HEALTH

UT’s first menopause clinic opens
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
UT's first menopause clinic has become functional at the government polyclinic at Sector 22.

Headed by Dr(Mrs) Meenal Kumar, Senior Medical Officer, Gynae, the polyclinic is expected to go a long way in providing necessary medical relief to women patients who till now did not have any specific place to go to for help, according to Dr Rameshwar Chander, Director, Health Services, UT. "Till now, they were being treated for their symptoms only like hot flushes, osteoporosis, irritability, behavioural changes etc. Now they can get specific help for a specific medical problem", he said in a talk with Chandigarh Tribune here today.

According to Dr Meenal Kumar, menopause is a natural and permanent cessation of menstrual periods at the middle age varying from 40 and 58 years of age. It occurs due to loss of ovarian function, leading to decline in hormonal levels. No link has been found between menopausal age and use of oral contraceptives, socio-economic or marital status, race or age. Menopause should bring with it a sensation of freedom and wisdom in all women, but only a few feel confident, empowered and involved and energised. Many other suffer emotional and social crises along with several health problems.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has recommended taking a combination of oestrogen and progestin hormones every day after menopause. Taking oestrogen alone increased the risk of cancer uterus. Similarly, taking oestrogen in the first part of menstrual cycle and progesterone in the second part, which was practised earlier, involved the risk of withdrawal bleeding every month. Now taking both the hormones on all days of the month is the norm. Even if some bleeding occurs in the first few months, it will cease after three to six months.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) reduces the risk of osteoporosis, relieves symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and decreases the risk of heart attacks.

SPORTS

Ace of Aces title for Karun
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, August 6
Karun Chaudhary of Ropar became the fastest server in the men section and won the title of ‘Ace of Aces’ in the tournament organised by the Total Tennis Academy here at the YMCA, Sector 11. He served at a speed of 106 mph. The runner-up position went to Sikander Jaitley who served at 96 mph. The final proved to be a keen affair, Karun Chaudhary served at a speed of 106 mph while the top speed recorded by Sikander Jaitley was 101 mph. But in final round, Sikander could not repeat his earlier feat and the maximum speed his serve could attain was 96 mph, whereas Karun recorded a speed of 103 mph.

Earlier in the semifinal, Karun Chaudhary, Sikander Jaitley, Sumit Singh and Ravsharan were pitted against each other and all of them served at more than 85 mph.

Yesterday, the rain had played a spoilsport and men-section events could not be conducted. Ms Roshni Singh Bhullar gave away the prizes.

Judo trials

The Amateur Judo Association of Chandigarh (UT) will hold selection trials on August 8 at 2 p.m. at the Judo Centre, Sports Complex, Sector 42, to select the probables from Chandigarh for the national-level trials to be organised by the Judo Federation of India at the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, on August 10. The trials will be held in junior girls weight category as, below-45 kg, 48 kg, 52 kg, 57 kg, 63 kg, 70 kg, 78 kg and above 78 kg. In boys section, below-55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 90 kg, 100 kg and above 100 kg, trials to be held. The participants should be born on or after August 10, 1982.

Mr N.S. Thakur, general secretary of the association, said the participants must possess a valid passport. Judokas may contact for further information at Phone-792670, 655494.

ADMINISTRATION

MC land cleared of illegal taxi stands
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 6
The enforcement wings of the Municipal Corporation and the UT Estate Office in a special drive undertaken jointly today removed 13 unauthorised taxi stands from MC land in various parts of the city. Besides this, 17 other such stands of the total 30 had been vacated by the occupants themselves, since they were apprehensive of the drive.

The stands which were removed today were located in Sectors 8-C, 9-D, 20-D; 22, 25, 27, 42 and 43, Industrial Area-I and two others in Mani majra. The staff seized their paraphernelia, including tents, tables, chairs, folding beds and demolished the concrete platforms made by them. The signboards indicating the name and address of the taxi stands were also pulled out. Challans were also issued to them subsequently.

The drive, which started around 9 am under the supervision of Enforcement Magistrate, Mr Ishwar Singh carried on till 5.30 pm without report of any untoward incident. Besides the entire enforcement staff of both MC and Estate Office, 20 police personnel attached to them, SDO and JE’s of the areas concerned, Xen’s of road wing I and I of MC, Mr S.K Chadha and Mr Mukesh Anand participated in the drive. One JCB, 7-8 trucks and labourers were used to load the seized goods.

Mr Singh said they would continue to inspect these areas from time to time to ensure that these illegal taxi stands do not come up again.

Meanwhile, the enforcement wing of MCC today issued 104 challans. These include 90 challans in the southern sectors of 37, 38 and 46, including quite a few of these in the “apni mandi” of 46 and 14 others in the northern sectors of 19, 27, 28 and 30. Those challaned include the “rehri, phari” vendors and shopkeepers, who had encroached the MC land or the public corridors.