Minister for Medical and Health Kamineni Srinivas on Thursday said all steps would be taken to prevent recurrence of incidents like the recent one at Chaparai in which 16 tribals died, in the other Agency areas of the State. The problem of anaemia in women, another area of concern in the Agecy, would be addressed by next December, he said.
Dr. Srinivas visited the area hospital at Rampachodavaram and the Tulasipaka primary health centre and inaugurated the rapid response vehicle at Chinturu.
The Minister said the Chaparai incident would be made a case study for other Agency areas. All the 51 affected tribal people were sent back to their respective villages after being given treatment at the Kakinada Government General Hospital and the Rampachodavaram area hospital.
Lack of info
He pointed out that tribal people should change their food habits and officials, NGOs should come forward to enlighten them on this issue. Lack of information from Chaparai led to delay in reaching help to the affected hamlets. He said the government was committed to increasing the number of community health workers in all the villages.
Incentives would be given to doctors who came forward to work in Agency areas. Those interested in pursuing P.G. courses would be encouraged after their stint.
The Minister said medicines had been made available at PHCs and sub-centres to tackle seasonal diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea. RO plants were arranged in interior villages and filters were distributed in those villages where water in bore wells was contaminated.
State Vaidya Vidhana Parishad Commissioner Durga Prasad, District health services coordinator Ramesh Kishore, DM & HO K. Chandraiah and others participated.
