The Port quarantine work was carried out for long time by Madras State Government. Port and Marine Dispensary were attached to Port Health Organization and Madras Quarantine Officer held the dual post of Port Health Officer cum Port and Marine Surgeon. In 1939 Port Health Organization was transferred to the control of Central Government.

After independence, Port Health Organisation, Tuticorin, is functioning as a Subordinate Office of the Directorate General of Health Services, under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Department of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.

1. Inspection of ship/vessels (including sanitation and issuance of Ship Sanitation Control and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption certificate), baggage, cargo, containers, goods, Postal parcels and human remains from departing and arriving ships/vessels, so that they are in such a condition that they are free of sources of infection or contamination, including vectors and reservoirs.
2. Health screening and medical examination of travellers for yellow fever, HIM, Dengue, Ebola Virus Diseases(EVD), (MERS-CoV) Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Viruses, ZIKA disease.
3. Supervision and coordination of measures so that facilities used by travellers at points of entry are maintained in a sanitary condition and are kept free of sources of infection or contamination, including vectors and reservoirs;
4. Responsible for the supervision of any deratting, disinfection, disinsection or decontamination of baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, postal parcels and human remains or sanitary measures for persons, as appropriate under these Rules
5. Advise conveyance operators, as far in advance as possible, of their intent to apply control measures to a conveyance, and shall provide, where available, written information concerning the methods to be employed;
6. Responsible for the supervision of the removal and safe disposal of any contaminated water or food, human or animal waste, waste water and any other contaminated matter from a conveyance;
7. Take all practicable measures consistent with the Indian Port Health Rules, to monitor and control the discharge by ships of sewage, refuse, ballast water and other potentially disease-causing matter which might contaminate the waters of a port, river, canal, strait, lake or other international waterway;
8. Responsible for supervision of service providers for services concerning travelers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods, postal parcels and human remains at points of entry, including the conduct of inspections and medical examinations as necessary;
9. Have effective contingency arrangements to deal with an unexpected PHEIC and the measures to deal with it to all the concerned agencies at the port;
10. Responsible for coordinating additional health measures at the port as decided by the Central Government in the event of PHEIC like passenger screening, isolation & quarantine, contact listing, ship disinsection, transportation, arranging logistics for various public health measures etc.
11. Rendering Yellow fever vaccination to international travellers.

Officer Incharge

Dr. P. Poornima
        

Address :

Port Health Organisation, Tuticorin, B-20,World Trade Avenue, Pincode - 628004

Phone/Fax :

0461 2353341 0461 2353314(Fax)

Email :

pho[dot]ttc-mohfw[at]gov[dot]in
photuticorin[at]gmail[dot]com (for vaccination)