Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Friday that the Health Department has been instructed to ensure medical teams are available round the clock in all government hospitals, in view of the heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD (India Meteorological Department).
The meteorological centre has forecast heavy rainfall on November 29 and 30 in the southern and delta districts, ahead of Cyclone Ditwah in the Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is likely to reach the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by the early morning of November 30.
Subramanian confirmed that if fever-related cases are reported among more than two persons in a particular area, the Health Department has been directed to organise special medical camps in that region immediately.
"Steps have also been taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply in all hospitals in view of the heavy rainfall," Subramanian told reporters.
Recalling previous instances of hospital flooding during even short spells of rain in Avinashi (Coimbatore) and Royapettah (Chennai), he asserted that the situation today is under control as infrastructure in over 14,000 hospitals has been upgraded. "Continuous monitoring is also being carried out to ensure waterlogging is not reported in any hospital," he added.
Earlier, the Minister handed over skill training certificates and a grant of ₹50,000 to 13 transgender beneficiaries at a function.
Subramanian noted that Tamil Nadu is the only state to have established a welfare board for transgender persons, which was set up by the late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in 2008.
He highlighted that Chief Minister MK Stalin has implemented various welfare schemes for transgender persons, including providing skill training certificates and financial subsidies of ₹50,000. He added that destitute transgender persons above the age of 40 receive financial assistance under these schemes. Moreover, every year on April 15, 15 transgenders are awarded for their talent.
Also read: Cyclone Ditwah heads to Tamil Nadu-Puducherry, red alert issued
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