------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanitary conditions in hair cutting saloons under scanner ------------------------------------------------------------------------- by Ramnath Raikar
The state government, after its recent cleanliness and hygiene drive concerning eateries and their staff following the jaundice epidemic witnessed by the city, has now decided to maintain a strict vigilance over the sanitary conditions existing in the hair cutting saloons and beauty parlours in the state.
It may be recalled that the directorate of health services (DHS) had decided to make use of sterilisers mandatory for hair cutting saloons and beauty parlours, for disinfecting the razors, scissors, tweezers, etc, after their use, from January earlier this year. However, the decision is yet to be implemented.
The Health Minister, Dr Suresh Amonkar talking to The Navhind Times said that the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Health Act, 1985 (Act 25 of 1985) and Goa Public Health Rules, 1987 have clearly specified the minimum requirement to run hair cutting saloons. He also expressed disapproval about the delay in implementing the Act and the related rules, and further observed that the government would no longer tolerate any lethargy from the persons responsible for implementation of the same.
Most of the city barbers, when approached for reaction, refused to comment on the issue. The owner of one of the oldest hair cutting saloon in the city however, on the condition of anonymity, said that most of the barbers do not adhere to the norms of the Act. "They are not even aware of the existence of such an Act," he pointed out. He further stated that even the so called modern hair cutting saloons which have an air conditioner, seldom carry out proper cleaning of their instruments.
"During Portuguese rule," he recalled, "there were frequent inspections by the health officials, which prompted the barbers to use clean instruments and linen."
Dr Amonkar, further speaking said that the sanitary inspectors of the DHS are expected to visit the hair cutting saloons and beauty parlours every 15 days or at least every month, for inspection purpose, pointing out that, "the sanitary inspectors, as per the new Health Act, have been provided with additional powers to take decisions on the spot and even impose penalties on those who are not following the minimum requirements of the Act."
Surprisingly, the sanitary inspectors barring one instance wherein a sanitary inspector fined an concern at Quepem for having a leaking tank are rarely seen making use of their powers.
The secretary for health, Ms Debashree Mukherjee also agreed on the issue and assured that the concerned officers would be directed to maintain sanitary conditions in the hairdressing shops.
The Clause 10 of the Goa Public Health Rules, 1987, which were notified
in the Official Gazette on August 27, 1987, mentions about the minimum
requirement to run hair cutting saloon, such as sufficient number of
clean towels, white aprons for customers and white gowns for barbers,
availability of a stove and vessels for sterilising the equipments/ instruments
used for hairdressing, hair cutting and shaving, presence of disinfectants
like Lysol, 20 per thousand solution of aluminum sulphate, spirit or Dettol
and use of porcelain or glass containers for immersing instruments in
disinfectant solutions.
The Clause also says that the saloons should possess one wash basin with tap, with running water for washing the utensils used in shaving and cutting, besides proper arrangements for disposal of waste water.The Act has made it compulsory to change the white apron for every person and further notes that the same shall not be re-used for any other person unless it is washed in the laundry.
"All instruments shall be washed and cleaned and then kept immersed in disinfectant for 15 minutes before using for other person," the Act states. It also mentions that every worker employed in the hair cutting saloon shall possess a valid health card issued by the local sanitary authority . "The sanitary card should be renewed every year," it points out.
"It is up to the customers to lodge a complaint with the DHS authorities, if the condition of cloths and instruments used by the hair cutting saloons and beauty parlours is not satisfactory," Dr Amonkar suggested.
Meanwhile, a survey of the city hair cutting saloons revealed that not many barbers take precaution to disinfect the instruments used by them. The razors are often disinfected by dipping them in a vessel containing week-old Dettol-water solution, while same piece of blade is utilised for more than one customer. The quality of the linen used in barber shops is also far from being clean, leave aside the regular laundering.
A lady beautician who owns a beauty parlour in the city, remarking about the issue said that the beauty parlours maintain more hygiene and cleanliness as compared to the hair cutting saloons.
"Some of the parlours even have autoclave vessels for disinfecting the instruments," she said, adding that women customers are very particular about the sanitary conditions in the beauty parlours. ------------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 9/3/04 page 1 -------------------------------------------------
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