The Hindu : Front Page : `Operation dengue' to eradicate mosquitoes

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Thursday, Oct 19, 2006
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`Operation dengue' to eradicate mosquitoes

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister reviews situation with Collectors; Rs. 40 lakhs for each district

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday announced the launch of `Operation dengue' to eradicate mosquitoes in the State in three years.

After reviewing the situation with district Collectors at a meeting here, Dr. Reddy announced release of Rs. 40 lakhs to each district. This would be for waging a "war against mosquitoes", identified as the cause for outbreak of dengue, chikungunya and malaria.

But there was no let-up in the incidence of dengue. Eighteen suspected fresh cases came to light, with two of them confirmed, taking the number of those affected to 144. The confirmed cases reached 66 but the toll remained at eight.

Dr. Reddy and Health Minister K. Rosaiah told reporters later that as part of the action plan to combat the disease, special wards would be opened in all district headquarters and teaching hospitals and diagnostic facilities provided at medical colleges as well. Twentyfive jeeps were being provided to each district to pick up patients. Blood banks had been asked to store more blood as dengue patients would lose blood by way of haemorrhage.

Short of declaring a medical emergency, the Chief Minister asked Collectors to fill all vacant doctor posts, and involve private doctors (through IMA), nurses, NSS volunteers/NCC cadets, members of Lions and Rotary clubs, medical and dental colleges in the massive task. In-service doctors could be denied leave.

Besides Health, a number of other departments like Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and School Education were asked to stand by. An `Epidemic cell' would function round the clock at the State level.

Dr. Reddy said in addition to the regular health staff, 60,000 sensitised volunteers and 43,000 women ante-natal care health workers were put on alert.

It would be an all-out attack on mosquitoes with major chunk of funds being earmarked for spraying larvicide and adulticide.

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