Ludhiana, October 26
More than 100 delegates from all over the northern region converged at Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) here today to attend the "International Colorectal Workshop and Conference."

Being organised by the colorectal surgery division of the department of surgery, the conclave had guest faculty from countries like Australia, UK, Israel, as also experts from Vellore, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.

In his lecture, Dr Jim Young, director of surgery and a colorectal surgeon at Adelaide, Australia said colorectal cancer was the second most common cause of death from cancer among both men and women in the western world.

Describing the scenario in India, Dr Benjamin from CMC, Vellore disclosed that in India there were more than 60,000 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed each year.

The panelists discussed the various surgical techniques of treating these patients without creating permanent artificial openings on the abdominal wall.

Dr Mike Keighley discussed the effects of severe fecal incontinence, leading to restricted lifestyles, experiencing difficulties participating in social events, travel, employment, and everyday mobility.

He said although the condition was estimated to affect about 2.2 percent of the population, experts believed it actually affected a much higher percentage of the population because many patients were too embarrassed to report the condition, even to their doctors.

Dr Jim Sweeney, former chairman of Colorectal Society of Australia and a leading colorectal surgeon from Adelaide, delivered three lectures on different aspects of colorectal surgery including management of liver cancer and colorectal cancer.

According to him, getting liver cancer was not the end of the world as presently there were various treatment options available including surgery.

He said liver surgery could not be done by all surgeons and there were specialised surgeons who dealt with this condition.

Dr Micha Rabau from Israel talked about the role of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer while Dr Keith Hine from UK and Dr Ian Robert Thompson from Australia focused on the role of gastroenterologists in the management of colorectal cancers. Dr Wig, head of surgery at PGIMER, Chandigarh talked about colorectal tuberculosis.

Dr Rajeev Kapoor, head of surgery and in charge of colorectal surgical services at CMCH remarked that colorectal problems were becoming more common in young people and in women after childbirth, as well as in senior citizens.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr John Pramod and Dr John Abraham, director and principal of CMCH respectively.

Both of them expressed gratitude to the visiting international faculty for taking time out of their busy routines to come all the way to India and participate in the conference.

Mandi Gobindgarh, October 26
A 3-day athletics meet concluded at C.S. International School here, last evening. Chairman of the school management committee Chanan Singh Matharoo was the chief-guest of the opening function.

He unfurled the school flag and declared the meet open. Principal of the school Dr Anita Jain spoke on the importance of the sports.

On the last day of the meet, manager of the school committee Jagmail Singh distributed prizes to the winners.

Results: 3 leg-race: 1 Parabjot Kaur and Gurman; Pre-nursery odd one out race: 1 Manav and among girls: 1 Kritika; KG class banana race: (boys) 1 Amanjot Singh, (girls) 1 Bhavneet; class I - potato race: (boys)- 1 Ravinder, (girls) 1 Parneet; class II shoe and socks race: (boys) 1 Bhupesh Sharma, (girls)1 Ridhi Sharma; fancy dress: (girls) 1 Kiranjeet Kaur and brick race: 1 Satwinder Singh.

Peush Sharda and Simranjeet Kaur were declared best athletes among boys and girls, respectively. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, October 26
Terming sports to be inseparable part of lifestyle of Punjabis, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, SAD leader and MP, called upon management of various private schools to focus on promotion of games in their respective institutes.

He applauded players for their performance.

Teams of St Soldier Divine Public School Phagwara, SGHKIP School Amritsar, Police DAV Public School Jallandhar, Police DAV Public School, Amritsar, Bhai Gurdas Academy, Tarantaran, and Shri Guri Teg Bahadur Public, Khankot, had won in their respective matches.

Baba Balwant Singh, manager, and S K Mehta, legal, adviser were also present.