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Public Health / Sanitation

It’s raining diseases

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 06:48 administrator
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The Deccan Chronicle  11.08.2010

It’s raining diseases

Hyderabad, Aug. 10: Almost one person in every 10 families of the state has been affected by one or another infectious disease this monsoon season.

Even as the people grapple with various ailments, civic authorities have not taken adequate steps to contain the menace. Besides swine flu, which has assumed serious propositions, malaria, dengue, chickungunia and diarrhoeal diseases are rampant even in prominent localities in the capital.

The condition of the districts is even worse. Staff shortage in the medical and health department, callousness on part of health and civic officials and lack of infrastructure have added to the problem.

According to the Hyderabad medical and health officer (DMHO), Dr Ch. Jaya Kumari, 12 malaria cases were reported in the city in June, and this went up to 24 in July and eight in the first week of August,

“The number of diarrhoea cases was 259 in June, 231 in July and already 58 cases have been reported this month,” she added. Dr Jaya Kumari said that officials have been visiting affected areas and spraying disinfectants to curb the spread of infection.

“We have also been holding fever clinics and conducting fever survey within five km radius of the affected household, and distributing medicines,” she added.

However, city dwellers paint a different picture. “The GHMC has stopped spraying mosquito repellents even during monsoon,” complained Ms Maya Devi, resident of a posh locality in Hyderguda. “After rains there is water stagnation, which provides an ideal spot to mosquitoes for breeding.”

“With garbage piling up, the situation is becoming even worse whenever it rains,” says Mr Anand Agarwal, a businessman from the Minister Road area. “However, authorities have taken no action.”

Mr Mohammed Asgar, a resident of the Old City, pointed out that his family was suffering from stomach ailments even after consuming home-cooked food. “Probably it is because of the polluted water we drink,” he remarked.

However, officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) term the presence of E.Coli bacteria in drinking water a ‘local problem’ and added that prompt action had been taken to replace faulty pipelines.

The GHMC also claimed to have launched a special awareness drive to control mosquito-borne diseases effectively.

“Last time we concentrated on fogging and spraying but this time we are focusing on anti-larval operations to eliminate mosquitoes,” said the GHMC additional commissioner (health and sanitation), Mr Aleem Basha.

He added that there was no connection between garbage accumulation and vector borne diseases. “If a few people get malaria or diarrhoea in a population of one lakh, it can be said the diseases are under control,” he said. “Water-borne diseases also have more to do with personal hygiene.”

The situation is not better in other districts either. In West Godavari, from January to July, 156 cases of malaria and 1,600 cases of diarrhoea have been reported. In Warangal, the district health machinery swung into action only after diarrhoea, typhoid, jaundice, viral encephalitis, malaria, dengue and chikungunya spread in rural areas and tribal hamlets.

“We are coordinating with officials of rural water supply (RWS) and panchayat raj department to provide medical care and carry out repair work of leaking pipelines,” said Dr V. Subba Rao, district medical and health officer, Warangal.

In East Godavari, where posts of 38 doctors, 78 staff nurses and 23 pharmacists remain unfilled, is also grappling with monsoon diseases. In Nizamabad too, water contamination is the main cause for the spread of diseases but lack of coordination among the various government department officials is adversely affecting repair work.

In Vijayawada also, water stagnation is rampant and 371 malaria cases been reported.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 06:52
 

Civic staff raise doubts on mandatory health check-up

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:37 administrator
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Indian Express    10.08.2010

Civic staff raise doubts on mandatory health check-up

Express News Service Tags : corporation Posted: Tue Aug 10 2010, 04:51 hrs

 Pune:  Employees above 50 years of age to undergo tests to ‘ensure fitness‘

To ensure that the civic employees are in the best of their health and perform their responsibilities well, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to make it mandatory for its employees above 50 years of age to undergo medical check-ups every year. However, the employees union has expressed concern that the administration might misuse the initiative by declaring the staff unfit.

“Our only objective is to ensure that all civic employees are in best health conditions. The efficienty of the staff will be maximum only if they are physically fit,” said Shivaji Daundkar, incharge of Labour Welfare Department of PMC.

It has been observed that those above a certain age suffer from some or the other ailment but they mostly ignore it. The health check-ups will enable them to identify the ailments and take medication under the health scheme, he said.

“Those going for medical check-ups in private hospitals will be given Rs 500 per person. The same will be free of cost in civic hospitals,” said Daundkar.

Mukta Manohar, leader of PMC Workers Employees Union, said the initiative sounds good as it will help many ailing staff members to take medical treatment on time. “However, the civic body should make their intentions clear as there is a fear among the employees that the administration might declare them unfit to continue in service,” Manohar said adding that no one likes to lose job. 

Over 50% of the 18,000 civic employees work on the field and are prone to infection and diseases, Manohar said adding the administration should not take advantage of the medical report to get rid of the staff with health ailment.

The union leader said the civic body’s decision to give Rs 500 to civic staff for medical check-ups in private hospitals is inadequate as the charges in private hospitals are too high.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:38
 

This corporator does the vanishing trick

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:27 administrator
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The Times of India  10.08.2010

This corporator does the vanishing trick

 Bangalore: Hosakerehalli as the name suggests is a tankbed, but is where the area's garbage is dumped. Shockingly, not just the residents, the BBMP itself dumps the area's garbage in this tankbed.

"Since we stay close to this tankbed which has a storm water drain flowing near it, even the garbage collectors have stopped coming here to collect the garbage. They ask us for money to collect it from our homes and throw it the same drain," says Sujatha A, a resident of Dattatreya layout.

"Our efforts to reach the corporator have been futile. He is least bothered about our problems. The lake has become a garbage dumpyard and with dirty stinking water flowing next to it," says Yougene Bastian, president, Hrishikesh Vidya Peetha.

Corporator Narayana has not conducted a single meeting with the residents ever since he won the BBMP elections, say residents.

"It is one week now since the door-to-door garbage collection van has come to our layout," says Hombe Gowda, a resident of Chowdappa layout.

Areas like Dwarakanagar have no drainage. So, whenever there is a downpour, rainwater gushes into houses.
For those living in the vicinity of Hosakerehalli Kerekodi, life has become hell with the stinking stormwater drain flowing on the main road.

Another major problem are footpaths. Says Mudligiri Gowda, a resident ofThimmaraya Gowda layout, tiles on the footpath were laid recently but some have already come off. "One side of the road has a well-maintained footpath that was laid four months ago. The one laid on the other side recently reflects BBMP's shoddy work. Mud is used to re-fix these loose tiles. It is unsafe for pedestrians. We have never seen the corporator."

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 August 2010 11:30
 
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