The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

	Army doctors to get more global exposure Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 9 The Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) would soon be getting more international exposure in the field of medical education and research. The Defence Ministry is seeking more funds to send doctors for attending seminars and training session abroad. According to sources, the ministry had sought an allocation of Rs 1.5 crore for the AFMS for its annual foreign travel programme so that more doctors and research scholars could attend international training programmes. The AFMS, which provides medical cover and health care to personnel of the three services and their dependants, is laying greater stress on fundamental and basic research. For this, it has been felt that doctors, especially those at a senior level, be given greater exposure to medical trends and developments in the international arena. Research in the AFMS is carried out under the aegis of the Directorate-General Armed Forces Medical Services and the centres primarily engaged in research work include the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, Institute of Naval Medicine, Mumbai, Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bangalore and the High Altitude Medical Research Centre, Leh. Of late, there has been a lot of stress on medical research related to high altitude and extreme cold weather. Stress in military service and psychological factors relating to service in hard areas is also a focus area. Recently, the AFMS completed a review of acclimatisation status at high altitude with special reference to duration, age and ethnicity and validated the acclimatisation schedule for troops being inducted in high-altitude areas. Two major ongoing projects are related to the study of blood coagulant in high and extreme altitude in apparently healthy individuals, which will highlight the causes of thrombosis and evaluation of incidences of pathophysiology, which would reveal reasons for increased incidence of certain kinds of eye disorders in high altitude. Another study conducted over an year ago on the introduction of yoga in the army at high altitude showed encouraging interim results and yoga is being introduced gradually for troops stationed at high altitude.
	Insulin vital for Type I diabetics: Expert Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 9 The wrong notion that Type I diabetes can be cured without using insulin should be discarded straight away by the patients and their family members, as the people who claim to cure the disease without using insulin prescribe drugs which ultimately damage kidneys and nervous system, said Dr Jayant Banerji, a diabetologist, here today. Dr Banerji was addressing members of the “Friends for Diabetes”, a social organisation formed two years ago for spreading awareness and support for Type I diabetics or juvenile diabetics. Dr Banerji is one of the founder members of the organisation. The people claiming to cure the Type I diabetes without insulin prescribe the medicines enriched with heavy metals and steroids, which damage kidneys and the nervous system, said Dr Banerji, suggesting that the patients should learn to manage the disease, as it was not possible to tackle it without insulin. However, managing the disease is easy, as one can minimise the visits to doctor by using glucometer and insulin pen at home and lead a normal life. The cost of managing the disease in normal circumstances is as low as Rs 500 a month, informed the doctor. Moreover, managing the disease inculcates the habit of discipline in the patients, added the doctor. The doctor claimed that this was the first of its kind organisation of Type I diabetics in the country which provides a platform to the people to interact with each other, helping them coming out of trauma when they find that their kids were suffering from Type I diabetes. It identifies poor diabetics as well and tries to provide them free insulin and even glucometers.
	Lower backache affects 90 pc people: Doctor Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 9 Despite the advances in diagnostics and treatment in the past two decades, low back pain remains a challenging health disorder. Next to common cold, it remains the most common reason why people seek medical care, said Dr Sanjay Wadhwa, head of physiotherapy, PGI, Chandigarh. Dr Wadhwa was delivering a lecture on combating low backache in the auditorium of Advanced Paediatric Centre of the PGI here on Friday where other PGI experts, including Dr Babita Ghai, department of anaesthesia, and Prof Raj Bahadur, department of orthopaedics, spoke. Low backache affects up to 90 per cent of people at some stage and is considered as a medical disaster of the 21st century and leads to major loss of job hours. Dr Wadhwa said there were many causes (more than 100, according to an estimate) of low back pain. However, few people who felt pain in their low back had a serious medical problem. “One should see a specialist immediately if there is severe pain extending down your leg or the leg pain increases when you lift your knee to your chest or bend over,” said Dr Wadhwa. Dr Wadhwa said one must focus on exercises that work the lower abdominals, obliques and the quadratus muscles. Right posture while standing, sitting, moving heavy items, lifting, carrying and sleeping was also important. Prof Raj Bahadur said the best treatment was prevention, which included taking good care of your back. However there were three reasons why you might need surgery: When the pain is too severe to cope with in the short term and you need hospitalisation; the pain is persisting for too long, interfering with your quality of life; and when you have significant muscle weakness from pressure on a nerve which causes bladder and bowel incontinence. Dr Babita Ghai said patient education on the choice of treatment and the expected treatment outcomes seemed to be the key factors to success.
	Cardiologist gives tips to grandparents Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 9 Every third individual above the age of 40 in urban cities like Chandigarh is suffering from hypertension and diabetes. This was stated by Dr H.K. Bali, director, department of cardiology, Fortis, while delivering a lecture on Grandparent’s Day celebrated by Small Wonders School, Mohali, here today. “The country will be a hub of these diseases by 2020 in case substantial steps are not taken to check the problem,” said the cardiologist. However, these diseases are more of lifestyle disorders and preventable by regular diet and exercise, added Dr Bali. He exhorted the grandparents about the importance of inculcating aerobic and isotonic exercises in their and their kids’ everyday schedule.

