A series of measures has been initiated in Madurai district on Friday to fight the threatening dengue fever.
While the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here has set up a special 50-bed ward to treat dengue cases, the Government Hospital at Melur intensified its fever surveillance and treatment in the badly affected Melur block.
N. Mohan, GRH Dean, said on Friday that Ward 205 in the hospital’s main campus has been completely revamped and earmarked for admitting dengue patients, both confirmed and suspected cases.
“Dengue positive cases are still coming in and patients are being referred to us from various places. Patients who are recovering soon are discharged and the special ward will help in giving focused attention to deal with dengue fever cases,” he said.
The exclusive 50-bed ward, which was earlier used for orthopaedics, has been refurbished to give a complete new look. Special steps have been taken to keep mosquitoes away from this ward. If fever patients continued to be on the rise, the GRH authorities are ready to provide additional space for admitting the dengue suspected persons for treatment.
In Melur block, the Joint Director of Public Health P.Vadivelan reviewed the mosquito control activities meant to reduce the breeding sources.
“Our team of health inspectors and village health nurses had concentrated in A.Vellalapatti village visiting homes and remove mosquito breeding sources in backyards. The work will continue in that village on Saturday,” he said.
The Government Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital at Tirumangalam too had joined the drive against dengue by distributing medicines in affected areas on Friday.
A.Gopalakrishnan, Principal in-charge, has said that the college staff had conducted dengue prevention camps at Mohamadiapuram in Melur block and also in Thirumangalam area. Homoeopathic medicines to prevent dengue fever were distributed to 1,600 persons. Another homoeopathy camp will be conducted in Therkutheru.
The Deputy Director of Health Services of Madurai district S.Senthilkumar has said that patients who were admitted in hospitals for suspected and confirmed dengue are now getting discharged after treatment. “We are supervising the dengue control works in all areas and hope to see improvement,” he added.
According to V.Radha Rani, Joint Director of Health Services, fever cases are still being reported in the hospitals as out-patients. “Because of rains, more fever cases are likely and people should be cautious. Suspected dengue cases are referred to the GRH,” she said.
In Madurai Kamaraj University, an awareness and sensitisation programme on prevention of dengue fever was conducted by Shepherd, a voluntary organisation based in Tirunagar. According to the organisers, the participants including sanitary staff of the university were told about mosquito control strategies.
Doctors from the Primary Health Centre at Nagamalai Pudukottai have addressed the students and staff of the varsity.
