The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Policemen's health status to show in cards

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Policemen's health status to show in cards

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 18. While some sat with woollen scarves around their necks, constantly battering a running nose with a handkerchief that had surely seen better days, others sat with eyelids drooping with fatigue and a detached look at the climbing mercury level on the blood pressure monitor. More sat patiently in the hall waiting for their chance.

The health camp organised at the Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad, for nearly 1,200 policemen from the East and North Zone divisions of the City Police might have told the cops more than what they knew about their health conditions, but in other words, it was a day off from the boring patrolling or tedious guard duties under the hot sun for the men in khaki. A day when they sat quietly, all attention to the men and women in white who told them the dos and don'ts during and after duty to keep fit.

Advice to cops

The fifth camp in as many years was inaugurated by the Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, who appealed to corporate hospitals and other medical institutions to make medical services affordable to all sections of society. For the cops, the Minister had a word on the various schemes for health care and insurance, which the Government had and was proposing for them. "It is important that you take care of yourselves well, so that you can protect others," he told the cops.

The City Police Commissioner, R.P. Singh, said the department is distributing health status cards for all police personnel in the twin cities, a process that could be completed by September this year, so that the cops could keep a track of their health condition and take appropriate care. The aim is to prepare the entire force to tackle stress and related problems, Mr. Singh said.

Health camps necessary

The Additional Commissioner of Police, A.K. Khan, said the camp is being organised at the Secunderabad and Malakpet branches of Yashoda Hospital. The number of policemen suffering from blood pressure-related problems, cholesterol, diabetes and cardiac disorders is on the rise, which made it imminent for such health camps, Mr. Khan said.

North Zone DCP, K. Viswajith, and Yashoda Hospitals director, G. S. Rao, were present.

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