Health Minister V.S.Vijay has said on Wednesday that the Tamil Nadu government and Health Department are ready with a white paper to present facts and figures about the dengue fever situation in the State.
He held a review meeting to assess the situation here in the district in the wake of dengue deaths reported from Melur, near here.
“In other States, there is no awareness among people about dengue fever and the test that must be done for confirmation. But, in Tamil Nadu, the public awareness is high and hence more people are coming forward for lab test and naturally the dengue cases will come to light when the test is done,” he said.
Mr.Vijay had informed that 35,000 dengue tests were done in the State so far this year whereas other States are lagging behind in that.
The Health Minister had enquired about the dengue control measures taken in the GRH here and also at Melur GH. He took stock of the availability of blood in the hospital blood bank since blood platelets have to be given for dengue patients.
He made it clear that the State Government cannot give any compensation amount for the victims of dengue fever. “How is it possible for us to give cash assistance or relief to persons who die of viral fever? Such a thing does not arise at all.”
His response comes in the wake of a demand made by a retired senior public health official and also by a political party that the victims of dengue fever must be provided relief by the Government.
R.T. Porkaipandian, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, G.K.Arun Sundar Thayalan, Additional Collector of Madurai district, T.N.Ramanathan, Commissioner of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy and C.Vamsadhara, Director of Medical Education, were among those who took part in the review meeting along with district health officials and medical officers.
