Chandigarh, January 20
Winters can be harsh for those, who complain of pain in neck and joints. It is even worse for those suffering from arthritis and spondylitis as their condition worsens due to severe pain.

“The number of patients suffering from joint and neck pains and those complaining of morning stiffness of limbs and muscles definitely increase during winters. The trauma cases, however, do not increase but number of outdoor patients complaining of joint pains go up,’’ says an orthopaedician at General Hospital, Sector 16.

Another common ailment is the stiffness of limbs and frozen shoulders. Though the problem of frozen shoulder, in which the shoulder’s movement is restricted, can occur in any season but those suffering from the problem experience aggravated pain during the winter.

Doctors say, “most of the patients, especially those past their middle age complain of muscle stiffness while getting up from the bed in the morning. The season is especially tough for women above 40 years of age especially those nearing menopause. The morning stiffness can even lead to locking of joints”.

According to doctors, in order to check joint pain in the morning, the patients should slowing more their joints before stepping out of the bed. Special physiotherapy exercises and regular dose of medicine give the desired results.

Winters are considered the worst season for those suffering from rheumatoid, and gout and arthritis and osteoarthritis. Patients suffering from these diseases should avoid protein rich diet to keep the deposits of calcium and proteins less in the body.

Chandigarh, January 20
The city adds nearly 20,000 newborns to its population each year. However, only 9,000 would get vaccination for immunity against hepatitis-B free of cost.

As per the latest decision taken by the UT Health Department, the children born in the General Hospital, Sector 16, the Government Hospital, Mani Majra and Poly Clinic, Sector 22, (which account for more than 40 per cent of the total deliveries in the city) would be vaccinated against hepatitis-B free of cost at the time of birth. Vaccination cost on an average is more than Rs 50 for each of the childrens dose.

“Under a national policy, hepatitis-B is not covered under immunisation programmes, where vaccination is given free of cost. But here in the city, we have decided to make the vaccination available to around 9,000 children born in the three centres, without charging any money along with other free injections, immediately after the delivery, “said Dr C.P. Minocha, Director (Family Welfare), Chandigarh.

Sources, however, said while the initial proposal of the department was to include all newborns in the city under the free-vaccination programme for hepatitis-B on the lines of New Delhi and Haryana, but the paucity of funds limited the facility to the three centres only.

“It is feared that there might be a rush for deliveries at these centres,’’ said a senior official of the UT Health Department.

The funds for the vaccination programme have been provided by the UT Administration itself, unlike the other immunisation programmes that are funded by the Central Government.

Chandigarh, January 20
A city-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) employee, Mohammad Amjad Khan, has bagged gold medal in the DRDO National Table Tennis Championship organised in Hyderabad last week. About 70 players from all DRDO laboratories and establishments participated in the tournament.

Besides winning a gold medal in the men’s singles, he also won a silver medal in the men’s double in partnership with Apurv Dhawan from Delhi. Khan, who is posted at the Regional Center for Military Airworthiness, was part of the north zone team which won a gold medal for overall performance.

Chandigarh, January 20
Chandigarh judokas bagged four gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals in various disciplines in the 50th National School Games which concluded on January 16 at Mehsana, Gujarat.

The team was felicitated by the UT Education Department today with D.S. Mangat, DPI, Schools, lauded the players for bringing laurels to city.

Chandigarh, January 20
GGD SD College, Sector 32, will meet Panjab University Campus in the final of the PU Inter-College Inter-Zonal Cricket tournament for men being played here on the campus grounds.

In the first semifinal today, GGD SD College, Sector 32, defeated DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh, by 101 runs while in the second semifinal, PU Campus beat GGN Khalsa College, Ludhiana, by 113 runs.

In the PU Inter-College Squash championship, PU Campus players clinched the title beating Punjab Engineering College, Sector 12, 3-1. PU campus team comprised Rohit Marwaha, Rohit Mittal, Vipul Kashyap and Akshay Verma.

Chandigarh, January 20
The general body of the Central Administrative Tribunal(CAT) Bar Association today accepted the resignation of its president H.C. Arora and imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 on him for an alleged financial irregularity.

At a meeting here, the general body accepted the resignation and asked him to deposit the penalty within 10 days failing which his bar membership would be cancelled.

Mr Arora has been charged with withdrawing Rs 12,575 from the association funds without the approval of the general house. The amount was reportedly used for the payment of bills for a dinner given to welcome Mr L.M. Goyal, who joined as the vice-chairman of the Chandigarh Bench recently.

Mr Arora tendered his resignation on January 14 and also sent a cheque for Rs 3,000 as his contribution towards the dinner payment to the office-bearers of the association. Mr Arora was not present at the meeting.