A total of 27 cases of diarrhoea, including 26 at the
Communicable Diseases Hospital (CDH) in Tondiarpet, were reported to the
Chennai Corporation on Thursday.

However, a
systematic compilation of diarrhoea cases in the city has not been
conducted. Many private hospitals are reporting fresh cases. One
hospital in Chetpet, for instance, reported at least five new cases on
Wednesday and Thursday. The Corporation is required to monitor diseases
reported in all private hospitals located in the city limits.

“I
took an old woman on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. to a private hospital in
Chetpet. The family members said that they were scared to go to
Government Kilpauk Hospital and asked me to take them to the nearest
private hospital,” said Johnson, an auto driver who assisted the
patient. A private practitioner in the area said he has been treating 20
patients every day for the past week for diarrhoea. The old woman was
one such patient. “When they are very serious and dehydrated, I send
them for admission to a hospital. If they require only drips, then I
administer them in my clinic,” the doctor said.

Despite
claims by Chennai Corporation, a visit to the area revealed that fly
infestation is very high. One resident, however, said that a health camp
was conducted in Ossankulam and Bhoobathy Nagar. Residents said that
while initially, Corporation officials were present in large numbers in
New Bhoobathy Nagar and Ossankulam, they were nowhere to be seen over
the past three days.

Several
children and youngsters have returned in the past few days from KMCH and
the CDH but despite being cured of diarrhoea, continue to live in poor
sanitary conditions. A total of 14 patients were discharged from KMCH
and 26 from CDH.

“Chennai Corporation, in association
with Metrowater and Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, has launched a
drive to control diarrhoea on a war footing. The Chennai Corporation
will procure additional equipment in seven zones and get more employees
in a week,” said Minister for Municipal Administration K.P.Munusamy.