Public Health department is headed by the City Health Officer to assist the Commissioner. The major activities of this department are detailed below:

• Healthcare delivery. 


• Birth and Death registration.


• Dangerous and Offensive Trades licensing.


• Prevention of Food Adulteration.


• Epidemic control and prevention.


• Vector borne diseases control.


• Swarna Jayanthi Sahari Rozgar Yojana


• Vazhvoli Thittam – School health programme.


• Solid Waste Management.

HEALTHCARE DELIVERY

Services rendered

1. Deliveryfacilitiesround the clock.
   
2. Antenatal care onMondays.
   
3. Immunization (BCG, OPV, DPT, HEP B, TT, DT) service on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and administration of Vitamin ‘A’ solution.
   
4. Family welfare clinic on all days.
• Referral for permanent sterilization for willing parents.
• Providing temporary family welfare methods like Copper-T insertion, Oral pill cycles and condoms for spacing between births in all the centres.
• Emergency contraception.


5. Disstribution of FST tablets for adolescent girls from11 to 19yrsof age on all Thursdays.


6. Antenatal Ultra - Sound Scan check-up facility in 8 centres.
   • Dadagapatty UHP
   • Shevapet UHP
   • Kitchipalayam UHP
   • ANNA Hospital
   • Suramangalam MCH centre
   • Gugai  MCH centre
   • Fort MCH centre
   
   
7. Investigation of blood sugar and haemoglobin facility by semi-auto analysers in 6 centres.
• Sooramangalam Dispensary
• Hasthampatty  UHP
• Anna Hospital
• Shevapet UHP
• Dadagapatty UHP
• Fort MCH centre


8. HIV testing and counselling facility in ICTC centres of 4 healthcentres.
• Suramangalam MCH centre
• Dadagapatty UHP
• ANNA Hospital
• Fort MCH centre


9. T.B. Microscopic sputumtest facility is available in 4 health posts and Antituberculous drugs are issued in all centers.
• Anna hospital
• Kitchipalayam UHP
• Hastampatty UHP
• Dadagapatty UHP
• Suramangalam MCH centre
• Gugai MCH centre


10. 10. ECG facility in 4 health centres.
• Old Suramangalam dispensary
• Kitchipalayam UHP
• Anna hospital
• Dadagapatty UHP


11. Baby warmer facility in 4 health centres.
• Suramangalam MCH centre
• Dadagapatty UHP
• ANNA Hospital
• Shevapet  UHP


12. Out-patient service in all the dispensaries from 7.30 AM to 10.30A.M and 3.00P.M to5.00P.M on all days.

Whom to contact for Service / Grievance redressal
First contact        : Woman Medical officer of the concerned Health post
Second contact   : City Health Officer, SCMC    Ph: 0427 - 2210667
Third contact       : Commissioner, Salem Corporation   Ph: 0427 - 2213131

BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRATION
Registration of Births and Deaths is compulsory throughout the state, as per the 'Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969' - Central Act 18 of 1969 and the Tamil Nadu Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 2000. All vital events occurring in this city limits should be registered at the concerned Births and Deaths Registration Unit within 21 days of occurrence. The person responsible for doing Birth and Death Registration is the Sanitary Inspector of the respective Division. The births and deaths registers are available for events within the current Salem City Municipal Corporation limits.

• Birth and Death registration is to be done at the place of occurrence.
• Any birth or death of which information is given to the registrars, after the expiry of twenty one days, but within thirty days of occurrence, shall be registered on payment of a late-fee of Rs.2/- (Rupees two only)
• Any birth or death of which information is given to the Registrar, after thirty days of occurrence, but within one year shall be registered only with the written permission of the Officer prescribed on this behalf and on payment of late-fee Rs.5/- (Rupees five only).
• Any birth or death which has not been reported within one year of its occurrence, shall be registered only on orders of the First Class Judicial Magistrate and on payment of a late-fee of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only).
• Entry of name of the child is a must, and can be done free of cost within 12 months from the date of registration. After 12 months, the name can be registered by paying a fee of Rs.5/-
• However, a name cannot be registered after 15 years, from the date of registration of the birth. For the births and Deaths, that have been registered prior to 1.1.2000, without a name, the name can be entered on or before 31.12.2014 and for all the births registered on or after 1.1.2000, the time limit is 15 years, from the date of registration.
• Name, once entered cannot be changed.
• It is the responsibility of the Medical Officer in-charge of the hospital or Primary Health Centre, where the Delivery / death, has taken place, to report the Birth / Death, for registration.
• It is the responsibility of the Head of the Household / nearest relative, to report the Births / Deaths that takes places in households.