All-weather pool awaits ceremonial start
G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
Lack of coordination between the two engineering wings of the UT Administration has seemingly delayed the opening of the much publicised all-weather swimming pool in Sector 23.

The project of converting yoga pool in Sector 23 into an all-weather pool, the region’s first, hung in balance for over three years and when it has finally fructified, it is still crying for an official opening.

The reason is that the UT Civil Wing has not yet handed it over to the Public Health Division (PHD), which is supposed to do the necessary ‘commissioning and final testing’ of the project. Further delay is expected as the official inauguration too would take its own course.

Superintending engineer, construction circle-I (civil), S.K. Jaitely, could not confirm how much time it would take for the final opening. “We will have to check the availability of dates with the UT Administrator’s office. After that, it will be open for public use.”

The Civil Wing claims they have already intimated the PHD about the latest position. “The delay is not on our part. We have completed the job and the pool is ready to open anytime but it is the PHD that has not yet done its testing operations, which are mandatory.”

On the other hand, the PHD superintending engineer, C-II, Krishanjit Singh did not have any inkling about the latest position of the project. “We have not yet received any information from the civil wing. As soon as they convey that they have done their part, we will start our job of final testing. It will take us a week or so to do the needful”.

When S.K. Jaitley was informed about this ‘communication gap’, he said the matter must have been settled at the XEN level of both the wings. “It is a small project. The XENs of both the wings must have communicated in this regard”.

However, there too, the situation is not too different.

The XEN, CPD, no. 4 civil wing, Yashpal Singh claimed to passed on the information about the completion of the civil work to the XEN, Public Health Division, Ami Chand. However, Chand has little knowledge about the same.

It is important to mention that this ‘small project’ was proposed by the UT Administration around four years ago. Earlier, it was the Science and Technology Department that proposed to do the heating part of the project, but somehow it never worked out, so finally the Public Health Division undertook this part of the project.

Gurveen skates to victory
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
Gurveen Kaur won the top position in the girls’ road race (4-6 years) during the two-day fifth Bhavan Hawk Roller Skating Carnival, which concluded at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, here today.

Results

Road race

Boys: U-4 years: 1 Sanyam, 2 Raghav Vashisht; 4-6 years: 1 Pranav Awasthy, Kabir Bedi, Angad Brar; 6-8 years: 1 Balkirat Rangi, 2 Mohit, 3 Abhinav Gaur; 8-10 years: 1 Akash Rana, 2 Mohit Yadav, 3 Manik Kaushal; 10-12 years: 1 Hardeep Dhull, 2 Sahil, 3 Amandeep Dhull; 12-14 years: 1 Rahul Mittal.

Girls: 4-6 years: 1 Gurveen Kaur; 6-8 years: 1 Runjhun, 2 Mrinal, 3 Ankita Goel; 8-10 years: 1 Sirjana, 2 Tanu Gaur; 10-12 years: 1 Darshvinder Kaur, 2 Jyoti Rana; 12-14 years: 1 Paavan Kaur, 2 Nikita.

Rink race II

Boys: U-4 years: 1 Gurnoor Singh, 2 Sanyam; 4-6 years: 1 Kartik Maan, 2 Kabir Bedi, 3 Ishaan Verma; 6-8 years: 1 Mohit, 2 Nimish Khokhar, 3 Karan Dangi; 8-10 years: 1 Sahil Ashat, 2 Mohit, 3 Akash; 10-12 years: 1 Siddhant Gupta, 2 Prabhsimran, 3 Vaibhav; 12-14 years: 1 Karan Lamba, 2 Varun Sandhu, 3 Abhishek; 14 years and above: 1 Bhanu, 2 Utkarsh Bhardwaj, 3 Rohit.

Girls: U-4 years: 1 Aditi Thakur, 2 Tanisha Gupta, 3 Kanvir; 4-6 years: 1 Kanishka Misra, 2 Himanshi, 3 Nankie; 6-8 years: 1 Gursimran Kaur, 2 Pragun; 8-10 years: 1 Tamanna Maan, 2 Sirjana Dhaliwal, 3 Tamana Sethi; 10-12 years: 1 Jyoti Ranam, 2 Hasrat Sethi, 3 Jaspreet Kaur; 12-14 years: 1 Aditi, 2 Ustat Sandhu, 3 Nikita.

