The government has issued orders that additional doctors and paramedical staff be appointed at primary and community health centres on a temporary basis to battle the ongoing fever epidemic.
One doctor and paramedical staff each will be posted in primary health centres while two doctors and two paramedics each would be appointed at community health centres. The health institutions will make use of the additional staff and function from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m.
The newly appointed staff would be provided salaries as per the guidelines of the National Health Mission by the respective local bodies utilising its own or Plan funds.
All local self-governments have been asked to make necessary additional facilities in the health institutions in their jurisdiction, the funds for which will be provided by the government later. Every ward has been asked to organise cleaning and sanitation activities spending ₹25,000.
More fever deaths
Seven more deaths were reported in the State due to fever and related illnesses on Thursday. