Coimbatore : In an attempt to improve the health of desludging operators, the City Technical Support Unit (City-TSU) of the Tamil Nadu Sanitation Support programme organised a special health camp for the sanitary workers on Wednesday at Vadavalli here.
Coimbatore : In an attempt to improve the health of desludging operators, the City Technical Support Unit (City-TSU) of the Tamil Nadu Sanitation Support programme organised a special health camp for the sanitary workers on Wednesday at Vadavalli here.
Owners and employees of three desludging companies were benefited through the camp.
The exclusive health camp was supported by Equitas Development Initiatives Trust (EDIT) and Karpagam Trust Hospital.
According to a statement from the organisers, the Karpagam Trust Hospital offered a general health check- up package to the workers covering, height, weight, blood - pressure, blood sugar, (ENT) Ear, Nose and Throat check-up.
The workers were also private counselling session a detailed session with Dr. Durai, Physiotherapist and Dr. Elizabeth, General Physician.
The beneficiaries were later provided with free medicines and were referred to Karpagam Trust Hospital for further free treatment including surgeries if required.
Talking about the treatment, Dr. Durai said that since the workers are exposed to acute pathogens while handling fecal sludge, it was necessary that all of them get albendazole dosage (de-worming medication).
“Eventually, it was found out that 67% of the desludging operators were diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, which can be caused due to excessive alcohol consumption, a major drawback and common practise among the de-sludging labour community,” the Statement said.
Dr. Elizabeth also offered a detailed counselling on food habits to prevent hypoglycemia and to reduce alcohol consumption. There were a few cases of diabetes, Prepatellar bursitis (inflammation of kneecap) and myalgia (muscle pain) which might be because of strain at work place.
The organisers said that despite periodic health care and vaccination entitlements, through the Manual Scavenging Prohibition and Rehabilitation Act of 2013, there was a huge gap in the system in implementing the same with informal private desludging operators.
“Hence, TNUSSP has launched this initiative to provide regular health screenings for desludging operators working in the informal sanitation sector in the city. City TSU of TNUSSP also has been taking efforts to institutionalise the preventive health care for the sanitation workers in both formal and informal sectors,” the Statement read.
Talking about the health camp, Immayavel, Proprietor of Annamalaiyar septic tank cleaning services said that the camp was helpful to monitor their health adding that he would spread this word across their association.
Immayavel and his co-workers had requested to extend the timing of the camp to make sure they get their health checkups done.
“I have insured my employees with a group insurance of Rs. 10 lakh since there is lot of risk in our job. This health camp is a great initiative and also a lesson for us to take initiatives ourselves to monitor our health”, said Mr. Chandrasekar, Proprietor of Darsan septic tank cleaning services.