The Hindu             05.08.2013

100 sanitary workers receive safety, disinfectant materials

A total of 100 sanitary workers of Pudukottai municipality were given safety and disinfectant materials at a function here on Saturday. N. Subramanian, Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, spoke on the importance of personal hygiene for the sanitary workers. Although they prevented the incidence of any epidemic or endemic by clearing garbage, they lacked adequate awareness of their personal hygiene. He appreciated the efforts of the Doctor Award, a non-governmental organisation, which donated the materials to the workers.

A. Kalaimagal, president of the Doctor Award, said that the non-governmental organisation had been striving for the socio-economic development of sanitary workers in four select areas of the municipality. Sanitary workers suffer injuries caused by pieces of glass or are found with the symptoms of tuberculosis. Even the children of the workers are found with the symptoms of the disease. The use of disinfectant and safety materials such as shoes, masks, jerkin, caps, and gloves would step up awareness.

Explaining the initiative taken for educating dropouts, she said that as many as 120 children in and around Pudukottai were admitted to the schools this year during a special drive.

S.A. Sait, municipal chairman (in-charge), and V.R. Kathick Thondaiman, MLA, spoke.

The Hindu             31.07.2013 

Door-to-door health campaign

The Health Department of the Tuticorin Corporation has launched a door-to-door campaign here on Tuesday to create an awareness among the people about the preventive measures to be taken to ward off vector-borne and water-borne diseases.

Health Officer Pradeep V.Krishnakumar said seven teams had been formed to conduct the drive effectively in various parts of the Corporation. During the campaign, the residents were educated on the need to maintain good health. The programme, being organised on the directives of Mayor L.Sasikala Pushpa and Commissioner S.Madhumathi, was aimed at enhancing hygiene levels ahead of the arrival of the monsoon, Dr.Krishnakumar noted. Each team, led by the Health Officer, comprised a Medical Officer, urban health nurse and sanitary inspector. The residents had been asked to clear garbage and discarded items from their backyards. They had also been asked not to dump waste in residential areas or public places, he noted.

Things like tyres, coconut shells, and broken earthen and plastic utensils could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, he said and added that water containers should be cleaned at regular intervals to avoid breeding of mosquitoes.

Fogging was carried out in parts of Toovipuram, Anna Nagar and its surroundings. Indoor fogging was also done simultaneously as part of anti-dengue operation. Similar campaigns would be conducted in various wards of the Corporation twice a week until November, he said.

Dr.Krishnakumar pointed out that school students would also be involved in a similar programme to spread awareness among the public to maintain hygiene from next week. Pamphlets highlighting dos and don’ts to prevent the outbreak of diseases would be distributed to students, he added.