Introduction

The Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine is responsible for the implementation of various National and State Health Programmes. This Department also plans and implements measures to prevent the occurrence of communicable diseases thereby reducing the burden of morbidity mortality and disability in the state.

The activities undertaken by the department of public Health and Preventive Medicine are provisions of primary health care,which includes Maternity and Child Health Services, Immunisation of children against vaccine preventable diseases,control of communicable diseases,control of malaria, filaria, japanese encephalitis, elimination of leprosy, iodine deficiency disorder control programme, prevention of food adulteration, health checkup of school children, health eduction of the community and collection of vital statistics under birth and death registration system and environmental sanitation.

Prevention and control of waterborne diseases like Acute Diarrheal Diseases, Typhoid, Dysentry prevention and control of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV / AIDS.

Immunization Schedule

Immunization Programme

Tamil Nadu started the immunization programme against six vaccine preventable diseases in 1978. In order to strengthen the programme further Universal Immunization Programme was launched in 1985. Annually, around 12 lakh pregnant women and 11 lakh infants are being covered under this programme. Pregnant mothers are immunized every year with tetanus toxoid injection for prevention of tetanus infection during delivery.

All pregnant women and their newborns need to be protected against Vaccine preventable Diseases. Immunization Programme aims to reduce mortality and morbidity due to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs), particularly for children. Under the Immunization Programme, vaccines used to protect children and pregnant mothers includes TB, Diptheria, Pertussis, Hepatitis-B, Haemophilus influenza B, Tetanus, Polio, Measles and Rubella.

Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in Tamil Nadu from 21st December, 2011 onwards. Pentavalent vaccine gives protection against five vaccine preventable diseases namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hepatitis-B and Haemophilus influenza-B with fewer needle pricks to a child.

Japanese Encephalitis

Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in Tamil Nadu from 21st December, 2011 onwards. Pentavalent vaccine gives protection against five vaccine preventable diseases namely diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Hepatitis-B and Haemophilus influenza-B with fewer needle pricks to a child.

Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance

South East Asian region including India was certified as Polio Free on 27th March 2014. However there is still active polio transmission in two neighbouring countries of Pakistan & Afghanistan. Global importation is a major risk to Polio Eradication initiative. Reporting of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) cases for surveillance should be continued till Global Polio free certification.

Acute flaccid paralysis case is defined as sudden onset of weakness and floppiness in any part of the body in a child < 15 years of age or paralysis in a person of any age in whom polio is suspected.

AFP surveillance helps to detect reliably areas where poliovirus transmission is occurring. Thus AFP surveillance helps us to identify areas of priority for focusing immunisation activities. It is the most reliable tool to measure the quality and impact of polio immunisation activities.

Polio surveillance for a case of disease in a child that “looks like polio” alone is not sufficient because it is impossible to precisely identify all cases of paralytic polio clinically due to confusing and ambiguous clinical signs and variable clinical knowledge and skills of doctors. To ensure that no cases of polio are missed, all cases of AFP are reported and investigated.

Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI)

The State is polio free since 2004. For the eradication of poliomyelitis, Pulse Polio Immunization campaign was introduced in the year 1995-96, which along with efficient routine immunization coverage has successfully eliminated the dreaded disease from the State. During 2017, two rounds of pulse polio immunization campaigns are planned to be conducted on 2.04.2017 and 30.04.2017 as part of the Nationwide Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization campaign in order to prevent the importation of polio virus and to sustain the zero polio status.

Success of Immunization programme

Due to successful implementation of immunization programme for more than two decades, vaccine preventable diseases like neo-natal and maternal tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough have disappeared from the State. Polio free status is maintained for the past Thirteen years. There has also been a significant reduction in measles cases.

Mission Indradhanush

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) GoI, launched Mission Indradhanush in December 2014 to achieve more than 90% full immunization coverage in the country by 2020 (from 65% to 90%). A special drive to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children below 2 years and Pregnant Women under UIP. In Tamil Nadu all districts have been covered under Mission Indradhanush.

Flood affected Area - Special Measles vaccination campaign

Special Measles vaccination campaign is being conducted in flood affected High risk areas namely Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore and Tuticorin districts to cover 9 months to 15 years children.

Switch from tOPV to Bopv

The Oral polio vaccine contains type 1,2,3 viruses. As a global initiative, GoI have switched from tOPV to bOPV from 25th April 2016 since type 2 polio virus has been eradicated. In Tamilnadu, the switch from tOPV to bOPV was implemented on the same day. The bOPV contains only type 1 and 3 virus.

