A special report on sports related facial injuries

Alarming rise in Ludhiana
Survey conducted by Dr. H.S.Sethi
Ludhiana//10th December, 2011//Shalu Arora
Sports– related facial injuries have been found to be on an alarming rise in the recent past. This was reported based on a survey conducted by Dr. Harsimran Singh Sethi of the Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Christian Dental College, CMC Ludhiana. The study was carried out under the able guidance of Prof (Mrs).Namita Singh and Prof. Abi M. Thomas.
The survey conducted among 2000 athletically active school children aged 8 – 11 years selected from various schools of Ludhiana revealed a sports related facial injury occurrence of 26.65%.The survey further found that out of the 1162 injuries encountered among 533 injured participants, 55% involved bruising of face followed by dental injuries (30%) and cuts (15%). It was seen that 14% of the involved participants suffered dental (teeth) injuries including fractured, loosened and completely knocked out teeth.
Teeth are supposed to be the hardest structure of the whole body and an injury especially to the front teeth creates a feeling of symbolic loss which the child has to carry on with him for the rest of the lifetime. So the doctors recommend use of properly fitting dentist-made protective equipment i.e. mouthguards especially among children involved in high risk contact sports. The doctors further recommended the sports instructors in the schools to make the children and the parents aware of such protective devices so that the incidence of such injuries can be reduced or at least decreased in severity and the children can safely enjoy the healthy benefits of sports activities.
In another study conducted by Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Christian Dental College, to know the awareness of school teachers to manage injuries happening to the oral structures in the schools,it was found that nearly 90% of the teachers were not aware of the first aid treatment in such cases.
Following this, Dr. Rajesh Kumar and others did a commendable job of educating teachers and physical health instructors of 10 schools in Ludhiana in the first aid management of such injuries including sports injuries.
According to Dr. Laxman Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, “any trauma which involves facial region, if not attended in time, will have long term effects in appearance and in function (chewing and speech)”.
Dr. Abi M. Thomas, Principal, Christian Dental College emphasized that after first aid treatment, it is very important to refer the patient to a specialized dental setup like Christian Dental College, where a highly qualified team of specialist dental personnel’s is available for management of such cases including specialists in other areas of dental concern.

Workshop on Common Eye Disorders

100 General Practitioners attended the workshop
Ludhiana//9th December,2011//Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

The Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana organized a Workshop on Common Eye Disorders in the Hospital Auditorium on 9th December 2011 in collaboration with CBM, an International NGO. Approximately 100 General Practitioners from NIMA (National Integrated Medical Association) and AIIMA (All India Integrated Medical Association) along with others attended the workshop.
Giving information regarding this workshop, Dy.Medical Superintendent and Head of the Eye dept. Dr.Nitin Batra said the focus was on the Awareness and Primary management of Common Eye Disorders like Diabetic Retinopathy, Pediatric Cataract, Computer Vision Syndrome, Glaucoma and Lids and Ocular Surface Disorders.
The chief guest, Dr. Kim J. Mammen, Associate Director, CMCL, welcomed the guests and, encouraged them to participate in similar workshops in the future. The guest of Honor Dr. Kanwal Masih, Medical Superintendent,CMCL, acknowledged the spirit of the participants.

Parents moved a petition against an unaided school

Hearing on Monday December 12, 2011

Parents through Advocate Ashok Agarwal have today moved a petition before the Delhi High Court seeking directions against the St. Lawrence Convent Secondary School to forthwith stop discriminating against those students who have not made payment of Rs.400/- per month each in the name of smart class and to allow them to attend classes along with those students who have made payment for smart classes and to revert back to old pattern which was in practice before 17.10.2011, prohibit the school from demanding fees on account of Smart Classes without first getting permission from the Directorate of Education, as required under Section 17(3) of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and direct the Director of Education, Govt. of NCT of Delhi to enquire into the allegations of humiliation, harassment and insult subjected to the students who did not make payment on account of Smart Class by the authorities of the respondent school as mentioned in the complaint dated 17.10.2011, 20.10.2011 and 24.10.2011 and to take appropriate action against the erring authorities of the respondent/school in accordance with law.

The matter is likely to be heard by the Hon’ble High Court on Monday, 12.12.2011.   

CMC was always in the forefront-Dr A G Thomas

Punjab is developing as the hub of medical tourism 
Ludhiana// 8th December, 2011//Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

Patient Randhir Singh Notra in happy mood with Dr. H S Bedi

Punjab is slowly developing as the hub of medical tourism in North India after New Delhi. In view of the excellent cardiac surgery results of CMC Hospital–a number of NRI patients are being referred as a part of medical tourism. Not only are the services up to International standards but the cost is much less. 

