In a first, corporation to feel pulse of city’s health

Chennai: In a first-of-its-kind att­e­m­­pt, the Chennai corp­or­at­ion council would dev­iate from discussing state politics and focus on the public health status of Chennaiites during the ensuing monthly council meeting scheduled for the end of this month.

The corporation’s heal­th department is preparing a detailed project re­p­ort on public health, bas­ed on the data col­lec­t­e­d during its recently concl­uded, five-day me­ga health camp under whose auspices close to four lakh Chennaiites were screened.

“The camp has helped the civic body understand the incidence of diseases and the data has revealed several par­a­meters related to public health. Cardi­ovas­cul­ar diseases and lifestyle a­il­ments continue to ri­se in Chennai. Last we­e­k’s study by the civic bo­dy has revealed that the incidence of diabetes and blood pressure has mar­ginally in­cr­eased in the city,” said corporation health officer, Dr P. Kugana­nth­am. The ma­y­or has inst­ru­cted the health dep­art­ment to compile the data as a prominent resolution to be debated at the meeting, so that a city-centric module can be framed to improve the health of the residents, he added.

Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy said the idea was to identify the key ailments that Chenn­aiites currently faced and also understand the age group of people prone to lifestyle disorders.

The data would also lead to a discussion on areas and residential pockets where the incidence of disease was high.

However, the corporation officials refused to divulge the parameters and trends related to communicable and cardiovascular diseases, citing that the subjects were to be discussed at the council meeting.

“Usually, the councillors discuss issues related to national politics and heap praise on their political bosses, ignoring the local public and the amenities required in their wards. This is a good idea to document the health study as a resolution and take subsequent action,” said Mr K Hari, a regular visitor at the council meetings.