Chennai: Following the death of a 16-year-old boy and a sharp spike in mosquito numbers, the Tambaram city municipal corporation announced that health camps will be organised across all five zones. Residents have sought that details about the camps be publicised and vector control measures be intensified.The decision comes amid growing concerns over the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. According to civic officials, four medical camps will be organized on Saturday, where residents can get themselves checked for symptomatic and asymptomatic illnesses. Officials said the camps were strategically located to ensure that every resident can access public healthcare within a distance of two to three kilometres. The initiative is expected to reduce pressure on govt hospitals and urban wellness centres, while also improving early detection and treatment of common illnesses.The health camps will also focus on screening for non-communicable diseases, along with maternal and child health concerns. Each camp will be staffed with four healthcare personnel, including a doctor, a staff nurse, a health inspector and a hospital assistant. Tambaram city health officer Dr S Porchelvan said the medical teams will carry out door-to-door surveys in residential areas. “The teams will identify households where people had fever in recent days. Those found with symptoms will be referred to hospitals for further treatment,” he said.He added that health officers and doctors from urban wellness centres were instructed to closely monitor cases related to mosquito bites. “So far, there has been no spike in fever cases over the past week. Most people are coming for treatment related to knee pain and back pain,” he said.However, residents raised concerns about the lack of awareness regarding the camps. “What is the point of organizing camps if people do not know about them?” asked V Saritha, secretary of the Ganesh Nagar residents’ welfare association.She also urged the corporation to intensify mosquito control measures, including spraying repellents and clearing stagnant water and sewage from vacant plots, to effectively reduce mosquito breeding.
