Slum tenements turned into Covid care centre in Chennai

CHENNAI: Ramesh Babu returned to the city from Dubai a week ago and tested Covid positive. The 33-year-old was shifted to KP Park at Pulianthope, a housing board slum tenement complex converted to a Covid care centre. He was surprised to find the centre had TV sets, speakers to play music, intercoms, newspapers, CCTV monitoring, round-the-clock security and other facilities.
A Covid care centre is usually marred with complaints about lack of facilities. However, at K P Park, things are different. Arun Thamburaj, the field support officer for Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar, said going to a Covid care centre after testing positive can be a traumatic experience. "We wanted to put ourselves in their shoes and ensured all those facilities that we would look for were provided. As on date, 800 patients have been admitted and many discharged. The centre has four blocks and each has nine floors. Total bed capacity is 1,728. We planned CCTV monitoring as the area is huge. We barricaded all the floors to restrict movement of patients, provided sound systems so they could stay positive, intercoms to connect with doctors and nurses and among themselves. We made it a lovable place of stay for patients with the help of GCC officials, TNSCB, police and health staff," Thamburaj said. Though geysers have also been provided, there were complaints of hot water not being provided for bathing purpose. "Grievances would be redressed," he said.
Inspired by the success of the K P Park facility, the corporation has now planned to set up a similar facility at the 19-storey building Ambattur slum tenement. "We have started work and open this by the end of the month," said Kumaravel Pandian, deputy commissioner (works). This one would have about 4,200 beds.
The facility will help people affected in outer zones of the civic body such as Madhavaram, Thiruvotriyur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur. The corporation is looking at several other ready-to-occupy slum tenements and other buildings that could be converted into Covid care centres.