Cuttack: The municipal corporation's health wing is not in perfect shape with the city health officer's post having become a revolving chair. Over the past year, the civic body has had four health officers.

The frequent change of officers has affected functioning of the civic body's health wing at a time when the city witnessed outbreaks of dengue, jaundice and malaria. Garbage collection and disposal system has also been affected due to delay in implementation of solid waste management project and mosquito control programme.

The frequent change of officers has complicated the problem. By the time an officer understands and settles down in his job, he is transferred. Civic officials said with the team leader changing frequently, the health wing had not been able to focus its attention on sanitation problems.

The changes began when health officer P.K. Pradhan retired a year ago. The officials said the transfers were either administrative or promotional.

Chairman of the corporation's standing committee for health and sanitation Ranjan Kumar Biswal said: "It takes a few months for any health officer to understand his job and functioning of the wing."

After Pradhan's retirement in March last year, additional district medical officer Abhay Patnaik was given additional charge of health officer. But he was shunted out after four months.

The civic body did not have a full-time health officer for a few months till a periphery doctor from Jagatsinghpur - Sarat Chandra Dash - was transferred to the post. But his tenure ended in six months and a periphery doctor from Koraput, Manas Ranjan Samantaray, took over.

A filaria officer is in charge as city health officer since Samantaray was transferred on April 12 following his promotion to the rank of chief district medical officer.

Sources said functioning of the health wing had been disrupted following his transfer. There has been disorder in issuing birth and death certificates and disbursal of salaries of around 40 employees.

Birth and death certificates could not be issued since Monday for want of the health officer's signature. Municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra, however, said there should not be any disruption in issuing birth and death certificates and disbursal of salaries of employees, including sanitary and food inspectors.

"I have received complaints and I am looking into it," Mohapatra said.