Ludhiana, April 7
The students and the staff of Saraswati Modern School celebrated World Health Day with great enthusiasm today. Various inter house competitions were organised to inculcate the sense of ‘Healthy food and Healthy life’. The pre-primary classes nursery, LKG and UKG were told fruit and vegetable stories by their class teachers.

The students of class 1,11 and III participated in the slogan writing competition and communicated the importance of healthy food. The efforts put in by the tiny tots were praise worthy. Various slogans were written like ‘Eat healthy Live longer’. On the spot inter house elocution was conducted for classes IV to VIII students. The topics related to health, healthy food and means to pursue it were given to the students.

The students presented their views on the topics. A healthy sense of competition with enthusiasm was seen among the participants. A health promoting recipe competition was organised for students of classes IX and X where they prepared one health promoting item containing fruit or salad. The students put in their best skills and prepared salads. They also communicated about the importance of fruits and vegetables to the audience.

Mandi Gobindgarh, April 7
A survey camp for the physical evaluation of physically challenged persons was organised on the campus of the Desh Bhagat Institute of Management and Computer Sciences, Mandi Gobindgarh, today. The camp was held in collaboration with the Upkar Limb Fitting Centre, Nahan, the Rotary Club, Nahan, and the Rotary Limb Project, Jaipur.

Over 250 persons were examined and evaluated by a team of experts and 200 of them were found eligible for providing various artificial limbs. These eligible persons would later be provided with tricycles, wheel chairs, clipper shoes, crutches and artificial limbs free of cost.

SSP, Fatehgarh Sahib, Neelabh Kishore, was the chief guest while Dr S.K. Sablok, chairman of the Artificial Limb Centre, Nahan, was the guest of honour. Many eminent members of various rotary clubs were also present. Chairman, Desh Bhagat Group, Dr Zora Singh, presided over the function.

Neelabh Kishore said by helping the physically challenged in this manner we could serve society in a true sense.

In her valedictory address, director, DBIMCS, Shalini Gupta, presented vote of thanks. 

Ludhiana, April 7
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)organised a two-day workshop under the aegis of the Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, here, today.

By this research initiative, ICMR is conducting a nationwide study of consumption pattern of carbonated soft drinks and junk foods in the background of the nation's concern about reports of pesticide-contaminated soft drinks and other possible health hazards related to the consumption of soft drinks.

Dr G.S.Toteja, deputy director-general of the ICMR, in his opening address underlined the need of study as there was no study carried out anywhere in the world on this subject.

It is considered essential to understand the consumption pattern of soft drinks and junk foods to establish any cause and effect relationship to human health.

A study would be carried out through out India in four metropolitan cities and six medium cities as well as remote hilly areas, including rural areas in all seasons, covering all categories of population of all ages.

DMCH Ludhiana has been identified as the nodal centre for the north Indian region. As many as 90 participants from all regions of the country are being trained at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital by experts. 

Ludhiana, April 7
Trainees of the SAI Centre, Delhi, visited Ludhiana yesterday under the exchange programme of the Ludhiana Badminton Academy (LBA) being run here at Shastri Hall of the Guru Nanak Sports Complex.

The players comprised three girls and six boys in the age group of u-10, u-13 and u-16 years. The trainees of the SAI Centre, Delhi, played matches against the young shuttlers undergoing training here.

According to LBA secretary Anupam Kumaria, the visitors came here on an invitation to play exhibition matches. “Their visit will definitely give our trainees exposure and the feel of match temperament. Since, the young budding shuttlers require match exposure, this exchange programme will go a long way in improving the game of the players,” he added.

SAI coach Paramjit Singh, who accompanied the team from Delhi, expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the visit. He opined that more such programmes should be planned so that players could be benefited.

The LBA had resolved to take the trainees to other cities in the state in the coming days where they would take part in exchange programmes and get themselves ready for the forthcoming tournaments, Kumaria said.