Various departments and institutions are gearing up to observe ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ with fortnight-long programmes ranging from awareness rallies and mass cleaning drives to skits and wall painting exhibitions.
Jipmer has responded to the call from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, by formulating various health and sanitary activities, focused on patients and attenders visiting the hospital.
Jipmer launched the observance with a rally near the super-specialty block by the students of St. Patrick Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Saradambal Nagar, accompanied by the Jipmer staff.
The rally, which emphasised the importance of personal hygiene, environmental sanitation and other health aspects, ended at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jipmer.
The rally was flagged off by Medical Superintendent Dr. Ashok Shankarrao Badhe, in the presence of Deputy Director Dr. V.S. Senthil kumar, Additional Medical Superintendent Dr. Anita Rustagi, Additional Medical Superintendent Dr. Bettsy Mathai and Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. M.J.E. Ambroise.
The observance will feature a display of educational banners on ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ — Environmental sanitation and Personal Hygiene — disseminating information to all staff through e-mail and SMS regarding the core themes, and administering the Swachhta pledge to all doctors, students and staff of Jipmer.
A special mass cleaning drive in all wards, OT and general area, a rally by the students of KV to create awareness among the patients, attenders and public on aspects of health and healthy living and sensitisation drives aimed at patients and attenders on the importance of sanitation is proposed.
Distribution of paper soap among patients and attenders, door-to-door meetings to bring about behavioural change with respect to sanitation by sanitary inspectors within Jipmer residential quarters, special health camp and drawing competition among the students of KV on ‘Swachh Bharat’ are among the activities planned.
Mass cleaning
One of the highlights of the observance, that concludes on October 2, will be the mass cleaning in the Jipmer campus by doctors, students and staff volunteers on September 23, in coordination with Adhiparasakthi, a charitable institution from Melmaruvathur.
A source reduction drive in Jipmer campus by the sanitary unit, in coordination with MPH Students from the P&SM Department, Jipmer, wall painting on ‘Swachh Bharat’ and a street play by an NGO on ‘Swachh Bharat’, form part of the programmes.
At the government-level, the first leg of ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ began with Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy inaugurating a cleanliness drive here on Saturday.
Local bodies, with the help of the public, must spruce up prominent public spots, including parks, government buildings and recreational places.
According to a press note, cleanliness drives will be taken up at the Puducherry railway station on September 23, followed by another campaign at schools, colleges, primary health centres, government hospitals and community welfare centres on September 24. The Local Administration Department has also planned a massive cleanliness drive on October 1 at heritage places across the coastal town.
