Chennai Corporation cracks the whip on field staff for shirking work and taking leave

Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash, in his statement, directed the zonal health officers to monitor the door-to-door survey workers and field workers whether they are entering the correct details of the residents or not. “Zonal health officers and zonal officers should identify such erring workers and terminate them or cut their pay,” he said.

He also instructed the zonal officers to implore IT companies and industries in their jurisdiction to conduct antibody testings on their employees at their own cost. Moreover, the zonal officers should send a circular to the private firms.

When asked, a field-level official said that the procurement of antibody testing kits by the private firms should be monitored by the civic body lest the substandard kits would give more problems. “It is difficult to make the private companies spend but we have to find a way. However, we are working on the methodology,” he added.

While the city has started to report dengue cases, the field officials have been asked to monitor vacant plots and private offices and issue notices if they are ill-maintained. “Field officials should erect boards at vacant plots taking ownership of the plots if the owners fail to clean despite notices, penalties, and other actions,” Prakash said.

During a meeting held at Ripon Building on Saturday evening with all ranks of health officials, Prakash said that a help desk would be created at the headquarters to attend to the emergencies of persons with breathing difficulties.

“The help desk will coordinate with the field to arrange immediate transport for the patients. The move is to prevent the deaths of persons with breathing illnesses,” a senior officer said.

A sanitary inspector, who had participated in the meeting said that the Commissioner has instructed the zonal officials to arrange ambulance facilities for each of the divisions to cut down the mortality rate.