The latest patient referred was Randhir Singh Notra from Dubai. His healthcare provider - Fathima Healthcare Management Services– UAE – after doing a thorough background check– decided to refer Mr Notra to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi– Head of Cardio Vascular Surgery at the Christian Medical College & Hospital in Ludhiana. Dr Bedi told that Mr Notra had severe heart disease and underwent a minimally invasive total arterial beating heart bypass.

Mr Notra said that he was extremely satisfied with his treatment at CMC . He felt that the quality of the doctors, the paramedical staff, the technology available was on par with the best in the West. Additionally the compassion and care that he saw being given to all patients was priceless. Added to this is the fact that the same therapy in the West would cost about 10 times more. His healthcare provider had told him that Dr Bedi was a world leader in the beating heart technology which gives a safe and long lasting therapy to heart patients. Dr Bedi has his name in the Limca Book of World Records for innovating in the field of beating heart surgery.

Dr Abraham G Thomas–Director of CMC Hospital  reiterated that the CMC being one of the oldest Institutes of India was always in the forefront on imparting quality medical care to not only people of this region but also patients from all over the country and abroad.

Civilians subject to an unjust military trial

Don't let Jalila and Mahdi face their appeal hearing alone
Be there by writing a letter

	The nightmare faced by two teachers in Bahrain. It's why we Write for Rights.
	The terrifying threats. "We can do anything to you.Anything." Mocked, tortured, threatened. Forced to sign a confession, without even being allowed to read it. Civilians subject to an unjust military trial. This is the story of two former leaders of the Bahrain Teachers' Association, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, who were arrested and ill-treated during this spring's protests in Bahrain. Jalila and Mahdi are among the 15 cases featured in Amnesty's Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon this year. Write a letter for Jalila and Mahdi, and other urgent human rights cases -- join thousands of others worldwide to Write for Rights this December. Your letters are urgently needed. Next week marks a key milestone in Jalila and Mahdi's case. One day after International Human Rights Day on December 10th, Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi 'Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb face an appeal hearing. Why are these two teachers considered so "dangerous"? Because their trade union called for a teachers strike during Bahraini protests this spring -- protests seeking reform of a government that has used torture and excessive force against its own citizens. Jalila and Mahdi have seen the horrific behavior of Bahrain's government firsthand. Mahdi spent 64 days in solitary confinement, where he says he was tortured. And when Jalila demanded a lawyer after her arrest, she says the authorities rebuffed her with the chilling words: "Who said you would have a lawyer in here? It's us, only us. And we have the permission to do anything to you to [get] the testimony we want." After unfair trials before a military court, Jalila was sentenced to three years in prison, and Mahdi was sentenced to ten years. It's clear that Bahrain's authorities have no regard for human rights. Don't let Jalila and Mahdi face their appeal hearing alone. Be there by writing a letter. It's not too late -- join us to Write for Rights. Thank You, Michael O’Reilly Senior Director, Individuals at Risk Campaign Amnesty International USA		Send hope to Bahraini teachers Jalila al-Salman Your letters could make the difference for two teachers in Bahrain who are facing an appeal next week. Help us sway the Bahraini authorities.Will you write letters that can save lives?

