On 8 October 2024, IIHS convened a Consultation Meeting on the Occupational Health Screening Protocol for Sanitation Workers in Chennai, collaborating with the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department (MAWS), Government of Tamil Nadu. 

The meeting included a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the Directorate of Medical Services (DMS), Directorate of Public Health and Preventative Medicine (DPH), Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) such as Tiruvannamalai, Avadi, Tambaram, Maraimalai Nagar, the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), the Directorate of Town Panchayats (DTP), the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Team, and the Regional Labour Institute (RLI).

The meeting aimed to cultivate a shared understanding of occupational hazards and associated health burdens facing sanitation workers in the state, and how a comprehensive health screening protocol tailored for sanitation workers can be developed in Tamil Nadu. 

The Sanitation Workers Comprehensive Health Screening Protocol is expected to provide advisory on necessary tests, procedures, and the frequency of health check-ups, thereby facilitating early detection, prevention, and management of occupational health risks among sanitation workers in Tamil Nadu. The discussions and group activity sessions centred around health risks faced by sanitation workers, focusing on the need for targeted interventions. 

Representatives from various ULBs shared their experiences in implementing regular health checks, with GCC’s specific approach to daily screenings at Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) and Tiruvannamalai’s focus on non-communicable disease (NCD) checks. Operational issues and challenges such as workers’ reluctance, the necessity for health education, and the implementation of digital health records, were also addressed. 

Recommendations included advocating for pre-employment and regular screenings, improved awareness of health risks, integrating health data into the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) ID system, and expanding vaccination efforts for Hepatitis B and Tetanus Toxoid (TT).

The meeting was followed by an Advisory Group consultation to review the inputs and suggestions of various experts. The group will continue to collaborate to ensure that the protocol is developed and adapted in the state over the following months.