The Health Department is gearing up to meet the challenges of rainy season and elaborate steps have been taken to prevent airborne and waterborne diseases, according to Health Minister K.C.Veeramani.
Addressing journalists at Government Rajaji Hospital here on Saturday, he said the rainy season was always a busy season for government hospitals. Hence, doctors, nurses and menial staff had been adequately briefed about the need to rise up to the occasion.
Asked about contagious A(H1N1) virus being reported in the Nilgiris district, the Minister said there might be sporadic cases in the State. “But I can assure you that there shall be no mass infections. We are fully prepared to tackle issues during the monsoon,” he added.
Earlier, he inaugurated a special ward, in the building that once housed orthopaedic and dental departments, in the hospital for treating patients under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS).
The building near the nurses’ residential quarters fell vacant after the two departments were shifted to the nearby GRH annexe named as Trauma Care Centre. The third and fourth floors of the building — new ward number 500 — had been earmarked for the CMCHIS patients. The top floor also houses an Intensive Care Unit with 10 beds.
Earlier, the patients under CMCHIS were treated at various departments. There is already one such ward in existence in the annexe building.
Addressing the heads of departments at the GRH, Mr.Veeramani said the hospital had received Rs.17 lakh under the scheme during the last financial year. He wanted it to be tripled during the current financial year. “I affectionately order you to raise the amount to over Rs.40 lakh,” he said.
Minister for Cooperation ‘Sellur’ K.Raju, Members of Legislative Assembly A.K. Bose and R.Annadurai, Collector Anshul Mishra and GRH Dean N.Mohan were present.