Airman Saves Musical Treasure

A tale straight from an adventure book By Air Force Capt. Amy Hansen Air Force News Service WAKE ISLAND AIRFIELD, Wake Island, Dec. 6, 2011 - In a tale straight from an adventure book, contractors on this tiny Pacific island recently stumbled upon a vinyl record collection with an estimated value between $90,000 and $250,000. Air Force Master Sgt. John Solane, a 611th Air Support Group Detachment 1 contracting quality assurance specialist, looks at a Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers Band album at Wake Island Airfield. The yellow sleeves in the storage areas around Solane contain AFRTS-distributed records, which are copyrighted to protect the artists who gave the military authorization to use their recordings for overseas broadcast for free. U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Amy Hansen  The 611th Air Support Group's Detachment 1 is making a comprehensive effort to preserve the nearly 9,000 vintage vinyl records and ship them to their rightful owner, the American Forces Radio and Television Service in Alexandria, Va., according to Master Sgt. Jean-Guy Fleury, the detachment's infrastructure superintendent, who took over the project from the former Detachment 1 commander, Maj. Aaron Wilt.No digging was required to access this treasure, as the records were cataloged and neatly organized on shelves in a small room on the second floor of the airfield's base operations building. The door was conspicuously stenciled with the name of a radio station, KEAD, and a "Restricted Area Warning" sign, which kept most people out. "That's a locked room, normally, but people in my department have known the records were there for years," said Colin Bradley, the communications superintendent with Chugach Federal Solutions Inc. CFSI is the contractor that manages operations on Wake Island with the oversight of Air Force quality assurance personnel. "Because of the completeness of the collection, I assumed it was quite valuable," Bradley said. "I have not run across a collection that well preserved or that intact in my career. It's a little time capsule." The collection includes a variety of vinyl albums and records specially made for military audiences, as well as some commercially available records. "In 1942, the American Forces Radio Service was starting to get American music out to the troops overseas," said Larry Sichter, the American Forces Network Broadcast Center's affiliate relations division chief. "Some of the radio productions were original, like GI Jill and Command Performance, and have significant value." The exact operational dates of the low-powered AM station on Wake Island remain unclear, but Bradley shared his estimate. "I would guess that [KEAD] started in the '60s, due to the dates on the records," he said. According to a 2007 Internet entry by Patrick Minoughan, who was stationed on Wake Island from 1963 to 1964, KEAD was operating in 1963. "On the second floor of the then-new terminal building was a very small AFRTS radio station," Minoughan wrote. "AFRTS had no personnel there, but sent in monthly shipments of music. While I was there, one of the communications guys named Steve Navarro would do a daily show for a couple of hours. When it was unattended, anyone could go in and play the records, which were broadcast on the island." AFRTS was able to get permission to use the work of many artists, and later actors, for free, Sichter said. Therefore, the records were copyrighted and only to be used for their official purpose of entertaining the troops overseas, and then returned to AFRTS. Since Wake Island Airfield is on a 1,821-acre atoll located about 2,000 miles west of Hawaii and 2,000 miles east of Japan, it is possible that the cost and logistics of returning the records to the mainland were prohibitive when the radio station was shut down, officials said. So now, about 30 years after the last record was spun on KEAD, Fleury is spearheading the operation to ship the records back to AFRTS. He has estimated that it will take about 75 16-inch-by-16-inch boxes, and about $10,000 worth of specialized material to properly pack up the records. AFRTS is providing the materials and Detachment 1 will do the packing, he said. The records will be used to fill any gaps in the American Forces Network's local museum, Sichter said, and the rest of the collection will be entered into either the Library of Congress or the National Archives to become a permanent piece of U.S. history, accessible to all. �

Related Sites: American Forces Radio and Television Service

NORAD Gears Up to Track Santa Claus

on Christmas Eve the children of the world look to NORAD 

By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2011 – For the 56th year running, the North American Aerospace Defense Command will add the job of tracking the global flight of Santa on Christmas Eve to its mission of North American aerospace warning and control. The North American Aerospace Defense Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., will again track Santa Claus on his annual Christmas Eve flight to deliver presents to children around the globe. Courtesy graphic   "NORAD stands the watch protecting the skies of North America 365 days a year, but on Christmas Eve the children of the world look to NORAD and our trusted partners to make sure that Santa is able to complete his mission safely," said Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. Jacoby commands NORAD, as well as U.S. Northern Command, both based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The NORAD Tracks Santa mission “is a duty to the children of the world,” he added, “and a privilege we've enjoyed for 56 consecutive years.” From a NORAD video of the 2010 Santa flight, a military specialist looks up from a bank of computer screens: “Sir,” he says, turning to look at the camera, “we’ve picked up ‘Big Red’ on the radar. He’s entering from the northeast. “Recommend fighter escort as he transitions over North America,” the specialist adds, as the video shows an F-16 moving down the runway. This year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website went live Dec. 1 and features a Countdown Calendar, a Kid’s Countdown Village with holiday games and activities that change daily, and video messages from students and troops from around the world. The website is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Chinese. For the first time, using free apps in the Apple iTunes Store and in the Android market, parents and children can use their smart phones to count down the days until Santa and his reindeer take off from the North Pole to deliver presents to kids everywhere. Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Twitter also offer tracking opportunities. Santa followers can type “@noradsanta” into each search engine to get started. And that’s not the only technology that goes into the Santa tracking mission. To track the big man in red, NORAD uses radar, satellites, Santa cams and fighter jets. A NORAD radar system called the North Warning System consists of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. On Dec. 24, NORAD monitors the radar systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole. The moment radar indicates a lift-off, satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat. Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature that allows the satellites to detect Santa’s sleigh. NORAD starting using the Santa cam network in 1998. Santa cams, according to NORAD, are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras prepositioned at many locations around the world. They use the cameras once a year to capture images and videos of Santa and his reindeer. In the air, Canadian NORAD pilots flying the CF-18 fighter will intercept and welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in F-15s, F-16s or F-22 Raptors will fly alongside Santa’s airborne sleigh pulled by his famous reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. Once data is collected on Dec. 24, it is pushed into Google Maps and Google Earth so families all over the world can follow Santa. Thanks to these systems and technologies, starting at midnight Mountain Standard Time on Dec. 24, visitors to the NORAD Santa website can watch Santa’s progress around the globe. It all started in 1955 when a Sears media advertisement directed kids to call Santa Claus but printed a telephone number that rang through to the crew commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center. The colonel on duty told his staff to give all children who called in a "current location" for Santa Claus. The tradition continued when NORAD replaced CONAD in 1958. “The [NORAD Tracks Santa] effort,” Jacoby said, “could not be carried out without the superb assistance of numerous government and nongovernment contributors.” Sponsors of this year’s program include Acuity Scheduling, Big Fish Worldwide, Carousel Industries, the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council, General Electric, the National Tree Lighting Ceremony, RadiantBlue Technologies Inc., thunderbaby studios, the U.S. Coast Guard Band, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band, Visionbox, and the West Point Band. Returning sponsors include the Air Force Academy Band, Analytical Graphics Inc., Air Canada, Avaya, Booz Allen Hamilton, Colorado Springs School District 11, the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, the Federal Aviation Administration, First Choice Awards & Gifts, Globelink Foreign Language Center, Google, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Meshbox, the Naden Band of the Maritime Forces Pacific, Naturally Santa’s Inc., the Newseum, OnStar, PCI Broadband, the Space Foundation, tw telecom, Verizon and UGroup Media. “It is the generosity of these contributors, the hard work of the more than 1,200 volunteers who man the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center, and vigilance of the Canadian and U.S. forces who work at NORAD that guarantees the program's success each and every year,” Jacoby said.

