HEALTH

CMCH to offer treatment to ex-servicemen
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 15
Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here is all set to welcome and serve the retired army personnel and their dependents once again after a gap of nine months.

The process is already under way for re-enlistment of this prestigious hospital on the list- approved Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) institutions after the previous contract expired in September last year.

Over the past three years,the CMCH had provided a range of speciality treatments to scores of ex-army personnel, drawing appreciation from all quarters for its quality service.

Giving details, medical superintendent of the hospital Rajesh Paul informed that the members of the armed forces, who had served the nation gallantly, deserved the best medical attention available, and hence, the CMCH had renewed its efforts to bring ECHS patients. The hospital had received numerous requests from many patients, who had earlier availed the special treatments such as dialysis and other super-speciality medical care at the hospital to resume the ECHS facilities.

In this regard, CMCH director John Pramod had personally visited the Command Medical Hospital in Jalandhar Cantonment recently for renewal of agreement under the ECHS. The army authorities had also shown a keen interest while expressing their appreciation for the past services the CMCH had provided. The application submitted by CMCH had been forwarded with a favourable recommendation to Brig Rajiv Bhatia, station commander at Ludhiana.

The army authorities here had also responded favourably to the proposal and this matter had received immediate interest. The CMCH management was confident of being able to welcome ECHS patients very soon. Dr John Pramod was confident that with the keen interest being evinced by the army top brass here, the hospital would soon be in a position to offer professional services to the ECHS beneficiaries with the completion of the renewal process.

500 donate blood at camp
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 15
The local unit of the Sant Nirankari Mandal organised a blood donation camp under the supervision of zonal head H.S. Chawla at Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhavan, Bharat Nagar Chowk, here today.

V.D. Nagpal, a representative of the central body of the mandal, inaugurated the camp, which saw over 500 volunteers coming forward to donate blood.

Nagpal said the mandal had been holding such camps every year all over the word in the memory of Baba Gurbachan Singh, who had laid down his life for the mankind and upheld the noble values by spreading the message: “Blood should flow in the veins and not drains”.

On the activities of the mandal, he said the body was in the forefront of rendering social service.

Quoting from a message sent by mission head Baba Hardev Singh, he said blood donation was a supreme service to the mankind and people should always come forward for this noble cause.

According to zonal in-charge H.S. Chawla, five city hospitals — Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Civil Hospital, B.L. Kapur Memorial Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital and blood bank of the District Red Cross Society — had made arrangements for collection of blood at the camp.

SPORTS

41 kids take part in chess tourney
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, July 15
Fortyone children are taking part in the second edition of the chess tournament being organised for wards of the Life Insurance Corporation of India’s employees which began at its divisional office, Dugri here today. The tournament is being conducted by the LIC Employees Sports and Recreation Club for the children in the age groups of six to eight years, nine to 10 years, 11 to 12 years and 13 to 16 years.

Manager, personnel and industrial relations, LIC of India, Ludhiana, Darshan Singh, inaugurated the tournament. Matches are being held on the knock-out basis.

The following boys and girls won their respective matches to advance into the final round. In the six to eight years age group-Ankit, Setu, Manav and Harleen overcame their opponents; in the age group of nine to 10 years- Parmeet, Keshav, Riya and Akshit defeated their rivals; in the age group of 11 to 12 years- Satvik, Sayam, Akshit Sharma and Hitesh registered victories and in the age group of 13 to 16 years- Ayush, Nischay, Parichay and Dheeraj recorded wins to secure berths in the final round.