Health Checkup Camp For Corporation Sanitary workers
Sanitary workers being screened at a medical camp conducted by the Coimbatore Corporation on Sunday. The Coimbatore Corporation’s health department screened on Sunday conservancy workers and their family members at the first of a series of camps to be held to ensure that the workers were healthy enough to improve sanitation across the city. Totally 449 people, including the children of the workers, were screened. Mayor R. Venkatachalam and Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra inaugurated the camp. Health Committee Chairman of the Corporation P. Nachimuthu was present.
Seven workers were found to have problems in the heart and were referred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for further evaluation. Angiogram and angioplasty could be done, if necessary, on them even at private hospitals. Funds would not be a constraint as the workers were covered under a health insurance scheme of the State Government. Of the 102 workers who underwent blood sugar test, 20 were found to be diabetic. They were provided with counselling on the mode of treatment, exercise and diet.
Assistant City Health Officer R. Sumathi said 46 workers were found to be anaemic and many children were found to be malnourished. Four workers were found to be severely asthmatic and were referred for specialised treatment. The health department would follow-up on these cases, counselling them and evaluating improvement in health. Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra had insisted that all male conservancy workers should attend de-addiction counselling, irrespective of whether they consumed alcohol regularly or occasionally.
The screening camps would be held periodically at a venue within or close to the colony where the workers lived. The aim was to bring all the 3,000 conservancy workers and their families under a comprehensive health care programme. Corporation officials said the health camp was successful and this was evident in the response from the workers.