Introduction of IPV

Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) contains polio virus strains of all 3 polio virus sero-types. IPV was introduced from 22nd June 2016. Combined use of IPV and bOPV provides strong intestinal immunity and antibody protection against all 3 sero types. IPV is a liquid vaccine, no reconstitution required. IPV is being administered along with Penta 1 and Penta 3 at 6th and 14th week of infancy.

Introduction of Measles-Rubella vaccine

As per the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommendation, MR vaccination campaign has been conducted during the month of February 2017 and extended upto March 15th 2017 targeting all children aged 9 completed months to <15 years with a simultaneous switch from measles to MR vaccine in the National Immunization Schedule once the campaign is completed.

When rubella infection occurs during early pregnancy which leads to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) i.e. congenital cataract, congenital glaucoma, congenital deafness, congenital cardiac defects and microcephaly. There is no specific treatment for rubella and the disease can be only prevented through immunization.

Disease Burden

Epidemics

• Epidemics are Public Health emergencies.
• Infectious diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality.
• The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine declared following diseases as notifiable diseases. Click Here to have details of Notifiable Diseases

Control for Communicable Diseases :

• The control of communicable diseases is one of the major programmes under the Primary Health Care services, especially for the disease occurring in epidemic forms.

• Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases and suspected cholera are common among the water borne diseases. Tamil Nadu is endemic for Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases with sporadic outbreak of cholera in most of the districts throughout the year, and in epidemic proportions during the rainy seasons and peak summer periods.
• All the District Level officials and executive authorities of local bodies take necessary preventive measures including proper disposal of solid wastes and maintain sanitation and hygiene chlorinate all water sources and undertake fly control measures.

ADD / CHOLERA

The following are the details of cases and deaths due to the ADD/Cholera in Tamil Nadu.

• The National Institute of Communicable Diseases, a premier Institution of the Director General of Health Services, Government of India, provide necessary technical support to the State and districts (Dharmapuri and Madurai) in the area of Man Power Training, Communication equipment's facilities and setting up of Laboratory services.

NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN TAMILNADU

The objective of the programme is capacity building at District, Regional and State levels for disease surveillance and appropriate response to early warning signals of outbreaks of communicable diseases. The programme will be implemented by the state health authorities through the existing health infrastructure and surveillance system strengthened through training of the medical and paramedical personnel, upgradation of laboratories, communication and data processing systems.

National Surveillance Programme For Communicable Diseases has been launched in two Revenue districts, Dharmapuri and Madurai during 1998-1999 in Tamil Nadu as per the guidelines of Government of India.

The above two districts have been selected by the Govt. of India based on the incidence of Dengue in Dharmapuri District and Leptospirosis in Madurai District.

As per the instructions of the NICD, Govt. of India, the following districts have been proposed under this programme for the years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The total No. of Revenue districts under this programme will be five in Tamil Nadu.

Industrial Hygiene and Health

The Water Analysis Laboratories established at Chennai and Coimbatore collect and examine water samples from various protected water sources to control pollution and contamination of drinking water. These laboratories also assist the Tamil Nadu pollution control board in examining the samples of Industrial wastes and conduct field surveys to ensure the prevention and control of environmental and industrial pollution.

Air pollution surveys are also carried out around the industries to asses air quality. Efforts are also taken for abatement of nuisance and classifying the industrial and residential areas.

• Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules 1955 as amended from time to time are enforced in the State of Tamil Nadu.
• The Act aims at the abatement of adulteration in food articles of human consumption commonly used by the people so as to enable the people to have access to wholesome and unadulterated food.
• In the urban of the State, Municipal/Corporation Health Officers are functioning as Local Health Authorities and where there is no Health Officer the Commissioner acts as Local Health Authority.
• In the rural areas Medical Officers of the Primary Health Centres are functioning as Local Health Authorities. The Food Inspectors function under the control and guidelines for the purpose of enforcement.
• Lifting of food-samples have been fixed only for 481 local bodies including all Corporations, Municipalities and cantonments and certain Town Panchayats and Panchayat Unions.
• The food samples lifted under the Act are tested for adulteration in seven Food Analysis Laboratories in the State.
• One is under the control of Chennai Corporation and the other 6 situated at Guindy, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Palayamkottai & Salem are under the control of this Department.
• The Food Inspectors as per the guidelines of Local Health Authority and Public Analysts in the above Laboratories authorised for launching prosecution.
• In the Court of law they pursue cases with the assistance of APP & Legal Adviser at the Directorate, in Courts, if the food sample found to be adulterated and certified by the Govt./Public Analyst.
• The public who is in need of testing the food samples suspected to be adulterated may contact the nearby Food Analysis Laboratory.

PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSING NON - STATUTORY SAMPLES

Besides analysis of statutory samples the Food Analysis Laboratories undertake the analysis of non - statutory samples received from the consumers, private purchasers, traders and manufacturers.

Consumers can get their food samples analysed by the Food Analysis Laboratories paying an analysis fee of Rs.500/- per sample to know the quality of the food.

In case of any specific complaint, consumer can send the food sample through consumer court to the respective Food Analysis Laboratory for analysis paying the necessary analysis fees. Based on the analytical report of the lab, the consumer can get redressal or compensation through the consumer court as the case may be.

Small traders can also approach the Food Analysis Laboratories for testing their food products to know the quality and conformity of standards. They can also get advice and guidance with regard to proper labeling of the product as per the latest legal requirements.

BAN ON THE SALE OF CHEWING TOBACCO, GUDKA AND PAN MASALA

Pan Masala combined with tobacco leads to oral cancer and damage other organs as well. The disease of sub-mucus fibrosis leads to mouth cancer. Nearly a third of all cancers that occur in the country attribute to use of Pan Masala. It is possible that the wide spread tobacco chewing habit is responsible for the high incidence of cancer of the oral cavity in India.

To save the younger generation who have become addict to this ill habit and in the interest of public health the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine who is the State Food Health Authority of Tamilnadu has banned the sale of Chewing Tobacco, Gudka and Pan Masala containing tobacco or any other ingredient injurious to health in the State of Tamilnadu for a period of five years with effect from 19th November 2001

Performance under Prevention of Food Adulteration

Packaged Drinking Water

• List of Licences
• REQUIREMENTS TO BE COMPLIED WITH BY THE APPLICANT OF PACKAGED DRINKING WATER FOR GRANT OF BIS LICENCE ACCORDING TO IS 14543:2004
• Availability of testing facility
• FEE STRUCTURE
• APPLICATION FORM
• DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WITH APPLICATION
• SCHEME OF TESTING AND INSPECTION
• MANDATORY LIST
• OTHER MARKING SCHEME

WATER ANALYSIS

CIVIL REGISTRATION SYSTEM

Civil Registration is a continuous, permanent, compulsory recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events, like births, deaths and still births. The registration of births and deaths is carried out under the provisions of the Registration of Birth and Death (RBD) Act, 1969 and the Registrar General, India is entrusted with the responsibilities of coordinating and unifying the activities under CRS in the Country. The Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine is the Chief Registrar of Births and Deaths in Tamil Nadu and he is the implementing authority of the RBD Act 1969 in the State.

The District Registrar /Additional District Registrar is responsible for carrying into execution in the District, the provisions of this Act and the orders of the Chief Registrar issued from time to time for the purpose of this Act.

The registration of births and deaths is done by the local registrars appointed by the State Government under Section 7(1) of the RBD Act, under whose jurisdiction the event has taken place.

Registration Hierarchy:

The following Departments are involved in Birth and Death Registration work

Time period prescribed for registering the event:

The normal period of 21 days (from the date of occurrence) has been prescribed for reporting the birth, death and still birth events.

Fee for registration of births and deaths:

If any event of a birth or death is reported for registration to the prescribed authority within the normal period of 21days, no fee would be charged.

Registration can be made after the normal period of reporting:

If any event of birth or death is not reported for registration within 21 days, the same can be reported any time under the Delayed Registration provisions prescribed under Section 13 of the Act and on permission order of the prescribed authority.

The Government have ordered the revision of fee in G.O.Ms.No.360 Health and Family welfare (AB2) Department, Dated 12.10.2017 is detailed below.

Revision of Fee

Persons Responsible for reporting the event:

Whom to approach for registration:

The events of birth and death are registered at the place of occurrence of the event i.e. where the event took place. Under the provision of Section 7 of the RBD Act, the Registrars of Births and Deaths are appointed for each local area comprising the area within the jurisdiction of the Municipality,Panchayat or other local authority.

Registrars

How many copies of birth or death certificate can be obtained:

One free copy of birth / death certificate is issued to the informant under Section 12 of the RBD Act. Under the provision of Section 17 of the Act, any number of copies can be obtained by any one after paying the prescribed fee in G.O.Ms.No.360 Health and Family welfare (AB2) Department, Dated 12.10.2017.

