Continuing his tour on the second day, Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy and Senior IAS officer T.N. Ramanathan visited the Government Rajaji Hospital here on Thursday following the dengue outbreak.
Accompanied by Collector Anshul Mishra and Corporation Commissioner R. Nanthagopal, he inspected the special ward at Government Rajaji Hospital and held talks with the public, doctors and para-medical staff. He visited Meenambalpuram, Avaniapuram, Narimedu and other areas in the city.
He urged the authorities to keep the wards clean and ensure that all the patients had timely treatment. When the public pointed out delay in obtaining the test reports, the doctors attributed to the shortage of instruments that could gauge or confirm the disease. Mr. Ramanathan, after getting concurrence from the Secretary Health and Family Welfare, had immediately taken steps to procure them locally through the Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation, officials said. “Shortage of equipment and mosquito nets need not come in the way of treatment to patients,” doctors were informed.
Similarly, when some staffs complained about shortage of trained personnel in the government hospitals, he assured to address them after holding talks with the hospital authorities. The Health department officials too were instructed to keep surveillance on dengue prone pockets. With rainy season, there has to be more pro-active approach which alone would contain the disease, he underlined.
Later in the noon, Mr. Ramanathan addressed the elected representatives from the district panchayat, unions and municipalities at the Collector’s office.
The senior official appealed to the leaders to impress upon the people locally about the consequences of dengue disease and the steps taken by the authorities to prevent it from spread. By keeping the surrounding clean, the dengue could be prevented to a great extent. The need of the hour was to educate people about the ill effects. Timely dissemination will save people from falling prey to the disease, he pointed.
When fogging was carried out, residents must be told to keep their doors and windows open. Unused tyres and utensils, the breeding grounds, should be destroyed.
Suspended
At Melur, when the officials went round the Government Hospital, some patients complained about a para-medical staff, who demanded money for treatment. Investigations suggested that the staff had allegedly taken bribe and after his confession, he was placed under suspension, an official press release said.