Biographies: Army Gen. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. Related Sites: NORAD Santa

It is a matter of absolute shame

Chandigarh// December 5, 2011//Bureau Report: 

The disgraceful incident of Akali Sarpanch manhandling a lady teacher, epitomizes all that is wrong with Shiromani Akali Dal. It shows, party’s arrogance, insensitivity, brutality, rudeness and cowardice. It is a matter of absolute shame that the Akali Dal representative slapped someone who deserved respect on three counts i.e. she was a citizen, a woman and a teacher!.
Worst, it happened in front of the police force and other employees of the government who stood by doing nothing. Even after many hours of the incident, the government did not take any action. The fact, that the Sarpanch had the impudence to file a police complaint against the teacher and the government has not taken any action against him, shows that there is no remorse on either side.

The so called anger of the manhandler is beyond comprehension. The lady teacher was merely expressing her anger against patently unjust policies of the government. As a citizen she is entitled to do that. In fact, citizens inability to reach the government and express their grievances leads to such situations, where they are left with no options but with a slim hope that of conveying their demands when they meet their reprsentatives during the latter’s public appearances. But there too, the so called leaders are surrounded by a battery of police personnel who ruthless push and shove everyone away.

The PPP strongly condemns the incident and calls for strictest possible action against the sarpanch and the police officials on duty who kept on watching the whole incident without intervening even when the lady was being brutally thrashed. What is also staggering is the silence of Mrs Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The incident happened in her public appearance and as a woman, a Member Parliament and as a member of the ruling family of the state, she should have empathized with the gross injustice and inhumanity involved in this incident. Instead of taking prompt, stern and exemplary action, she has chosen to observe perfect silence.

A government and leaders, who cannot show respect and dignity to its citizens, has no right to represent its people.

Patriotic color in Sanjha Morcha's welfare schemes

Shaheed Bhagat Singh rozgar yojna
Neta Ji Subhash Chander Bose health insurance 
Manpreet Singh Badal promised many benefits

File photo:The Spis News

So as to ameliorate the living conditions of those inflicted with life threatening diseases like diabetes and cancer, Manpreet Singh Badal, President of People's Party of Punjab (PPP) today promised to offer an insurance of three lakh rupees.
Addressing a rally at Ropar on Sunday, the PPP President said that if voted to power, the PPP will offer insurance of upto three lakh rupees for those belonging to ecnomically weaker section, suffering from such dreaded diseases. Manpreet said that it's government will spend 200 crores on this project which will be termed as "Netaji Subhash Chander Bose" health insurance scheme.

Manpreet added that certain belts of Punjab, especially Malwa area has Punjabis suffering from water borne diseases including cancer. As a fallout of contaminated water, people living in this area are suffering from cancer and other life threatening diseases.

Manpreet said that the PPP will not only offer insurance upto three lakhs but also ensure that the menace of contaminated water is removed from Punjab. This is not the first scheme that Manpreet has promised to make available for those belonging to economically challenged sections.

Manpreet in the recent past had promised to offer one lakh jobs for youths each year under the Shaheed Bhagat Singh rozgar yojna. Also, he had promised that PPP will get a fixed deposit of Rs 5,000 in the name of a newly born girl child in Punjab. The fixed deposit will be made available after twenty years.

Manpreet SIngh Badal said that if Punjab has to rise, the people living in the Punjab and those who remain deprived from basic amenities owing to financial constraints need to be empowered and made self dependent.

He said that not only jobs will be made availabe to youths but also PPP's endeavour will be to make the public independent by providing small business opportunities for Punjabis.

He added that PPP will also guarantee that the Police force serves the public and is not reduced to a political tool.