Latest news with #MakkalaiThediMaruthuvam
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
T.N. Village Health Nurses demand filling up of vacant posts, to stage series of protests
Village Health Nurses (VHN) affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Government All Health Nurses Association have flagged a number of concerns, including a delay in filling the large number of vacant posts, as a result of which their workload has increased manifold. They have also registered their objection to the Health department's move to involve Mid Level Health Providers (MLHP) in immunisation services — one of the key service areas of VHNs — instead of filling the vacancies. On Friday (June 27, 2025), the association members, along with the Doctors Association for Social Equality (DASE), said that they have decided to launch a series of protests to put forward their demands, starting with wearing demand badges till July 2, demonstrations in all district headquarters on July 10, and a fast in Chennai on July 24. There were nearly 4,000 vacant posts of VHNs in the State. As a result, the existing VHNs were covering four villages instead of one each through the Health Sub Centres. This has resulted in heavy workload, and was affecting maternal and child health services, they said in a press release. 'Now, instead of filling the vacant posts, the Directorate of Public and Preventive Medicine is trying to engage MLHPs — 4,848 of them were recruited for Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam — to work in HSCs and take up the immunisation services. It is VHNs who have been carrying out immunisation work for several decades, and this decision is unacceptable,' R. Indhira, founder, Tamil Nadu Government All Health Nurses Association, said. She added that a court case was being cited for not filling up the vacancies. G.R. Ravindranath, general secretary, DASE, said the State government should take steps to expedite the court case and fill the vacancies. He also demanded that the government withdraw its decision to involve big private hospitals to provide immunisation services under the Universal Immunisation Programme. The implementation of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme was taking up 80% of the time of the VHNs. As a result, their primary responsibilities in maternal and child health care were being affected. The scheme's implementation should be returned to the Social Welfare department, they demanded.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Vax shortage, closure of PHCs at noon leave city at risk of rabies
Chennai: The city, reeling under a surging stray dog population, is facing a rabies crisis. Yet, institutions intended to be the frontline against this deadly disease — primary health centres (PHCs) in the city and suburbs — are consistently inadequate. A TOI investigation uncovered shortages of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and unjustified closure at noon citing fears of "wastage". Worse, none of the PHCs had rabies immunoglobulin, which provides immediate antibodies to neutralise the virus at the wound site, particularly in severe bites. Staff nurses at two of the nine PHCs surveyed – Virugambakkam and Maduravoyal – said they had no stock of ARV vaccine. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "We can give a TT injection," a nurse at Virugambakkam PHC said. What she did not say was that Tetanus Toxoid is not a substitute for ARV and that the patient must take the vaccine at the next available centre as early as possible. Other PHCs at Perambur, Royapettah, T Nagar, Valasaravakkam, and Avadi turned away patients who reached the centres after noon. Almost all staff at these centres said the vaccination is done only between 9am and noon. The multi-dose vaccine vials should be discarded within up to six hours of opening, they said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo Kundrathur was the only PHC where the vaccine was available throughout the day. Experts said PHCs that do not have the vaccine in stock must either offer them at people's doorstep through the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme or take them to the nearest hospital where the vaccine is available. Anti-rabies vaccines are incredibly effective, but factors such as delays can make them redundant, said infectious diseases expert Dr Subramaniam Swaminathan. "When the staff offer Tetanus Toxoid or a less effective vaccine instead of directing the patients to the nearest facility, patients may assume it is not serious," he said. Studies by the directorate of public health also showed most people think dog bites cannot give them rabies, and some assume that bleeding injuries are safe as virus will wash off with the blood. "Many people skip vaccinations if they see the wound heal or if they don't see visible wounds, both of which are wrong. If there is a two-day delay, starting the vaccine with immunoglobulin may be effective," Dr Subramaniam added. However, none of the PHCs stock immunoglobulin. Senior officials in the health department, including director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam, said they have repeatedly asked people to get themselves vaccinated against rabies for all animal bites at the nearest PHCs. "All people infected by rabies in the state have either skipped vaccination or have not completed the course," he said. Earlier, health minister Ma Subramanian had told reporters that PHCs and CHCs (Community Health Centers) have also been instructed to maintain a round-the-clock supply of ARVs, with a minimum stock of 20 vials.
