COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore corporation on Tuesday launched a six-day special medical camp drive in the city following recent heavy rainfall, with 1,813 people receiving medical assistance on day one.The camps were conducted on Tuesday at 33 locations associated with the respective urban primary health centres.A three-member team, comprising a doctor, a nurse and an assistant, was deployed at each of the camps. Areas covered include Ram Nagar, Sastri Nagar, Selvapuram North Housing Unit, Nesavalar Colony, and Government Officers Colony, where rainwater had accumulated before being cleared by corporation workers.City health officer Dr V C Subash Gandhi said, “Out of the 1,813 people examined on Tuesday, nine were diagnosed with fever. They were referred to govt hospitals for further evaluation and blood tests. The same camps have been planned to continue for the next five days. Each of these days, different locations will be covered with a focus on inundated areas and low-lying zones vulnerable to stagnation and infections. Mobile teams and RBSK will also be deployed to cover a wider audience, with the latter focusing on school children.”The health team distributed oral rehydration solution (ORS) and Siddha herbal formulation as part of its preventive healthcare measures. Health inspectors checked chlorine levels in drinking water, while sanitation teams carried out mass cleaning and sprayed disinfectants in affected localities.Residents were advised to consume only boiled drinking water to prevent water-borne illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid and jaundice. Officials also cautioned against exposure to potentially contaminated water, which can transmit leptospirosis, particularly after heavy rainfall and flooding.The preventive measures come amid heightened concern over monsoon-related infections. Stagnant water can create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. Residents have been urged to remove water collected in discarded containers, tyres, coconut shells and flowerpots.
