The Times of India            06.05.2013 

De-addiction programme for corporation employees

The collector took part in an
awareness programme organised on the ill effects of illicit liquor
consumption, held on Friday evening. He said that instructions have been
given to the city health officer, Madurai corporation to conduct a
medical screening for the sanitation workers. The workers, who have been
affected by the alcohol habit would be detected in the screening and
convinced to take part in the rehabilitation

programme. Based
on the consent from the employees, they would be enrolled in the
programme, Mishra said. The rehabilitation programme would be conducted
at the alcohol de-addiction centre in Government Rajaji Hospital, the
collector added.

Mishra said that he had conducted a similar
programme while he was the commissioner of Coimbatore corporation. He
started the programme after a survey report revealed that the sanitation
employees there spent a whopping 80% of their income on alcohol. The
addiction not only spoiled the health of the employees but also created
several financial problems in their families.

Speaking during
the function, Dr N Mohan, dean, Madurai Medical College and Government
Rajaji Hospital said that 40% of the patients admitted to the hospital
for various health issues are alcohol addicts. The addiction creates
several health problems, he said and urged the participants to stop
alcohol consumption. “The details of the employees who are addicted to
alcohol would be collected from the colleagues and family members. They
would be involved in the programme. There are as many as 2,500 sanitary
health workers in Madurai corporation,” informed V Yasodhamani, city
health officer, Madurai Corporation.