HEALTH

Papers on urology read at conference
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 8
The ongoing XIII international live operative workshop and urology conference of NZC-USI hosted by Dayanand Medical College and Hospital entered its second day today with hundreds of delegates from all over the world discussing various new techniques and advancements in the field of urology and transplants. The event was marked today by various activities going on simultaneously in various halls of hotel Park Plaza under the guidance of Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, urologist and transplant surgeon, DMCH, Ludhiana.

Dr Aulakh said the programme started with a guest lecture of Prof Mahendra Bhandari on the topic, “Urology education in the new millennium.” The chairpersons of the lectures were Dr S.N. Wadhwa and Dr N.S. Bhandari. This was followed by Dr P.N. Kataria Memorial Oration by Prof N.P. Gupta on the topic, “Progress in management of urinary calculi”. The Marudharan Jodhpur Urology Trust Oration was delivered by Prof S.N. Wadhwa on the topic, “Evolving paradigms in the management of urethral strictures.”

Dr Aulakh also added that another attraction for the event was the progress session in which the conveners were Dr S.V. Kotwal and Dr Ashok Sharma. Various papers were presented by Dr Gagan Gautam, AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr Shabbir Hussain, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Dr Shailendra, SGOGIMS, Lucknow, Dr Nachiket Vyas, BHU, Varanasi, and Dr Prateek Vyas, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. In the afternoon a symposium was organised on the topic, “Management of invasive carcinoma urinary bladders,” in which various doctors participated.

A Marudhara Jodhpur Urology Trust Best Paper Award session was organised in which Dr Ananant Kumar, Dr Prem Nath Dogra and Dr Avinash Goel were the chairpersons.

Dr Aulakh informed that in the post-lunch session there were guest lectures by Dr Abhay Rane on the topic, “Setting up a urolaproscopic service”, Dr Peter Remington talked about “Transperitoneal or retroperitoneal nephrectomy? — advantages and disadvantages of both techniques”. The third guest lecture was delivered by Prof M. Minz on the topic , “Long-term outcome of renal transplantation”. This was followed by a free power session on endo-urology.

In a poster session, various moderated and unmoderated posters were displayed and there was a discussion on these too.

A free paper session on lapsoscopy and naturotransplantation also took place. The programme concluded with the annual general body meeting.

Make medical facilities affordable: minister
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 8
Chaudhry Santokh Singh, Medical Education Minister, Punjab, exhorted doctors and medical institutions to serve humanity with a missionary spirit and put in concerted efforts to make the latest medical facilities and inventions affordable to the people.

The Medical Education Minister was addressing the inaugural function of the annual conference of the north zone Chapter, Urological Society of India, at Park Plaza last evening, in which more than 400 urologists and general surgeons participated.

Referring to the importance of the conference, the Minister said the coming together of such a large number of urologists gave an impression that they were working for humanity.

He said renal stones were one of the most common diseases of the urinary tract, especially in the sub-Himalayan belt. Nowadays, stones in renal system were being removed by endoscopy. Lasers had been the latest advancement in the treatment of renal stones, he added.

Chaudhry Santokh Singh said urologists from the USA, UK and Germany will perform surgeries ranging from laproscopic donor nephrectomy to PCNL (Per cutaneous nephro lithotomy).

The Medical Education Minister stated that stress should be laid on cadaveric donations for transplants.

He gave an assurance that the government would frame a policy in this regard.

The minister said with regard to the kidney scam the government was taking preventive steps. An authorisation committee board to plug loopholes, had been constituted he further added.

He further stated that the government would provide transplant facilities at state medical colleges and sufficient budget would be provided as the latest machinery and equipment were being purchased.

The Minister said even cancers of kidney were being treated now a days with very good prognosis and public should be educated about the new researches and advancements.

He said the need of the hour was to have a forum where the queries of a common man could be answered by experts.

Referring to the rising fee of the medical courses, the minister appealed to the management of private medical institutions to develop some kind of mechanism to make these affordable for students of the middle class and weaker sections.

He gave an assurace that the government too was considering to frame some schemes to subsidise the cost of medical education for poor students.

Among others who addressed the inaugural session included Prof. J.S. Gujral, Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid Medical University, Faridkot, Mr Amrit Nagpal, Secretary, DMC and Hospital, Dr Baldev Singh Aulakh, Organising Secretary, Dr Kim Mammen, Dr Vijay Kumar Sharma and Dr A.K. Mandal.

Councillors’ concern over dengue
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 8
position councillors, including Mr Praveen Bansal, leader of the BJP in the Ludhiana Municipal Council, Mr Harbhajan Singh Dang of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Mr Hansraj of the Bahujan Samaj Party, today expressed concern over the spread of dengue in the city.

In a joint statement these councillors pointed out that instead of owning the responsibility, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and the Health Department were trying to pass the buck. Despite such a sorry state of affairs, the Chief Minister was trying to shield the corporation, they said.

ey said it was surprising that when the city was faced with the threat of dengue epidemic, the city Mayor, Mr Nahar Singh Gill, had gone abroad. Even in his absence, the councillors said, no Congress leader cared to ask about the well-being of dengue patients.

SPORTS

PAU athletics meet concludes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 8
The three-day athletics meet of PAU zone organised by the District Education Department concluded at GGN Public School, Gobind Nagar, here yesterday. Satinder Singh from Arya Senior Secondary School was declared the best athlete in the under -19 (boys) group. He was declared the fastest runner in 100 m race and 400 m hurdle race. In under-17 (boys) group, Deepak Kumar Gautam from BVM School, Udham Singh Nagar, was adjudged as the best athlete. He stood first in 1500 m, 3000 m races and second in 800 m race. In under -14 (boys), category, Vishesh Chaddha from Kundan Vidya Mandir was declared the best athlete. He was the first to finish 100m and 200 m races. Vishesh also stood first in high jump.

Among girls, Savita from Government Senior Secondary School, Hambran, stood first in 100 m, 400 m races and javelin throw. Priya Bawa and Manpreet Kaur Ahluwalia from GGN Public School together bagged the best athlete prize in the under-17 category. While Preeti stood first in 800, 1500 and 3000 m races, Manpreet was declared first in 100 m, 200 m race and long jump. Kirti Sharma from BVM School, Udham Singh Nagar, was declared the best athlete in under -14 group. She won first prizes in 100 m race and long jump and a second prize in 200 m race.