Refuting allegations of laxity in addressing the outbreak of gastroenteritis, State Ministers P. Narayana, P. Pulla Rao and Nakka Ananda Babu said that the State government had done its best in containing the spread of GE in parts of Old Guntur. The district administration led by Collector Kona Sasidhar had worked relentlessly in addressing the issue, they said.
“We are able to save at least 40 lives by the continuous efforts of the Medical and Health Department. Out of the total cases of 525 admitted in GGH, there were eight confirmed deaths. The State government has paid an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh to each of the bereaved families,’’ said Minister for Municipal Administration P. Narayana.
Earlier in the day, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan alleged that a 14-year-old boy, Shaik Farook, died of GE-related complications.
The Ministers denied the allegation and said that the boy, who had been admitted to the Ramesh Hospitals, was diagnosed with renal artery thrombosis and did not show any symptoms of GE. After performing haemodialysis, the boy developed complications and was intubated with ventilation support.
Remedial measures
“We have opened 10 medical camps in affected areas, six Deputy Collectors have been appointed in six wards and door-to-door surveillance was conducted with nursing college students covering 19,820 households consisting of 82,989 people. Two lakh ORS packets were distributed to all households in the affected wards,’’ Mr. Narayana said.
On the corrective steps taken to tackle the situation, the Minister said that 500 tap connections passing through or below open drains have been identified in the affected areas and rectified. Further, the non-functional underground sewerage system had been declogged with the help of 15 HP and 20 HP motors. Super chlorination had been done in all 25 elevated service reservoirs, they said.
Municipal Commissioner C. Anuradha was present.
