HEALTH

IMA to launch Hepatitis-B vaccination drive
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29
The Indian Medical Association, Chandigarh State Branch, will organise a “Hepatitis-B vaccination drive in the city in tandem with Shantha Biotechnics Private Limited, from January 31 to February 28. Nearly 100 clinics, nursing homes and health centre are expected to participate in the drive.

Talking to newspersons Dr G.S. Kochhar, President of the IMA, said the hepatitis-B vaccination drive would begin on January 31 and would conclude on February 4, He added that on the first day 100 doses of vaccine would be given free of cost at the IMA complex in Sector 35-B between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on a first come first served basis.

In India more than 50 million; people are suffering from hepatitis-B. Only 15 per cent of our one billion population had been vaccinated against hepatitis-B. The World Health Organisation has called for all children to receive this vaccination. He said 116 countries had added this vaccine to their routine immunisation programme . However, India had not taken up hepatitis-B vaccine in its national immunisation programme due to cost factor. This had led to the death of two lakh Indians every year because of hepatitis-B.

Dr Kochhar said these vaccines did not have any side effects, like pain at the place of injection and fever. The vaccine is given at intervals . The vaccine has to be injected intramuscularly in the arms rather than in the buttocks where the response is much less.

The IMA appealed to all Chandigarhians to get vaccinated from their nearest clinics and nursing home and health centre, or the Sector 32 Medical College and Hospital or the PGI.

PGI technologists list demands
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29
The PGI Medical Technologists Association has in a letter to the Chairman of the High Power Committee, PGI, Mr I.C. Pathak, listed their various demands requesting to be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the committee on February 5.

The demands include implementation of part B of the Fifth Central Pay Commission to the medical technologists of the institute, payment of patient care allowance and washing allowance to technologists and technical assistants, proper implementation of the cadre II review, representation of the Medical Technologists Association on the institute level committees, allotment of office space for the association, risk allowance and research allowance to technicians, transport and conveyance allowances to the technologists residing on the PGI campus.

The association has written this letter in response to a letter sent to them by the Director, PGI, that a list of the demands of the association be sent for the meeting.

The committee last met in March last year.

231 students donate blood
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29
As many as 231 students of Government College, Sector 11, donated blood at a camp organised by the Students Council of the college here today.

Staff members also came forward to donate blood at the camp inaugurated by Mr BB Behl, President of the local unit of the Congress.

SPORTS

Pawandeep shines in athletics meet
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, January 29
Pawandeep Kaur of Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector18, secured the first place in the under-19 section of the UT Inter-School Athletics Meet in 100m here today. She also claimed the top honours in the javelin throw event. Other winners among girls in various age groups were Veena Yadav, Mukesh, Teena Rana, Harjeet, Anshika, Harmandeep, Anupriya Sharma, Menu and Amandeep Kaur.

In the boys section, the winners were Ranjit Singh, Harinder, Baldev, Nirpal Singh, Jagdeep Singh, Sandeep, Sanjeev, Sidharth, LalJi, Rajesh, Naveen Sharma, Suraj, Bivey, Surinder, Authony, Manpreet Singh and Manoj.

Volleyball tournament

SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh, DAV College, Chandigarh and the Panjab University campus won their respective matches against GGD SD College, Punjab Engineering College and DAV College, Hoshiarpur in the Panjab University Inter-College Zonal Volleyball (men) tournament played here on Tuesday at the PU grounds.

In the PU Inter-College Hockey (women) tournament also played at the PU grounds, MCM DAV College for Women, Sector 36, Chandigarh, outclassed Government College for Girls, Sector 11, 3-0 while the Government College for Women, Ludhiana, blasted Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana. 16-0.

Kabaddi title

SD Public School, Sector 32, bagged the Inter-School Kabaddi Title by beating Government Senior Secondary School, Dhanas, 62-20 in a meet organised by the UT Sports Department here on Tuesday. The girls title went in favour of Government High School, Sector 42, who also defeated GSSSS, Dhanas, 113-106.

In the girls kho kho final, IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, will meet Sri Guru Harkishan Model Senior Secondary school, Sector 38, on Wednesday at 4 pm.

A player of promise
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, January 29
Chattwinder Singh (16), a native of Dhuri (Sangrur), has astonished many with his current form in the ITF Junior Tennis meet at the Sector 10 tennis stadium. Chattwinder, who is now under the Rural Area Scheme of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, is in Class X of the local DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8.

Yesterday, this boy beat fancied Amanjot Singh in a thrilling two-set encounter. After the match, Chattwinder said, “Last week I played in the ITF junior tennis at Delhi and reached the semi-finals. So I would certainly like to make it to the finals”.

Chattwinder said he would also take part in the next leg of the ITF tennis meet going to begin at Kolkata from next Monday. He was of the opinion that one must lay stress on physical strengthening of the body. He said that training at Britannia Amritraj Academy (BAT) at Chennai from 1999 to 2001 had helped him a lot. He said the CLTA courts were the best for any player to show his potential and there were many examples like Sunil Kumar, Akshay Vishal Raoamong among others.

Fun Golf on Feb 3
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 29
Keen contest is likely in the Winter Fun Golf competitions to be organised by the Chandigarh Golf Association at the CGA Golf Range on February 3, near Kishangarh.

Giving this information here today, CGA President Desh Prem Azad said the competitions, open to club members only, would be conducted in the following categories.

Longest drive for men, juniors and sub-juniors; Closest to the pin/flag for men, juniors and sub-juniors; Putting competitions (4-5 holes) for above 18 years, 15 to 18 years and below 15 years; Sand trap closest to the flag for above 18 years, 15 to 18 years and below 15 years and Miniature Golf Team Championship.

A three-member team, including a lady, will form a team for nine-hole stroke play for CGA members.

The CGA has also introduced Miniature Golf Team Championship (nine-hole play) for mediapersons (print as well as electronic media, including news photographers).

Entry, with a fee of Rs 50 per participant, for closest to the pin, longest drive, putting competition and sand trap closest to the flag, closes on February 2 at 12 noon.

The CGA President disclosed that as per the decision of the organising committee, Rs 50 per team consisting of three players, one lady at least, for the Miniature Golf Team Championship. Information regarding rules and regulations will be given by the Technical Committee on the spot.

The fun golf will be inaugurated at 10 am.

ADMINISTRATION

Repair work of Ghaggar bridge put off
Our Correspondent

Dera Bassi, January 29
The repair work of the Ghaggar bridge of the Chandigarh-Ambala highway, near Bhankharpur village, that was to be carried out from January 30, has been postponed due to some administrative reasons.

In a press statement, the Executive Engineer of the Building and Roads wing of the Punjab Public Works Department said that the highway would remain open for vehicular traffic during this period and the new schedule for the repair of the bridge would be notified later.