Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120252780300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Renovated operation theatre declared open

Staff Reporter

At Government Headquarters Hospital in Virudhunagar

Effective approach: Collector K. Raghupathi launching a signature campaign on AIDS awareness in Virudhunagar on Monday.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: An operation theatre renovated at a cost of Rs.2 lakh was declared open at the Government Headquarters Hospital here by the Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, on Monday.

The theatre, attached to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, remained in disuse for several reasons. The renovated theatre was fumigated and commissioned for use.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that hereafter patients need not be taken to the general operation theatre from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for surgeries. Women patients would not be inconvenienced by getting transported from one place to the other.

The renovated theatre had the capacity to perform six to 10 surgeries a day.

Mr. Ramachandran appealed to the hospital staff to maintain the operation theatre properly and make the best use of it for the public. He gave an assurance to get necessary funds sanctioned from the government if the hospital authorities prepared an estimate for executing development works. The District Collector, K. Raghupathi, presided.

Signature campaign

The Collector launched a signature campaign on AIDS awareness at the Collectorate on World AIDS Day. Mr. Raghupathi signed on a white sheet kept for obtaining signatures of the public.

He also administered an oath on HIV prevention to employees of government departments at the grievance day meeting.

Awareness rallies, street plays, seminars and distribution of pamphlets marked observance of World AIDS Day by several non-governmental organisations in Virudhunagar district.