Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas on Sunday began a two-day tour of the Agency areas of the district reeling under seasonal fevers and anthrax.
He visited Sunkarametta, Kodipunjuvalasa, Bosubeda, Chompi, Peda Labudu, Hattaguda, Doraguda, Dumbriguda, Kinchumanda, Bidigaputtu, Kotnapalli, and Hukumpeta. He also visited the primary health centres and area hospitals, and interacted with patients and villagers.
At Kodipunjuvalasa, he spoke to those suffering from anthrax. He instructed the officials to shift Manoj suffering from malaria to the Araku Area Hospital. At Sunkarametta, he complimented the differently-abled doctor, Ammaji Rao, for his services. The Minister was accompanied by MPs K. Haribabu and Gokaraju Gangaraju, MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, MLC P.V.N. Madhav, ITDA Project Officer Ravi Pattanshetti, and former MLA Siveri Soma. Besides providing medicines, timely treatment and filling vacancies, more measures were on the anvil to improve medical care in the Agency, Mr. Srinivas said.
The Minister said the rules would be modified, making working in the Agency area mandatory for medicos, a statement said.
Bonus marks
Bonus marks would be awarded in medical PG courses for doctors working in the Agency. Better pay and allowances would be given to the doctors working in the Agency. The Minister sanctioned ₹50 lakh for improving conditions in the Araku Area Hospital from the NTR Vaidya Seva Revolving Fund.
During his visits, he inspected the availability of water and toilets in the PHCs and area hospitals.
District coordinator for hospital services Naik was present.