Health

In an exclusive interview with Citizen Matters, Uma Maheswari, Project Director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, talks about the new goals and plans of the 108 ambulance service in the state, and what could make it more effective.

They drive through crowded roads filled with insensitive motorists, grapple with inadequate supplies and infrastructure and work hard to save lives, yet ambulance crew get little recognition from the average citizen, and are often the target of citizen ire..

Conservancy staff work quietly and tirelessly in the face of growing amounts of garbage and indifference among the citizens of Chennai. Nature lover and journalist Shobha Menon spends a morning with them and comes away with a heavy heart.

An ordinary citizen becomes a champion of chanGe and helps improve hygiene levels of Royapettah GH’s cancer block, bringing down infection levels and helping the hospital provide

A total of 1269 children were rescued in Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations; close monitoring of these train stations would help in preventing incidence of trafficking and faster support for victims.

Plastic, tablets, syringes, mixed waste…VHS hospital premises resemble a minor landfill. Hospital authorities blame Corporation officials for not clearing the garbage on time.

Many of Chennai’s 1350 anganwadis under the ICDS scheme are clean, well-equipped with teaching aids, toys and run by dedicated teachers who take a holistic view of the needs of a toddler. Here’s a sneak peek into a few such centres.

Unlike regular medical facilities, palliative caregivers or hospice centres focus on the social, psychological, financial and emotional needs of a patient, adding both relief and dignity to the life of the sufferer.

At the recently organised Mandram talks, Dr Sowmya Sanak Kumar Athreya tells her audience how music therapy can heal those afflicted with psychological or physiological conditions.

The tragic death of a 26-year-old Chennaiite with special needs brings to the fore a very important question: what can we, as citizens, do if we spot someone on the street who needs help?

Prime Chennai areas such as MGR Nagar, Anna Nagar and Pudupet market are emerging as hubs for rabbit, pigeon and duck meat, often served as fine dining fare. But how safe is this meat? And is it even legal?

In a recent survey, 73% of people complained over drinking water facilities, while 49% reported that they had to pay a bribe to access government hospital services. This and more findings from Arappor Iyakkam-led citizens’ audit of public health facilities in the city