Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, May 5: Health minister U T Khadar on Tuesday May 5 launched two bike ambulances - one each for Mangaluru city and Ullal - at Circuit House here.
Addressing a press meet later, he said, "The reason for launching bike ambulances is that when a person meets with an accident, the injured can get primary medical assistance without delay, as sometimes traffic prevents ambulance vans from reaching the spot on time. Bike ambulance will be really usesful and the injured can feel secure. We will give one bike ambulance to MCC and one to Ullal and they will travel within their limits only."
More bike ambulances will be added if necessary depending on the demand, he said.
Regarding control of malaria cases in the city, he said a team from Berlin University, Germany will make a study and submit a detailed report. "Dr Frank and his team from Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Germany, have arrived in the city to do a detailed study about the reason for the rise of malaria cases in the coastal region. They will submit the report within six months," Khadar said.
Addressing the press meet, Dr Frank said, "We will start the survey with the help of Wenlock hospital within three weeks from today and will continue for about five to six months. We also will look in the genetic factors affecting malaria and hereditary disorders. When we did the survey in African nations we found that 25 percent of people had genetic factors affecting rise in malaria cases. We will also test the migrants in Mangaluru, if they are inflicted by malaria."
U T Khadar further informed that the health department will also launch a healthcare centre for sportspersons. "The health department will launch a sports health centre for arthroscopic surgeries at Wenlock hospital at a cost of Rs 6 crore, which will be the second of its kind treatment centre in India. It will give relief to sports injuries within a short span of time and at a cheaper cost. Most of the sports injuries do not need traditional surgeries which are time-consuming, expensive, and which affect the careers of injured sportspersons. There will be ten specialized doctors to provide treatment and train the injured players. This will also provide a helping hand to sportspersons for whom sports are means of livelihood," he added.
He also informed that gram panchayat elections will be held as per schedule and Congress is hopeful of winning. "Congess is not afraid of elections. There will be no postponement in elections," he said.
Mayor Jacinta Alfred, district medical officer and superintendent of Wenlock Hospital Dr Rajeswari were present.