigarh.

Preliminary findings of the latest mapping conducted under National AIDS Control Programme III (NACP) show that the number of men having sex with men (MSMs) in the city has risen by 93 per cent as against 2003 when the first mapping of high risk populations was done.

The population of injecting drug users (IDUs) and female commercial sex workers (CSWs) has also risen. It is now 1, 111 and 3, 970.

As per the new mapping, numbers of MSMs in Chandigarh is 2, 465 as against 181 in 2003 when the Department of Community Medicine, PGI, had mapped the city for the first time to determine the numbers and location of vulnerable groups.

The rise is being attributed to increasing NGO intervention in the area which has helped homosexuals talk about their issues and vulnerabilities openly. In 2003, MSMs were no more than a marginalised group operating from the shadows. The fear of stigma had, therefore, hampered the first mapping.

But now, with UT State AIDS Control Society (SACS) collaborating with NGOs to run HIV/AIDS targeted intervention projects for them, they are coming out to seek help. Along with IDUs and commercial sex workers, MSMs form the three core groups which are a priority under the ongoing National AIDS Control Programme III.

In Chandigarh, the greatest cause of worry for the State AIDS Control Society, however, is the rising numbers of infected injecting drug users.

The latest sentinel surveillance done by SACS found 17 per cent of the sampled IDUs infected with HIV - a prevalence close after Delhi’s, whose corresponding percentage is about 25. The highest HIV prevalence among IDUs is in north-east - 60 per cent.

The number of female sex workers in the city has also risen, though marginally, as compared to 2003. The current population is 3970 as against 3224 listed three years ago. So far as HIV prevalence in this group goes, sentinel surveillance places it at 0.7 per cent. Among MSMs, the prevalence of HIV is 4.2 per cent - considered high.

The highest prevalence of HIV among core groups, however, is among IDUs, for whom HIV/AIDS control authorities have initiated special interventions.

The Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society has just constituted Narcotics Anonymous comprising former IDUs who are now helping others like them de-addict.

Detailed findings of the mapping are expected to be released anytime now. They will offer insight into locations of core groups and their nature. “We will know how many female sex workers are street-based and how many are home-based. Similarly, we will have a break-up for MSMs as we will know how many of them are male sex workers and how many are bisexuals. Accordingly, new interventions will be planned,” said sources in Chandigarh SACS.

Right now, PGI’s antiretroviral therapy centre is catering to 1485 People Liviong with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs). Of these, 6 per cent belong to Chandigarh.The rest are from the region.

City gets advanced laser technique
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
City-based Grewal Eye Institute, which introduced the VISX advanced ‘customvue’ laser vision correction procedure, has claimed that the technology is capable of treating more than 99.75 per cent persons eligible for vision correction. The advanced customvue would generate most precise vision imperfections measurements and most accurate correction procedures, informed Dr S.P.S. Grewal while claiming that Rs 2-crore machine was the second one in Northern India. The technology was already available in Delhi, added Dr Grewal.

The results of the clinical trials submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration showed that 98 per cent people treated with the advanced ‘customvue’ procedure could see in a normal way and in some cases even better than with glasses or contact lenses.

However, the cost of treatment would be as high as Rs 22,000 for one eye, informed Dr Grewal.

SPORTS

SAI contests orders to vacate hostel
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials, who are in a dilemma after getting orders from the Chandigarh administration to vacate their sports hostel at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 18, has sought time from Gen S. F. Roderigues (retd), UT Administrator.

“We want to apprise the Governor of all facts. So we requested him to give us time”, said R. K. Bhanot, coordinator of the SAI.

Director-general of the SAI Ratan P. Watal also wrote a letter to the Governor in this regard.

The order to vacate the premises came as a big jolt for the centre, which has produced 61 international and over 200 national players in the disciplines of hockey, athletics, basketball and volleyball.

It was established in 1989 and an MoU was signed by the then director (sports) UT Nirmal Milkha Singh and SAI regional director late Bal Kishan.

Former international volleyball player Nirmal Milkha Singh has also supported the SAI officials: “The administration wants the premises vacated for establishing another academy. They (the administration) should look for another site for a new academy. The SAI hostel has been doing very well for local and national sports, so it should not be uprooted like this”.

The officials should meet Member of Parliament Pawan Bansal on the issue, added Nirmal.

“The UT administration’s motive behind getting the hostel vacated is the same for which this centre was established in 1989. Therefore, the administration should select some other site to open their girls’ hockey academy”, the former international volleyball player said.

Amandeep honoured with gold medal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 4
Amandeep Singh, a student of Class XII of KB DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 7, Chandigarh, has been honoured with a gold medal for his exceptional achievement in roller hockey. He was handed over the medal on Mahatama Hansraj Day by minister of human resource and development Arjun Singh at a function held at Talkatora Stadium on March 31.

Amandeep, the world’s fourth highest scorer, made 12 goals in the World Roller Hockey Championship held in South America in 2006. Twenty-one meritorious students of the school, who secured 90 per cent marks in the CBSE Class X (2005-06) examination, were also honoured with a gold medal and a certificate.

Principal Madhu Behl said, “My students are my assets. The success of a school is determined by the success of its students.”