Ludhiana, June 21
Women and child health, nutrition, vaccination of newborn and safe deliveries were some of the crucial issues under focus at a unique rural health festival organised at Pakhowal village, about 25 km from here, today. Former minister Jagdish Singh Garcha presided over the event, which was held jointly by the health department and the Punarjot Eye Bank of Punjab run by Dr Ramesh Mansooran.

Civil surgeon Dr Sat Pal Sharma, who was the chief guest, urged the people to give special attention to the health care and nutrition of pregnant women because the health of the newborn was directly linked to the health of their mothers. He further made a strong case for institutional deliveries in the wake of a financial assistance of Rs 700 being given by the government to the women below poverty line.

District mass media officer Satish Sachdeva explained at length the need for breast feeding of children at least for one year, comprehensive vaccination of children, need for obtaining their birth certificates, while also exhorting the youth to keep away from drugs, liquor, tobacco and other addictive substances.

The health department, as also the project officer, child development, Pakhowal had put up an elaborate exhibition on different aspects of women and child health. Literature for awareness on eye donation and blood donation was distributed among the visitors to the festival.

Dr Ramesh Mansooran conducted the eye check up of a large number of persons, while also interacting with those who have had cornea implant for the restoration of sight. Dental experts also conducted check up of the patients and dentures were also provided to needy persons. A family welfare camp was put up under the supervision of Dr R.K. Gill, senior medical officer at primary health centre, Pakhowal.

Ludhiana, June 21
More than 200 dairy farmers thronged a fertility camp, organised by the department of animal husbandry, at Lalton Kalan village in the district yesterday.

Dr Paramjeet Singh, deputy director of the department, inaugurated the camp, which focused on the treatment of sick animals under the expert guidance of specialised doctors as also to apprise the dairy owners with various departmental schemes.

A seminar was also held during the camp in which various scientists provided useful information on different diseases, management of livestock and livestock insurance policy.

Dr Chatinder Singh and Dr Pawan Sood discussed the gynaecological problems and infections diseases. Dr lnderjeet Singh, assistant director, and Dr Jugal Kishore, senior veterinary officer, guided the farmers regarding better management of livestock. Dr D.K.Goel, pathologist, provided information on bird flu and related diagnostic tests.

Dr Paramjeet Singh, deputy director, responding to the demand made by dairy farmers, promised that a diagnostic laboratory would be set up at Lalton Kalan in the near future. He also advised the farmers to avoid the use of "Oxytocin" due to its ill effects.

A team of experts, comprising Dr Tarlochan Singh, Dr Vikram Mohindra, Dr Prashant Singla, Dr Rajveer Singh, Gurdesh Singh, Bhupinder Singh and Daljinderpal treated more than 250 animals at the camp for various gynaecological, surgical and parasitological diseases. Medicines were distributed free of cost and samples of blood, urine and stool were collected for laboratory tests and diagnosis. — OC