In the final, Bhavan Skating Club-27 beat Ryan International 3-0 in the sub-junior boys’ (u-12 years) roller hockey.

Tennis centre project hangs fire
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
The project of setting up a tennis centre at Sports Complex, Sector 42, has been hanging fire for the past four years despite repeated claims of a quick start by the authorities.

Wild growth inside and outside the centre, small mounds of stones and unlevelled surface at the centre point towards the sluggishness of the administration.

The work, which started in 2004, is still pending. The delay is not only causing inconvenience to tennis players of the southern sectors, but is also resulting in waste of lakhs of rupees. According to sources, only laying of the red clay and rolling, which would take just a week to complete, is required to start the centre. But in absence of any maintenance or care, wild growth can be seen grown all over the court.

According to an expert, this wild growth can harm the brick as well as soil layers, which have already been laid. The further delay could cause more damage to the infrastructure, he added.

According to sources, the project has been hanging fire for one or the other reason. Earlier, engineering department officials had objected to the heavy compacting after laying the bricklayers as the expenditure had not been mentioned in the estimate of the department, which resulted in halting of the work.

Though the matter was solved six months before, the work could not be completed till date for unknown reasons.

When contacted J.P.S. Sidhu, joint director, Chandigarh sports department, said, “The work will be completed once the rainy season ends as the rolling could not be undertaken during the rains.”

WWICS Cup
Thrilling win for ERC Academy
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
Edmund Rice Cricket (ERC) Academy registered an exciting five-run victory over Desh Prem Azad Cricket Academy (DPACA) in a league match of the WWICS Cup U-14 Cricket Tournament. The tournament is being played at St Stephen's School at Togan, near here, today.

DPACA won the toss and invited ERC Academy to bat. The academy posted 125 runs for seven wickets in stipulated 25 overs. Splendid 62-run partnership between Aditya (50) and Balwinder (43 not out) was the highlight of their innings.

While middle-order batsman Aditya slammed three fours in his half century, Balwinder reached the fence four times and remained not out. DPACA's Talwinder Singh got two wickets for seven runs.

DPACA were given a good start by openers Karan Aggarwal and Talwinder Pal Singh. They made a 32-run partnership for the first wicket. Udit Mehta (37, 3x4s) and captain Abhilesh (30, 4x4s) tried their best to surpass ERC Academy's total but in vain. They fell five runs short as they made 120 for 7 in 25 overs. ERC Academy's spinner Shubham Bharti got two wickets for 27 runs.

Brief scores

ERC Academy: 125 for 7 in 25 overs (Aditya 50, Balwinder 43 n o, Talwinder 2 for 7, Larshank 1 for 8).

DPACA: 120 for 7 in 25 overs (Udit Mehta 37, Abhilesh 30, Talwinder 13, Shubham Bharti 2 for 27, Dinesh 1 for 25).

Arunima, Himal corner glory
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9
Arunima Goyal and Himal Gusain emerged champions in the u-15 girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively, of the Chandigarh Chess Championship-2007. The championship concluded at St Xavier’s Senior Secondary School, Sector 44, here, today.

As many as 34 players participated in the championship. A team of four players has been selected in each category to represent Chandigarh at the nationals to be held at Chennai in October 2007.

Arunima Goyal, Srishti Jain, Tarini Goyal and K. Koumudi have been selected in the girls’ category while Himal Gusain, Shirish, Ameek Malhotra and Satbir Singh have been selected in the boys’ category.

President of the Chandigarh Chess Association A.P. Saksena was the chief guest. He gave away the certificates and trophies to the winners.

Points position

Girls u-15: 3.5 points: Arunima Goyal; 3 points: Srishti Jain, Tarini Goyal, K. Koumudi; 2.5 points: Ravneet; 2 points: Simranjeet Kaur, Vishakha, Tanya; 1.5 points: Jasmeet; 1 point: Ayooshi Tokhi; .5 point: Akshita Grover; 0 point: Gursimran Kaur.

Boys u-15: 5 points: Himal Gusain; 4 points: Shirish; 3.5 points: Ameek Malhotra, Satbir Singh, K. Aditya; 3 points: Tejas Nagpal, Sachleen Singh, Mehul Jotshi, Mayank Kaura; 2.5 points: Sunbir, Shivam Sahni, Pranjal Kaura, Gitin Oberoi, Anmol Kuthiala; 2 points: Akash Bhardwaj, Abhinav Bansal, Agam Gujral; 1.5 points: Abhishek Saini, Jaskaran Singh; 1 point: Anubhav Tuknayat.