Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has called upon the Union Government to ensure a coordinated approach of the Centre and the State governments in dealing with A(H1N1).
In a letter to the Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr. Yeddyurappa said, At this juncture of wide-spread pandemic across the nation, the Central and State governments have to work jointly with cooperation, co-ordination and mutual understanding. On behalf of the State Government of Karnataka, I assure you that all efforts are being made to control and effectively handle A(H1N1) influenza in the State.
Mr. Yeddyurappa has invited Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit Karnataka and review the situation and also offer his suggestions. I am writing this letter to apprise you of the steps taken by the Government of Karnataka to control and tackle A(H1N1). You are aware that this influenza is not an Indian disease but it has entered our country crossing the national borders.
He said Karnataka was the first State to establish round-the-clock screening at Bangalore and Mangalore International airports and more than 3.6 lakh passengers had been screened and over 1,000 suspected cases had been referred for investigation. The State was also the first to rope in private hospitals, medical colleges and NGOs to tackle the infection. I have held a meeting with over 40 private medical institutions to control, treat and educate the public about A(H1N1), he wrote.
The State Government, he said, had distributed Tamiflu capsules received from the Government of India to all the major hospitals and district hospitals. Though the State initially did not have viral testing labs, it now had two one each in Bangalore and Manipal. However, there was a need for two more laboratories which may be sanctioned immediately by the Union Government.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said that on August 14, officials of the Union Government who came to Bangalore to study the situation had appreciated the action taken by the State Government. Recently, the Central nodal officer had also expressed his satisfaction on the proactive steps taken by the State Government.
I understand that you, too, appreciated the measures taken by the Government of Karnataka in handling the A(H1N1) influenza in the meeting of the State Health Ministers held on August 21, he wrote.
