The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Action plan to check epidemics; YSR favours permanent mechanism

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Monday, Aug 01, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Action plan to check epidemics; YSR favours permanent mechanism

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister asks officials to work out a permanent mechanism in agency areas

HYDERABAD: The Government will come out with a comprehensive action plan to check the outbreak of epidemics in the agency areas of the State during the monsoon.

A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at a meeting with officials to review the situation in the agency areas on Sunday.

He told officials that the health mechanism in the agency areas had been neglected for the past several years and there was a need to put in place an effective set-up to address the people's health needs. The issue would be discussed in detail during a video-conference scheduled on Monday.

Complimenting the officials concerned for the timely measures initiated to check the spread of epidemics, Dr. Reddy, however, stressed the need for a permanent mechanism. One of the steps suggested for effective monitoring of the healthcare situation was a ledger system in the primary health centres wherein doctors and the staff assisting them would feed details like number of patients and medicines supplied to them.

An official release said Dr. Reddy was informed that there were only seven casualties so far in the agency areas, contrary to the exaggerated figures furnished by certain sections. While the Health Minister, K. Rosaiah, had already visited the agency, a team from the National Vector Borne Disease Programme was set to visit the areas soon.

Start action: TDP

The Telugu Desam Party has asked the Government "to stop talking and start acting" to ensure that medicare reached the tribals in the agency areas.

At a press conference here on Sunday, TDP leaders, Rajya Sabha MP R. Chandrasekhar Reddy, S. Venugopalachari and M. Narasimhulu recalled the "callous remarks" made by the Health Minister, K. Rosaiah, on visiting the agency areas spread over 11 mandals in the district.

The TDP leaders referred to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's reluctance to visit the agency areas by car, after citing inclement weather as an excuse for not flying to the interior villages.

"When he could cover hundreds of kilometres just a year and a half ago, what prevented Dr. Reddy from taking a one-hour drive to see the conditions for himself", they asked.

"We are not saying the Congress Government is responsible for the diseases. All we are demanding is that the administration should swing into action and take steps for affording relief to the underprivileged tribals in the rural areas," Mr. Narasimhulu said.

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