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Public Health / Sanitation

Plastic disposal to be routed through schools

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The Hindu             30.07.2013 

Plastic disposal to be routed through schools

Staff Reporter

Children in the city are being given the task of bringing washed and clean plastic waste from their home to school to help the City Corporation dispose it of safely.

The idea is of the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, a non-governmental organisation, to help revive collection of plastic bags for safe disposal.

The Corporation has banned plastic bags, but collection of plastic from homes took a hit as households did not hand over clean and washed waste to Kudumbasree workers.

The Directorate of Public Instruction has given sanction to the trust to carry out the collection in schools. Education Minister P.K. Abdu Rabb will inaugurate a pilot project at the Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Cotton Hill, on August 14.

Director of Public Instruction A. Shajahan inaugurated an awareness class on the project, titled My City, My Pride, in the school on Monday.

V. Subhash Chandra Bose, Director of Communication and Capacity Development Unit of the Water Resources Department, led a class on the dangers of plastic waste and the need for its safe disposal.

The plan is to make children in each school hand over clean plastic waste to the teachers during the school assembly or lunch break on a specific day every week. The trust will collect the waste from the school in a day or two.

Plastic bottles, bags and wrappers will be collected in the initial stage and other plastic products in the coming months.

 

BMC to hold 100 health camps for monsoon ailments

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The Indian Express             29.07.2013 

BMC to hold 100 health camps for monsoon ailments

BMC aims to conduct more than 100 monsoon health camps this year. In 2011, 69 camps were organised and in 2012, the number rose to 83.

With a rise in the number of malaria and gastroenteritis cases this year — 747 and 2,007 detected respectively — BMC started its yearly camps from June 16. So far, 46 camps have been organised, including eight on Sunday.

"We decided to introduce the camps in 2010 as there were many cases of malaria. Since then, these camps have helped keep a tab on water-borne diseases," said Dr Mangala Gomare, deputy executive health officer.

The camps, held in societies and slums, comprise stalls where one can get tested for H1N1, dengue, malaria, tuberculosis, fever, diabetes and other ailments.

Ratna Yadav, a slum-dweller from Andheri (east), says her family lines up for the free check-ups. "My brother-in-law had fever and was provided free medicines. Usually, 15-20 people from my society visit the camp," she said.

Additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said medical staff from public health cells, peripheral hospitals, medical colleges and tertiary hospitals help conducting the camps. On Sunday, two camps were conducted in G south ward and two in L ward, both labelled 'critical wards' till recently.

 

Rajkot Municipal Corporation launches cleanliness drive in Rajkot

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The Times of India               19.07.2013

Rajkot Municipal Corporation launches cleanliness drive in Rajkot

RAJKOT: With waterborne diseases spreading fast during the season, the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) has launched a cleanliness drive to clear solid waste and mosquito breeding grounds.

As part of the 'One Day, One Ward' campaign, all the concerned departments of RMC will go together to each ward for the clean-up.

"The aim of 'One Day, One Ward' is to make coordinated efforts to clean up the city," said P P Vyas, deputy municipal commissioner, RMC.

"During the drive, we will deploy JCB machines, tractors and dumpers to collect solid waste and other garbage from open plots, public places and roads. There are some points in each ward where people regularly throw garbage and solid waste, which raises the threat of an epidemic."

RMC officials said that the drive is being taken up in each of the three zones. Apart from solid waste management teams, teams of drainage, water works and health will also visit the spots to oversee the work.

Vyas said that this the second round of the drive since rainy season started. Cases of dengue have surfaced due to increased humidity. In all, 12 cases have been reported in July alone.

"The intermittent rainfall that has been occurring almost daily for the last one week is making the task of cleanliness difficult," said an official.

Moreover, thousands of stray cattle on the roads is adding to the problems. "There are over 35,000 stray cattle in the city that hamper the cleanliness work during the monsoon. They sit on public roads leaving them dirty," said an RMC official.

Meanwhile, Saurashtra continued to receive rainfall at many places on Thursday. Maximum rainfall was reported in Junagadh which received 21mm.

 


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