The Hindu : Sanitation drive to stave off fevers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Sanitation drive to stave off fevers

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH July 15. An intensive sanitation drive was taken up in the State in the wake of the outbreak of communicable diseases which have resulted in the death of several children, mainly in Telangana region, said the Minister for Housing, P. Ramasubba Reddy, and the Minister for Woman and Child Welfare, S. Saraswathi, on Tuesday.

The incidence of communicable diseases and viral fevers in several parts of the district and the lapses in maintenance of sanitation and medicare were reviewed. Officials of the departments concerned were geared up for upkeep of sanitation and also treatment of those affected, they told a press conference here on Tuesday.

The District Medical and Health Officer, T. Venugopal, said that viral fevers and gastro enteritis were prevalent in about 300 villages in the district now, as against 246 villages in the last three years. Fifteen malaria cases were recorded in Ramapuram mandal. Round-the-clock emergency epidemic cell was set up at the DM & HO's office (ph. No. 245269), to rush medical teams in case of epidemics. Health assistants would gather data of patients undergoing treatment in private hospitals, he said.

The Ministers asked the DM & HO to ensure that doctors and paramedical staff stayed at their places of posting in rural areas and that Government doctors worked effectively in Government hospitals in urban areas without unduly concentrating on their private practice.

They Minister called for preventive steps and prompt medicare. The Collector, Jayesh Ranjan, said that Government doctors who did not mend their ways despite counselling had been identified and action against would be taken against them shortly.

The ZP Chief Executive Officer, Sudhakara Rao, said most of the 869 non-notified panchayats and 20 notified panchayats faced dearth of funds as a ceiling of 5 per cent was fixed on purchase of material to maintain sanitation. The Collector replied that the Government had granted Rs. 5,000 to each panchayat from the State Finance Commission funds. The CEO said 25 kg of lime and bleaching powder were supplied to each panchayat from the Rs. 8 crores sanctioned by the Government.

The Superintending Engineer, Rural Water Supply, Veerabhadra Sarma, said 2,107 protected water schemes and 14,696 hand pumps were being inspected and water samples collected. The Chief Planning Officer, P. Murali, said pamphlets were being distributed to create public awareness on sanitation and the nodal officers were empowered to draw Rs. 5,000 for the purpose.

The Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Venugopala Rao, said monthly medical check-ups in 142 hostels housing 14,210 inmates were revived. A control room was set up with telephone No. 244473 to monitor outbreak of fevers and diseases in hostels. When he referred to acute drinking water problem in some hostels, the Collector said necessary works were sanctioned in 26 hostels. There was no incidence of Japanese Encephalitis in hostels so far. The in-charge DRDA Project Director, B. Viziendira, said DWCRA groups were pressed into service for taking precautionary measures and building soak-pits around borewells.

The Cuddapah Municipal Commissioner, S.S. Varma, said an emergency cell was set up with ph. No. 244154 in Cuddapah. The Proddatur Municipal Commissioner said a similar cell with ph. No. 251047 was set up at Proddatur and the civic staff would attend to problems such as piling of garbage and choked drains. Mr. Varma said of the 260 sanitation workers in Cuddapah, about 50 were on leave at any given point of time and hence 75 private workers were engaged.

The Ministers wanted steps to check the stray dog and monkey menace as many persons turned up at the Government hospital here with animal bites. The District Coordinator of Health Service, V. Prasanna Kumar Reddy, claimed fund paucity for procuring anti-rabies vaccine and hence ARV shortage was rampant.

The Joint Collector, G. Jayalakshmi, the BC Welfare Officer, Annapurnamma, the District Panchayat Officer, Satyanarayana, and other officials participated.

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