A meeting, on Saturday presided over by Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar, to review the measures to counter the spread of epidemic called for the strict enforcement of a three-week ban on the sale of sip-up and iced drinks through shops. The ban has been enforced to counter the spread of water-borne diseases, especially Hepatitis A.
The Minister said the government had made an allocation of Rs.25,000 for each ward to meet the expenses to counter the spread of epidemic.
Strict action would be taken against officers found lax in the implementation of such measures.
The meeting called for concerted efforts at Mankode, Mayyanad, Poruvazhi and Sooranad where the incidence of such diseases was high. Chlorinated drinking water should be distributed in tankers as part of the drought-relief measures. More effective vector control measures should be taken in areas where dengue fever had been reported.
The meeting noted that 546 cases of jaundice and 150 cases of dengue fever had been diagnosed in the district.
The Minister called upon medical officers to frequently monitor the quality of drinking water and ensure that private clinical laboratories maintained proper hygiene standards.
The Minister announced the district launch of the mental health programme of the State government These services will be provided through outreach clinics. .
