Ludhiana, September 24
SPS Apollo Hospitals here will organise a "Healthy Heart Expo" on September 29 and 30, on the hospital premises.

In addition to creating awareness about heart diseases and stroke, the world's largest killer, claiming 17.5 million human lives each year the world over, the hospital will launch a "Heart Attack Survival Kit" on this occasion.

Making this announcement at a news conference here today, Dr G.L. Avasthi, director, medical services at the hospital, said by the end of this century, India would account for more than half of the total heart patients in the world. "Yet, when a heart attack strikes, most people do not know what to do, resulting in the loss of vitally important time, during which the heart sustains more damage."

Dr R. P. Singh, senior consultant cardiologist at Apollo, said getting immediate medical care was the single most important thing that one could do to help lessen the damage of a heart attack. Stressing that timely action in case of heart attack was crucial, he added that 50 per cent of patients with myocardial infarction died before reaching emergency medical care.

The heart centre at the hospital had designed a “Heart Attack Survival Kit” (a cardiac care kit) which would act as first-aid for a heart-attack victim. "We have dedicated this month to create public awareness regarding risk factors for heart disease and stroke as also to promote preventive measures," Dr Singh said.

According to Dr Chetan Sharma, also a senior cardiologist at Apollo, the two-day expo would focus on this year's theme of World Heart Day (Team Up for Healthy Hearts!). The event would comprise various activities like free heart check-up camp, CME, a road walk to emphasise the importance of a healthy heart, lectures, exhibition and drawing competition on the theme. Heart attack survival kits will be given free of cost to first 200 participants.

Dr S.P. Singh, COO of the hospital, said many prominent companies, dealing in cardiac care products, would put up product display stalls, both for doctors as well as patients.

Lectures on risk factors, preventive measures and management of cardio-vascular diseases for the public and a CME for medical professionals would be the other highlights of the programme.

Visitors to the expo will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions with the cardiologists and cardio-thoracic surgeons.

Ludhiana, September 24
The Amway Opportunity Foundation (AOF) and the Rotary Club Southend donated an “AOF-Rotary” ambulance to Bhagwan Ram Charitable Hospital on Daresi Road here today.

City mayor Hakam Singh Giaspura, chief guest of the function, while flagging off the ambulance, lauded the humanitarian gesture by the AOF, Amway distributors and the club to facilitate medical support to the backward section of society. He expressed pleasure at the donation of second ambulance by the AOF after a similar donation to Mohan Dal Oswal Charitable Cancer Hospital in the city in July last.

Randeep Singh Sisodia, director (HR), Amway India, said the AOF was proud to dedicate this second ambulance to attend any emergency situation by providing timely medical care facility to the economically deprived patients.

Prominent among others present at the function were Praveen Bansal, senior deputy mayor, Prem Parashar, chairman of the BRC Hospital Managing Society, Dr Mohinder Braich and Dr Harbhajan Singh Braich. — OC

Kabaddi player honoured
Our Correspondent

Khamano, September 24
Kulwinder Kinda, a kabaddi player of Kakrala village, was honoured at Ganga Filling Station, Mandera, near here by prominent persons of Khamano area. He was honoured after his return from successful tour of Canada, where he expressed his skills in kabaddi and was adjudged best stopper in three kabaddi cups.

He said he played from the side of Metro Kabaddi Sports Club, Toranto, and defeated International Club by 34-31 to lift the trophy. He said their team played 12 tournaments out of which they won six titles.

Kinda was honoured under the chairmanship of Pandit Prem Parkash Kakrala, an akali leader, Jimi Sharma, Master Lovely, Dr Ranjit Singh, Aman Verma and Gogi Ghuman were also present at this occasion. Prem Parkash demanded more facilities for the Kabaddi players.

Ludhiana, September 24
Many players have been selected for admission with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) training centre here at the multipurpose sports complex, near Guru Nanak stadium. The trials were held last month for the induction in the disciplines of judo, volleyball, handball, basketball and athletics.

Harbans Singh, in charge of the SAI training centre, Ludhiana, said the selected boys and girls would be provided free boarding, lodging, coaching, sports kit besides life insurance cover and limited competition exposure as per the SAI scheme norms for all the regular inmates.

The names of selected boys and girls are: Athletics (boys): Inderjit Singh, Amandeep Singh, Yesu Raj, Sagar Jha, Vishavjit Singh, Baldev Singh, Ransher Singh, Navjot Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Harpreet Singh, Daljit Singh, Manbir Singh, Amrit Malli, Harjot Singh,and Pappan Preet Singh.

Judo (boys): Amit Kumar, Gaurav, Karandeep Thakur, Ajay Kumar, Rajnish Sharma, Parveen Kuma and Nitin Sharma, (girls): Ritu Joshi, Pranam Suthar and Manpreet Kaur.

Basketball (boys): Akash Gill, Richard Joy, Jimmy Joy, Arzoo Kumar, Rohit Kumar, Prabhjot Singh and Dev Mehra.

Handball (boys): Parminder Singh, Mangal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Parminder Singh, Arun Kumar, Charan Kawal Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Pankaj, Kuldeep Singh, Amandeep Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Ramandeep Sharma, Maninder Kumar, Pardeep Singh, Puran Kumar, Shiv Kumar, Pardeep Singh, Pankaj Kumar, Gagandeep, Kuldeep Kumar, Shiva, Pardeep Singh, Rupinder Singh, Sawanpreet Singh, Inder Mohan Singh, Shiv Kumar and Ravinder Singh.

Volleyball (boys): Pushpinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Gagandeep Maru, Sandeep Singh, Baljit Singh, Karanjeet Singh, Harleen Singh, Jasbir Singh, Parminder Singh, Jaspreet Singh, Sikander Singh, Harpreet Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Harmanjot Singh, Khushdil and Daljinder Singh.

Volleyball (girls) day boarding: Monika Rani, Gaganpreet Kaur, Ramandeep Kaur, Salma, Suman, Anu Bala, Harpreet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Jagdeep Kaur, Neetu Rani, Heena and Gurinder Kaur.

Amritpal Kaur, Harinkal Kaur, Simerjit Kaur, Kiranjit Kaur, Kulwinder Kaur, Lakhvir Kaur and Manpreet Kaur grabbed Bronze medals in their respective categories. As many as 200 girls participated in the contest.