The Hindu : Front Page : Chikungunya: Health Ministers’ meeting called on June 21

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Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007
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Chikungunya: Health Ministers’ meeting called on June 21

Special Correspondent

Expected to chalk out a comprehensive work module to control viral infections

Six States will be represented
Centre providing clinical, financial aid

SALEM: The Union Ministry of Health will hold a high-level meeting with Health Ministers of States facing the threat of chikungunya, in New Delhi on June 21.

The meeting, to be chaired by Union Minister of Health Anbumani Ramadoss, is expected to chalk out a comprehensive national-level work module to control and prevent viral infections in the States and their neighbours. Ministers from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra are expected to participate.

The Union Government is providing assistance — clinical, technical and financial — to the affected States, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss told mediapersons here on Monday. The Centre had sanctioned Rs. 4 crore as assistance to Kerala, which has reported chikungunya cases, while neighbouring Tamil Nadu was gearing to meet any possible outbreak. Elaborate measures had been taken in other States.

A sum of Rs. 5 crore was sanctioned to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to enable it to manufacture adequate testing kits for clinical surveillance.

States had been asked to utilise funds allotted for Village Health and Sanitation Committees to take up preventive measures, Dr. Ramadoss said.

Maintaining that the problem would persist for at least three more years in the country, the Minister said only a joint effort by the government and people could stem the outbreak, the solution to which lay in eliminating the mosquito menace.

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