Births and Deaths extracts will be issued to the applicants as detailed below:

Request for Birth & Death Certificates for the current year (Jan 2010 to till date).
Application form is available at zonal offices on payment of Rs. 7/- for first copy and additional five rupees for each additional copy. A maximum of 3 copies can be issued at any time. A two rupee court fee stamp should be affixed on every application. The filled in application will be receivedat zonal offices. The extracts will be issued within 3 days on receipt of applications.

Request for Birth & Death Certificates for events prior to the current year (Before Jan 2010) - Through Post.
An application for request of Birth & Death Certificateisavailable at Corporation main office on payment of Rs.5/- and a two rupees court fee stamp should be affixed on the application. The applicant has to fill the application and attach necessary documents namely( Educational certificates – SSLC or HSC marksheet or School transfer certificate or a bonafide certificate from school for persons till 9th standard of school, Evidence of parents and for proof of residence – Ration card or voter id card ) with a self addressed cover with stamp. For the convenience of the public the certificates are sent through post to the applicant. The filled inapplication will be receivedat City Health Officer’s office. The certificates will be issued within 7 days through post.

For corrections, registration of child name and late registration. :14 days.

         Response Time for Services / Grievances

Whom to contact for Service / Grievance redressal
First contact        : Sanitary inspector of the concerned division
Second contact   : City Health Officer, SCMC    Ph: 0427 - 2210667
Third contact       : Commissioner, Salem Corporation   Ph: 0427 - 2213131

Needed Cooperation from Citizens

• Register Birth immediately after birth
• Name the child, preferably before registration
•  Informants for Registration should be responsible persons who could give correct personal information to avoid problems later
• Register death immediately after occurrence
• Avoid nick names or alias names in giving information both for the Birth and Death
• Insist on giving details to the Hospital where delivery occurs for registration and a copy of the Report forwarded to the Registration Authority
• For extracts give correct details and pay the prescribed fees for copies.
• Do not insist on recording “Cause of death” in the extract for death certificate, as it is not given, even thoughthe information is entered in the main register of deaths.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACT, 1939,
DANGEROUS AND OFFENSIVE TRADES

1. Avoid unauthorized running of trades or machineries without license
   
2. Adhere to the license conditions scrupulously
   
3. Obtain license / renewal of license without omission and promptly
   
4. Remit the fees due promptly
   
5. Do not encroach foot paths, streets by show casing the materials outside the shop

PREVENTION OF FOOD ADULTERATION

• 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 people so as to enable them to have access to wholesome and unadulterated food.
• The Corporation Health Officer is the Local Health Authority. The Food Inspectors function under the control and guidelines of the Corporation health officer for the purpose of enforcement.
• The food samples lifted under the Act are tested for adulteration in the Food Analysis Laboratory.The Food Inspectors as per the guidelines of Local Health Authority and Public Analysts in the above Laboratories are authorized 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 ANALYSINGNON - 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.

Consumerscanget theirfoodsamples 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 thefood sample throughconsumercourt to the respective Food Analysis Laboratory for analysis paying the necessary analysis fees. Basedon theanalyticalreportof 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 conformityof standards. Theycanalsogetadviceand guidance with regard to proper labeling of the product as per the latest legal requirements.

Whom to contact for Service / Grievance redressal
First contact        : Food Inspector of the concerned division
Second contact   : City Health Officer, SCMC    Ph: 0427 - 2210667
Third contact       : Commissioner, Salem Corporation   Ph: 0427 - 2213131

• Traders should not sell adulterated food articles which are not safe for human consumption.
  
• Traders may inform suspected adulterated food articles in circulation.
  
• Traders to obtain municipal license or renew license without fail at the appropriate time paying the prescribed fee.
  
• Insist on license card from the Authorities, if not issued within 45 days.
  
