HYDERABAD: The Government on Tuesday announced an action plan to combat water and vector-borne diseases such as viral fever, malaria, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and Japanese Encephalitis, which are synonymous with the monsoon.

Mass distribution of homoeopathy medicines such as Belladonna and Eupatorium-200 is a major component of the action plan. The Government found that incidence of malaria had come down by one-third in the State due to a variety of measures implemented in the past few years, including distribution of Eupatorium-200. Similar effect was noticed with respect to Japanese Encephalitis for which Belladonna was used.

As part of the plan, anti-mosquito and anti-larval operations have been taken up this year too using malathion, pyrethrum and temophos and schedules given to district health officials to chlorinate drinking water sources in cooperation with Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration Departments.

Distributing medicines

Providing these details at a press conference after Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the situation, Principal Secretary, Health, I.V. Subba Rao said Eupatorium-200 was being distributed at 2,000 centres to cover 20 lakh people with the help of 500 organisations, NGOs, banks, schools, temple trusts and political parties such as Telugu Desam and CPI. Steps were taken to keep pigs away from habitations.

The Chief Minister would address a meeting of the District Medical & Health officials on Wednesday in Hyderabad to explain the action plan.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail