VIRUDHUNAGAR
A special medical camp will be held at the primary health centre (PHC) at A. Mukkulam on Wednesday to screen the people of the villages in the area, who have been alleging that pollution caused by a local medical incinerator leads to various diseases among them.
The medical camp was being organised on the direction of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, Collector A. Sivagnanam said in a statement.
A team of specialist doctors, led by Madurai Medical College Dean D. Maruthupandian and Joint Director of Health (Madurai) Rukmini, would screen the people in the presence of an external observer, A. Rengarajan, a retired Medical Professor, Joint Director of Health Services (Virudhunagar) R. Manoharan said.
A laboratory would function at the PHC, where drugs for all ailments would be made available, he added.
The specialists would include a cardiologist, nephrologist, dermatologist, paediatrician and a gynaecologist. They would screen the people from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. People in need of further treatment would be referred to government hospitals, he added.
Thangapandian, a local resident, said an awareness campaign on the medical camp was being carried out by the district administration in villages. An earlier attempt made by the district administration for conducting a special medical camp was rejected by the people.
Apart from the residents of A. Mukkulam under Narikudi panchayat union, people of A. Thottiyankulam, T. Veppankulam and A. Nedungulam under Kariyapatti panchayat union have been protesting against Ramki Energy and Environment Limited that has installed the incinerator, complaining that several persons have suffered kidney failure and women have been facing miscarriages due to air and water pollution in the area.
Even the cattle are affected by the unit, they claim.
