Press Release
26th September 2024 (Day 10):
As part of Swachhata Hi Seva from 17th September to 02nd October 2024, following activities were carried out on 26.09.2024.
As part of the Swachhata Hi Seva 2024 initiative, ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI) organized a preventive health checkup camp on 26th September 2024, for the benefit of sanitation workers and their families. The event aimed to prioritize the sound health, safety, and well-being of sanitation workers, commonly known as Safai Mitras, and support them in maintaining good health. All the contractual housekeeping staff were motivated and actively participated in the health checkup, which was done by Redcliffe Labs and sponsored by Alkem Laboratories with the request of Dr. Rajeshwari Shome, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NIVEDI.
Main objectives of preventive health check-up camp: Safai Mitra Suraksha Shivirs is to prioritize the health, safety, and well-being of sanitation workers (Safai Mitras) by raising awareness about safe working practices, providing access to preventive health checkups, and promoting better hygiene and safety measures in their work environment. This shivirs aim to support and protect sanitation workers as they perform essential function of the society and institute.
The doctor had shared his thought in a lucid local Kannada language that due to low salary and high work pressure for housekeeping labourers, they did not give enough time and importance to their health maintenance. So, the institute organizing this type of free health camps and providing knowledge about health/sanitary practices which will helpful to them. By doing blood checkups in every six months and regular health check-ups will reduce the unhealthy condition of human being. Daily bathing and washing hands before food taking will enable us to prevent the entering of pathogens to our body. Daily consuming of sprouts and green leafy vegetables will help to maintain the nutritional balance in them.
By washing, solar drying and ironing will kill the microbes. Further, regarding food, consumption of fish, meat and eggs needed to be consumed once in a weekly at the minimum, so that body will maintain the good nutritional levels. While working in the garden and in fields the housekeeping persons/labourers need to be wear gloves and gum boots, so it will help to protect from the thorny shrubs and glass pieces mixed in the soil. Also, it will protect from snake, scorpions, and poisonous insect bites. Apart from this other related health tips also given to improve the health condition of the Safaimitras. This kind of initiative by ICAR-NIVEDI in health camps at regular intervals will make us very happy, safe, and it will help to maintain good working relationship between housekeeping staff and technical staff.
The overall activity was coordinated by Dr. Rajeswari Shome, Principal Scientist, and supported Dr. Sankey Srinivasa, Chief Doctor, Dr. Narayanan G, Senior Scientist, and Dr. C. S. Sathish Gowda, Scientist, of ICAR-NIVEDI.