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Free cancer screening camps evoke poor response in Tiruchi; health officials blame it on ignorance, social stigma
Despite the growing need for cancer awareness and early detection, free cancer screening camps set up at the health centres in Tiruchi have evoked a lukewarm response from residents. Aimed at screening people aged over 18 for oral cancer and women aged over 30 for breast cancer and cervical cancer and providing appropriate treatment for recovery, the camps are yet to pick up pace despite being launched on May 12. According to M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer, several factors contribute to the low turnout. 'Lack of awareness about preventive cancer screening and its benefits is a major deterrent. Many people are hesitant to get screened for fear of diagnosis and social stigma associated with cancer.' The screening camps are set up in all 18 urban primary health centres and 36 health and wellness centres in the city. Each centre has a doctor, four staff nurses, six urban health nurses, and woman health volunteers. Training sessions were conducted for the doctors and medical staff. Urban health nurses and woman health volunteers are engaged in a door-to-door awareness campaign to sensitise people and invite them to the screening camp. With the data recorded in the Family Registration, which contains complete details of the persons in the family, their age, and other information, they reach out to the people and hand over invite cards. They are asked to bring the filled-in cards at the time of screening. As of June 21, about 14,125 invites were given, of them, 6,270 people have been screened at the centres. Among the screened, 111 were referred to hospitals for diagnosing, but only seven had gone in for a follow-up. 'Biopsy for cervical cancer was done for seven patients and there are no confirmed cases of cancer. A follow-up to check if the patients had visited the referred facility for screening is planned,' said Dr. Chandran. Steps have been taken to intensify the awareness campaign and enrol the people under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. The team has been instructed to screen patients enrolled at the UPHCs, beneficiaries of the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme, and Corporation officials and workers. Special cancer screening counters have been set up at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital for a hassle-free treatment experience.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Monitoring officer reviews key civic projects in Agasteeswaram taluk
Kanniyakumari District Monitoring Officer Hanish Chabbra inspected the ongoing development works at Agasteeswaram taluk on Thursday. He conducted the inspection in the presence of Kanniyakumari Collector R. Alagumeena, Nagercoil Corporation Commissioner Nishant Krishna and other officials from the district administration. The Monitoring Officer reviewed various sites, including Urban Primary Health centres (UPHCs), corporation's dump yard, coastal hamlets and other development works of the Nagercoil Municipal Corporation. During his visit to the UPHC in Krishnancoil area, he inquired about the availability of doctors and essential medicines at the centre. The department officials were asked about tests for non communicable disease, including high blood pressure and diabetes, under the scheme 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam'. He also visited Valampuraivilai dump yard, located in the heart of a residential area, an issue of critical concern for the city. Everyday tonnes of wastes from households, hotels and markets under the Corporation limits are being dumped at the site. He directed the Corporation officials to give precedence to public health with bio mining and other waste processing activities at the yard, particularly due to close proximity of residential areas, hospitals and markets. He also instructed the Corporation officials to expedite installation of suction systems at the Underground Drainage System facilities at the Pattasalianvilai. He also inspected the construction of 500 metre sea wall along the coastal road of Pottal-Puthanthurai-Pallamthurai at a cost of ₹2.81 crore and the construction of an overhead tank at Thengamputhoor being developed under the AMRUT scheme at a cost of ₹64.68 crore. The tank with a capacity of around 3 lakh litres will benefit 11,049 households in the area that were added recently to the Nagercoil Municipal Corporation limits.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
MNCU, ART centre, ECRC opened at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Sunday inaugurated a Mother – Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) and an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centre at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The MNCU built at a cost of ₹86 lakh has 10 beds for mothers with attached facilities for newborns. This will ensure treatment of ailing postnatal mothers or newborns within the same space, without separating them. The Minister said that the ART centre that has come up at the tertiary level government hospital at a cost of ₹16.3 lakh will help couples from poor economic backgrounds undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which in private facilities cost ₹10 to ₹12 lakh. Already such centres have come up at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Egmore and the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, he said. Mr. Subramanian said that the government, as announced earlier, has launched provision of somatrogon, a medication for growth hormone deficiency in children, at a cost of ₹13.28 crore. At a time, each beneficiary will be given the medication, which comes as a disposable injection pen, for five weeks that cost around ₹60,000. The medical will continue as prescribed by doctors. The Minister also inaugurated an Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) at the hospital, which is a 15-bedded facility for the care and treatment of homeless persons and those who are found on streets, requiring immediate medical attention. He said 16 ECRCs are functioning across the State with the support of non-governmental organisations. He also distributed free spectacles to 50 persons aged above 50, who underwent eye check-up camps organised by the district administration in collaboration with Rotary International at Thondamuthur, Madukkarai, Negamam, Karamadai, Sarkarsamakulam, Sulthanpet, Valparai, Periyanaickenpalayam and Annur. Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department P. Senthil Kumar, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore MP Ganapathy P. Rajkumar, Pollachi MP K. Eswarasamy, Mayor K. Ranganayaki, Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and CMCH Dean A. Nirmala were present. On Sunday morning, the Minister trekked to a few tribal settlements near Kovai Courtallam and got feedback from residents on the reach of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. He also awarded degrees to medical students in the graduation ceremonies held at Coimbatore Medical College and the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital on Sunday.