Name Registration of the Child:

Name of the child shall be registered by the Parents within one year from the date of registration of the birth without any late fee.

If the Child Name has not been registered within one year, the same may be done after 1 year but within 15 years from the date of registration with a late fee of Rs. 200/-.

Extension of Time Limit for Name registration of the Child up to 31.12.2024

Search and Grant of Extract under section 17:

Additional Birth and Death Registration units in PHCs:

In G.O.Ms.No. 204 Health and Family Welfare (AB2) Department dated 15/07/09 all the Primary Health Centers in Tamil Nadu have been declared as Additional Births and Deaths Registration units and the Health Inspectors working in Primary Health Centres are appointed as Births and Deaths Registrars of the respective units. In all the Primary Health Centers and in the major Hospitals, the Birth Certificates are issued prior to the discharge of the mother from the hospitals after delivery of the child.

Issue of Free Birth Certificates

The Government have issued orders in G.O.Ms.No.138 Health and Family Welfare (AB1) Department dated 6/5/09 to issue free Birth Certificates for the deliveries occurred in all Government Hospitals prior to the discharge of the mother from the hospitals as per Sec 12 of the Registration Birth and Death Act.

In order to register the Vital Events occurring in Government Institutions so as to provide the Birth/Death certificate before they leave the Hospital, the Government have ordered for the appointment of Multi Purpose Health Supervisors as Birth and Death Registrars in G.O.Ms. No.443, Health and Family Welfare (AB2) Department, Dated 26.09.2018 for the Government District Head Quarters Hospitals, Government Medical College Hospitals, Taluk & Non Taluk Hospitals, ESI and WCH Hospitals situated in the Village Panchayats, Town Panchayats, Municipalities and Corporations (except Chennai).

Registration of birth occurred to Indian Citizen abroad (outside India)

Any Birth and Death which occurs outside India for the Citizens of India is to be registered at the Indian consulate under the citizenship Act, 1955 and every such registration is deemed to have been made under the RBD Act. The Birth certificate issued by the Indian Embassy would serve all the Purpose.

In case, if the parents of the child return to India with a view to settling therein, the said birth can be registered with in sixty days from the date of arrival of the child in India at the place of settling. In case if the birth has not been registered within 60 days from the date of arrivals, the same can be registered under the delayed registration provisions of section 13 (2) & (3) of the said Act.

Registration of Adopted Children

Adoption procedures have been made simple and a new form for registering adopted children has been introduced (Form1A) and the Birth certificate to the adopted child is issued in Form No.5 (Birth Certificate) containing the name of the adopted parents and the place of birth will be taken as name of the city /place where the agency / institution giving adoption is situated and the registrar will register the adopted child based on the adoption order of the court and the registered adoption deed.

For non institutional adoptions that took place within relations or acquaintances registered adoption deed duly registered before the sub registrar authorized by the State Government is enough and no need to produce adoption order of a court for such cases.

If the adoptions taking place through institution the details of the parents may or may not be known and the birth of the child may or may not be registered.

In case Birth Registered

In case the birth of the adopted child has already been registered then the place of birth and the date of birth in the original birth certificate will not undergo any change. The registrar in whose jurisdiction the adoption agency is located shall send the duly filled birth reporting form along with the adoption order / deed and the copy of the original birth certificate to the registrar where the birth was originally registered. The registrar shall also make a request to effect changes in the name of the child, name of the adoptive parents and address of the adoptive parents in the birth records and send the revised birth certificate to him / her for being provided to the adoptive parents. On the basis of the details contained in adoption order / the deed requisite changes will be made in the name of the child, name of the adoptive parents and address of the adoptive parents by the registrar where the birth was originally registered.

Birth not registered

In case the birth of the adopted child has not been registered the place where the adoption agency is located shall be treated as place of birth of the child. The date of birth of the child has to be determined by the Chief Medical Officer or any duly licensed physician and as reflected in adoption order / deed issued by the local magistrate shall be recorded as the date of birth in birth reporting form. The date of birth, name of the adoptive parents, address of the adoptive parents as contained in the adoption order / deed along with the number and date of the order shall be entered in the birth reporting form. The concerned registrar of the area where the adoption agency is located shall register the birth on the basis of the adoption deed and duly filled in birth reporting form and issue the birth certificate.

