Dengue, Chikungunya Threat: Make Medicines Available in All Districts

From Our Special Correspondent 
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 27:  With almost all districts in Karnataka suffering from severe incidence of dengue and chikungunya diseases, which had assumed alarming proportions, the State Government has ordered heads of all district hospitals to ensure availability of 24x7 medical services to the people.
               
In addition all the District Health Officers (DHOs) have been asked to take steps to make available medicines in all health centres in the state.
               
Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu, who held a meeting with Department and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials on Friday,  said the government has decided to tackle the menace on a war-footing.
               
DHOs would held responsible for any deaths due to dengue or ill-treatment in hospitals/primary health centres in districts, he warned.
               
Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, who held a videoconference with all deputy commissioners, instructed them and urban local bodies to give priority for hygienic.
               
The chief secretary said the toll due to influenza A (H1N1 (swine flu) has increased from 85 to 95 in the last one week in the State.

Following the Centre’s direction, screening of passengers in airports for the swine flu has been stopped, he said.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa last week instructed all urban civic bodies to give top priority to maintain hygiene to arrest the spread of the virus. The State has a stock of 2.35 lakh tamiflu tablets, the chief secretary disclosed.

A total of 5645 chikunguniya cases have been reported so far this year and 927 have been tested positive. A total of 143 cases have been reported from Bangalore, 101 in Tumkur, 54 in Chickballapur, 94 in Dharwad, 43 in Kolar, and 25 in Uttara Kananda districts, Sriramulu said.

The minister made it clear that there was no shortage of blood platelets for treating dengue patients. There are 33 platelets centres in Bangalore.

He also appealed to youth and non-governmental organiations to donate blood to ensure adequate availability of blood.

As a preventive measure, the BBMP has been directed to step up fogging in the city and maintain cleanliness. The city corporation has 122 fogging machines.

The officials were asked to create awareness among the people, particularly residing in slums, on hygienic and drinking boiled water for prevention of communicable diseases.