The Hindu : Front Page : Vector Control Officers for all districts

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Thursday, Oct 12, 2006
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Vector Control Officers for all districts

Special Correspondent

P.K. Sreemathy held discussions with Union Health Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The Centre has agreed to provide financial support to Kerala to appoint Vector Control Officers in each of the 14 districts of the State. This was announced here on Wednesday by Kerala Health Minister P. K. Sreemathy after a meeting with Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

According to Ms. Sreemathy, the State Government would decide on the job profile of the Vector Control Officers and mandate the minimum qualifications. The Centre would foot their salary bill. Such a post in each district, she said, was being considered as vector control was the best way to deal with diseases such as chikungunya and dengue.

In the capital to attend the meeting of Health Ministers from chikungunya-affected States - convened by the Centre - Ms. Sreemathy sought to steer clear from all controversies that have arisen over whether the deaths in the State were caused by chikungunya.

Briefing mediapersons, she refused to field questions on whether the deaths were caused by chikungunya as has been claimed by Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan. Likewise, she refused to comment on Dr. Ramadoss' statement that chikungunya does not cause death.

Submits memorandum

At her meeting with Dr. Ramadoss, the Kerala Health Minister also submitted a memorandum listing the requirements of the State to deal with the public health situation. Besides special central assistance to the tune of Rs.30 crore, the Kerala Government has sought a special allocation of Rs.5 crore for Alappuzha district which has reported the maximum number of deaths.

Also, Ms. Sreemathy said the Centre had agreed to give 25 test kits with a capacity to test 100 samples each to the State. Besides, an emergency package of Rs.2.2 crore had been sanctioned. Half the amount would be used for a public awareness campaign and the remaining portion for acquiring fogging machines and undertaking other vector control measures.

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