Date:08/06/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/08/stories/2009060859210300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

‘Health Inspectors need to be alert’

Staff Reporter

Photo: Thulasi Kakkat

HEALTH MATTERS: Union Minister of State for Agriculture K. V. Thomas inaugurating a state convention of the Kerala Health Inspectors Union in the city on Sunday. P. Rajeev, MP and K. Babu, MLA are also seen. —

KOCHI: Health Inspectors have to be more alert as they are in touch with the public, said K. V. Thomas, Union Minister for State for Agriculture.

Inaugurating the 28th State conference of the Kerala Health Inspectors Union, Prof. Thomas said that many commercial institutions in the cities and suburbs push untreated waste into the drains or into the open. People’s participation has to be ensured to make preventive measures against seasonal diseases effective, he added.

K. Babu, MLA, who gave the main speech on the occasion, said that implementing the National Rural Health Mission schemes in the State under the same parameters as those of a North Indian state is rather unwise.

The NRHM activities should be made more beneficial in the State’s context, he said.

P. Rajeev, MP, also spoke on the occasion. M. M. Ashraf, State president, called for a Health Policy in the State and a unified public health Act. The State continues to have two Acts namely, Madras Public Health Act for the Malabar area and Travancore Public Health Act for southern areas.

Earlier, Sadiq Charumood, State secretary, welcomed the gathering at the three-day meet. K. Sathyan, general secretary; K. N. Sebastian, chairman, reception committee, A. S. Navas, general convener of the reception committee; V.P. Felix Bertin, former State vice-president and K. Kumarankutty, former State secretary were among those who spoke. E. K. Gopalan, treasurer, proposed a vote of thanks.

The State committee was held in the afternoon.

The delegates meeting will be held on Monday. K. P. Rajendran, Minister for Revenue, is expected to inaugurate the function. On Monday afternoon, a symposium on Value-based Society and Health Standards would be inaugurated by S. Sarma, Minister for Fisheries.