• Citizens may report adulterated food stuff under circulation to municipal Authorities, as it may save a valuable life.

                  As per Public Health Act, 1939 sec (64) every medical practitioner who, in the course of his/her practice becomes cognizant of the existence of any of these notified diseases in any private or public dwelling other than a public hospital and every manager of any factory or public building, every keeper of a lodging house, every head of a family and every owner or occupier of a house who knows or has reason to believe that any person in any premises under his or her management, control and occupation is suffering from, or has died of a notified disease, shall, if the case has not been already reported, give information of the same with the least practicable delay

• In municipal areas, to the Executive authority, the Health Officer or a Sanitary inspector.
• In non-municipal areas, to the Health officer, a Health or Sanitary Inspector or the village headman.

        Failure to give information of notified diseases to the appropriate person warrants penal action against them as per the Public Health Act, 1939 sec (64).

VECTOR BORNE DISEASES CONTROL PROGRAMME.

• Surveillance
• Early detection and treatment
• Vector control measures

Anopheline mosquito which breeds in clean water like wells, overheadtanks and sumps – transmits malaria.

The Aedes agypti mosquito breeds in clean water stored in artificial water containerswithinthe house. These mosquito also breeds in discarded and unused containers like coconut shells, grinding stone, plastic cups, old tyres, mud pots etc – transmits Dengue and Chickungunya.

Culex mosquito which breeds in sewage and sullage water, drains and septic tanks - transmits filariasis. Another species of Culex mosquito which breeds in paddy fields - transmits Japanese Encephalitis (Brain fever).

Passive surveillance of malaria is done with blood smear examination of fever cases. For the treatment of Malaria, drugs are available in all Hospitals and Dispensaries. Vector control measures - The mosquito breeding places are identified and eliminated or treated with approved larvicides regularly. Focal thermal fogging with adulticides is also carried out.

SWARNA JAYANTHI SAHARI ROZGAR YOJANA

The Community Organizer (CO) will be the main link between the urban poor communities
(represented through the CDS) and the implementation machinery i.e. Urban Poverty Alleviation
Cell at the ULB level. The success of the Scheme relies upon the performance of the COs.

About 1316 self help groups have been formed as on date under SJSRY scheme in Salem Corporation and the community organisers work in co-ordination with the banking sector to implement this programme.

Whom to contact for Service / Grievance redressal
First contact        : Community organiser of the concerned division
Second contact   : City Health Officer, SCMC    Ph: 0427 - 2210667
Third contact       : Commissioner, Salem Corporation   Ph: 0427 - 2213131

VALVOZHI THITTAM - SCHOOL CHILDREN HEALTH PROGRAMME

• The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health care services to all students studying in Government and Government aided schools in first to twelfth standards.
• The Medical Officers of the healthcare centres and the paramedical staff constitute school medical teams and visit the schools allotted to them on Thursdays on a predetermined definite programme under advance intimation to the school authorities
• Each medical team is allotted with 200 to 250 students to be covered in a visit.
• Students who require specialized treatment are referred to higher medical institutions.
• All Thursdays are observed as "SCHOOL HEALTH DAYS". All Saturdays are observed as "Referral Days".
• School health cards are printed and supplied.
• Medicines have been supplied through TNMSC Ltd., for referral centres for treating the referred case of school children.

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Government of Tamilnadu has issued comprehensive ban on entry of workers into sewerage systems and septic tanks. The cleaning of sewer system and septic tanks shall be done only using mechanical devices. It must be ensured that workers engaged in operations of mechanical devices take all safety precautions and use safety gadgets without fail. Any act of violation by private contractors or workers in any premises by non-adherence of Government order would result in criminal action against them.

Whom to contact for Service / Grievance redressal
First contact        :  Sanitary inspector of the concerned division
Second contact   : City Health Officer, SCMC    Ph: 0427 - 2210667
Third contact       : Commissioner, Salem Corporation   Ph: 0427 - 2213131

Needed Cooperation from Citizens

•  Do not throw waste into open drains or streets
•  Clean your premises and deposit wastes in the designated points before street clearance by conservancy staff
•  Report non-clearance of garbage / debris to the designated authorities
•  Use public toilets / urinals properly. Avoid nuisance in open spaces / road margins.