Health and Social Welfare Minister K.K. Shylaja has said that steps are under way to check and control infectious diseases in view of the Health Department officials’ warning that the State may report an increase in cases of such diseases during the monsoon.
Speaking at a meet-the-press programme here on Monday, the new Health Minister said that her priority now was to take measures on a war footing to tackle possible surge in the infectious diseases. As the Health officials have foreseen a 10 per cent increase in the cases of such diseases, district-level monitoring cells with Collectors as heads were constituted on Monday, she said. The measures in each district would be overseen by a Minister. The government had already given strict directions for completing pre-monsoon sanitation activities in association with local bodies.
“Our objective is an infectious disease-free rainy season,” Ms. Shylaja said informing that a five-day sanitation programme would begin on June 1 in all wards. She also said that all government healthcare facilities would be provided adequate medicine to tackle the situation.
The Minister also said the government would convert the public health centres into village-level family health centres as promised in the Left Democratic Front’s election manifesto. With this family-oriented approach, the Health service could identify issues, including high morbidity rate, in the State and lifestyle diseases, she said. The government would also give priority to improve the standard of government medical colleges.
Referring to the upgradation of many hospitals to medical college hospitals during the previous United Democratic Front government, she said that a detailed study would be conducted on such hospitals before taking a decision on them. She also said that the government would intervene to end exploitation in private healthcare facilities.
Ms. Shylaja also said the government would take steps to address the problems being faced by women workers in unorganised sectors and Accredited Social Health Activists.
As the Health officials have foreseen a 10 per cent increase in the cases of infectious diseases, district-level monitoring cells with Collectors as heads were constituted on Monday
K.K. Shylaja
Health Minister