Issue of Birth Certificate for single parent / unwed mother

If a Single parent / unwed mother apply for the issuance of a Birth Certificate for a child born from her womb, the Birth and Death Registrars concerned may only require her to furnish an affidavit to this effect, and must there upon issue the Birth Certificate, unless there is a Court direction on the contrary. In such cases the name of the single parent will be written in the birth record and the name of the other parent will have to be left blank.

Registration of Vital Events Occurring in Moving Vehicles

If death occurred in a moving vehicle, it should be reported by the family members or attendant accompanying the deceased to report the event to the Jurisdictional Registrar for registration.

The Death occurred in a moving vehicle transporting a patient should not be treated as institutional death despite the fact that patient was taken to nearby hospital and declared brought dead by the hospital. The Medical Officer is not responsible for reporting such deaths.

It cannot be the hospital name and address or the way to hospital etc. It will be registered by the Registrar in whose jurisdiction the area falls.

In case of natural death in a moving vehicle, in addition to vehicle in charge, if deceased was accompanied by relatives or attendant, they may report the event to the concerned Registrar in whose area the event occurred. In case deceased was not accompanied by any one, the vehicle in charge should report the event to the concerned Registrar in whose area the event occurred.

In case of accident, murder etc. (where an inquest is held) it will be covered under Rule 6(2) and will be registered on the basis of the Police inquest report and the Death report form furnished by them. The place of death will be the same as mentioned in that report.

In case of long journey, the first place of halt will be the place of death, in addition to vehicle in charge, if deceased was accompanied by relatives or attendant, they may report the event to the concerned Registrar in whose area the event occurred. In case deceased was not accompanied with any one, the vehicle in charge should report the event to the concerned Registrar in whose area the event occurred.

Procedure for registration of birth of Orphan/abandoned children

The in-charge or caretaker of the concerned institution in case of children in orphanage or similar institution and the guardian in case of children outside such institutions are responsible for reporting the birth event to the concerned Registrar of births and deaths under Section 8 of the Registration of Births and Deaths, (RBD) Act,1969.

Supportive Documents to be provided for Registration:

The supportive documents for date and place of occurrence of a domiciliary birth/death and reported within 21 days of occurrence of the event along with Birth/Death Reporting forms are:

Declaration by parent(s) in prescribed proforma

Address Proof- copy of any one of the self attested document (Voter id card, electricity/gas/water/ telephone bill, Passport, valid Ration card, Aadhaar card, running bank account etc.)

Provision of Birth and Death Certificates through On-line

The Government have ordered for implementation of the new common CRS Software by all line departments from 01/10/2017 in G.O. Ms. No.351, Health and family welfare (AB2) Department, Dated 09/10/2017.

Downloading of Birth and Death Certificates from CRS web portal

A provision is made available in CRS web portal to enable the public to download the Birth and Death certificates at free of cost for the events registered in CRS software from 01.01.2018.

Training

Training and Continuing Health Education Programme

Continuing education, In-service training and Pre-service training programmes are organized for the Health Officers, Medical Officers, Nurses and other paramedical staff through eight Regional Training Institutes (RTI) namely Institute of Public Health, Poonamallee, Health and Family Welfare Training Centres (HFWTC) at Egmore, Madurai, Health Manpower Development Institures at Villupuram and Salem, Institute of Vector Control and Zoonoses, Hosur and Regional Institute of Public Health, Thiruvarankulam, Pudukottai and HFWTC, Gandhigram, Dindigul.

The Institute of Public Health Poonamallee is recognised as national collaborative training centre with National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.

In these eight institutes one year Multi-Propose Health Worker (Male) Training course is conducted. The Training programmes organised by the National Health Mission, Capacity building trainings in Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA), Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC, six months training), Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS, six months training), Skill lab programmes, Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness, Immunization, Integrated Disease Surveillance and Control Programme (IDSP), Computer training and other NHM training programmes are organized in these training institutes Ultra sonogram training is given to Primary Health Centres Doctors for detection of congenital deformities during pregnancy in Public Private Partnership mode.

Presently there are twelve Auxiliary Nurse and Midwifery (ANM) Training Schools in the State. These Schools are conducting two year pre- service ANM Training course.

REGIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES (RTI)

Auxiliary Nurse & Midwifery Training Schools (ANM)

Ongoing New Trainings

District Level Team

LONG TERM TRAINING

Multi Purpose Health Worker (Male) Training

Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (Female) Training -2 year course

Universal Health Care Coverage

School Health

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)

In Tamilnadu, for the past 3 decades, i.e. since 1962, the school health programme was implemented by the Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine for providing comprehensive health care services for the school children studying in 1st to 12th standard of Govt and Govt aided school. On Thursdays, health screening was done for all the school children to identify minor's ailments, nutritional deficiencies, refractive errors and any other systemic illnesses. Minors ailments were treated on the spot by the PHC level health team and the Children with major illnesses were referred to higher medical Institutions for further Management. Under this Programme, two nodal teachers from each school were identified and they were trained in identifying common illness among children, providing assistance for the school health team and also to follow the referred children.

During 2010-2012, the school health programme had been modified and renamed as Modified School health Programme. The new initiatives under modified school health programme had been included as

During 2014, Government of India has initiated a new programme called Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Child health screening and Early intervention services programme, under National Rural Health Mission and the programme aims at early detection and management of the 4D's - Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases and Developmental delays including disabilities along with Adolescent health concerns (38 health condition) among children.

Many schemes and components carried out under School Health Programme (SHP) in Tamilnadu namely modified school Health programme Correction of Refractive Errors (Kannoli Kaapom Thittam), Comprehensive school children Dental programme, congenital Defects programme and various other NGO schemes had been merged under RBSK.

To facilitate health screening, each community block is provided with 2 Mobile health teams. Each team consist of 1- Medical officers (One team with 1-Male Medical officer and another team with 1 - Female medical officer), 1- Staff nurse and 1- Pharmacist with computer skills. The children in the block will be screened for 4D's+A (38 conditions). Minor ailments will be treated on the spot.

The children with identified conditions will be referred to the District early intervention centres (DEIC) for confirmation and further management.

The District Early Intervention Centres (DEIC) is placed at all District Head Quarters Hospital / Medical college Hospitals which are having varied medical & paramedical professionals to manage the referred children. The RBSK scheme is funded by National Health Mission

SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMME PHYSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS (2010-2015)

RBSK Performance in Tamilnadu

RESEARCH CUM ACTION PROJECT

POUR-FLUSH WATER SEAL LATRINE:

The Research Cum Action Project at Tamil Nadu, financed by the Ford Foundation and Ministry of Health, Government of India, has its genesis in 1956. The major objective of the project was to improve Educational Methods, Conducting Systematic Research in various Public Health Programmes and to evolve a Low Cost Sanitary Latrine suitable for the rural household.

DESIGN

A Pour-flush Latrine consists of a squatting pan of a special design, having a steep gradient at the bottom and a particular depth and a trap having 20 mm waterseal. This is so designed that the human excreta of one person can be flushed by pouring nearly 2 litres of water. The excreta is discharged into the leaching pits. The squatting pan is connected to the leaching pit through a pipe. These pits are lined with honey comb brick work or open joined stones, so as to allow the liquid in the pits to percolate and gases to be absorbed into the soil; and at the same time preventing the pit from collapsing. The sludge gets digested and settles down gradually

The pits are used alternately. When one pit is filled, it is stopped being used and the excreta is diverted to the second pit. The filled up pit is left unused; and in about 24 months the contents become rich organic humus, innocuous, free of pathogen and smell. When convenient, it is emptied and contents could be used as fertiliser. It is then ready to put back into use when the second pit becomes full in its turn.

With simple care and cleaning by the household, the pour-flush latrine is a very satisfactory and hygienic sanitation system. They can be located inside the house, since water-seal prevents odour or insect nuisance.

SIZE OF PIT:

The size of leach pits depends on factors such as : soil characteristics, sub-soil water level, interval of cleaning, number of users and people's food habit. The dimensions of the leaching pits for 5 number of users for three years is 900 mm internal diameter and 1100 mm effective depth. The pits should be located 8m away from the drinking water sources.

MAINTENANCE:

Maintenance of pour-flush latrines is very easy and simple. Day-to-day maintenance consists only of washing the latrine floor and cleaning the pan. No other maintenance cost is needed. The cost of cleaning the pits can be covered by sale of humus obtained from the pits.

PAN AND TRAP:

The squatting pan and trap can be ceramic, fibre glass reinforced polyester plastic (GRP) or cement.

COST:

The cost of construction of a pour-flush latrine with single pit without super structure works out at Rs.2,100/-

For more details and guidance, contact:

Statistics

Tamil Nadu - Census Population - 2011

Officers

Covid-19

Covid-19 Vaccination Centers