Health executive officer of Borough XIII suspended

Kolkata: The Health department of the KMC has taken stern steps for dereliction of duty. Member Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh informed on Monday that the health executive officer of Borough XIII has been suspended and sent to compulsory waiting.

"He had been absent from duties without informing the concerned higher officials. He has also not reported properly on the cases of dengue-borne diseases. In the borough health office that comes under his jurisdiction, the other officers too has not reported to duty on the time they were supposed to. So we have taken strong steps," a senior official of the Health department said.

Ghosh had instructed all concerned health officials to be serious in their work particularly when the department is striving hard to combat vector-borne diseases. "Nobody will be spared if he/she neglects his duties," he warned.

The KMC Health department has already initiated SMS-based attendance to ensure timeliness in its department. "When a person starts his field work at around 9 am in the morning, he will inform his respective ward office by SMS in a designated number. This will be forwarded to the borough office and accordingly to our central office. The attendance is being monitored at our weekly meeting every Friday," a senior official said. The KMC has involved Councillors in a greater way in dengue drives across the city from November. The daily report about the findings of the health officers while undertaking such drives are being sent to the respective Councillors on that very day.

"Records about the daily findings of dengue drives are available with the ward health offices and also in KMC's Health department. However, in many cases, it is found that the Councillors are unable to keep a track of the data, often due to his/her busy schedule."