The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Industrial pollution hits North Chennai

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Monday, May 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Industrial pollution hits North Chennai

Swahilya

Lack of hygiene leads to outbreak of several diseases Respiratory disorders, tuberculosis, cholera and leptospirosis are among the common health concerns in North Chennai.

CHENNAI: Heavy population and industrial and vehicular pollution have led to the spread of several common diseases in North Chennai, according to doctors practicing in the area for over three decades now.

Dr. S.N. Narasingan, specialist physician in Internal Medicine and Cardiology who runs the SNN Medicare and Diagnostic Centres at Old Washermenpet, says that tuberculosis, not just of the chest but also other organs, is a common disease.

Over-crowding

He attributes the causes to over-crowding, inadequate treatment and people exhaling the bacilli while under treatment in government or private hospitals.

"In one case the father of a family had T.B. and it spread to his three sons and a daughter," the doctor said.

M. Krishnamoorthy, who heads the M.K. Nursing Home in Tondiarpet cited heavy population, pollution and lack of cleanliness as reasons for outbreak of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and leptospirosis. "An estimated 70 per cent of the people with fever coming to my Nursing Home test positive for leptospirosis," he said pointing out that it spread due to walking barefoot on contaminated water. At a medical camp organised on Sunday by the Indian Medical Association, Chennai North Branch and the North Chennai Doctors Association, Dr. Narasingan highlighted factors to be accounted for in preventing heart attacks such as stress, psycho-social factors, smoking, abnormal increase in Low Density Cholesterol, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Preventive measure

A preventive measure at the community level could be achieved through health education at the primary school level and also through regular exercise, the doctor said.

S. Jayachandran, General Physician and Vice-President of the Indian Medical Association, Chennai North, said that 30 per cent of his patients who visit him from 9 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. everyday - mostly from the working class, suffer from gastritis, esophagitis, hyper-acidity and abdominal pain.

Environmental factors

"Respiratory disorders, asthmatic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, knee-joint and low back pain may be said to be caused by environmental factors and the occupational hazard of people of North Chennai," he said.

Yet another major problem is alcoholism related. Locally prepared "sonti soru," made by fermented rice water is prevalent in many parts of North Chennai.

Fever related to malaria

According to him, 70 per cent of the fever cases are related to malaria. "The Corporation has to take better care of the civic amenities in the area where people are trapped between the pollution of Royapuram and the dumping yard at Kodungaiyur," he said.

In a day-long medical camp, Dr. B.R. Nammalwar, president of the IMA, Chennai North, S.P. Thiagarajan, Vice-Chancellor, Madras University, C. Sylendra Babu, Joint Commissioner of Police, North, Y.G. Mahendra, film artiste, Dr. V. Thiagarajan, president of the North Chennai Doctors Association and Dr. M. Vivek, secretary, also spoke.

`Concession necessary'

Earnest Paul, vice-president of the Royapuram Residents Welfare Association stressed the need for hospitals to provide bypass surgery facility for the poor at a concessional cost as was done in Coimbatore.

A team of doctors from various specialities answered questions from public who thronged the Maragatham Kalyana Mandapam on G.A. Road.

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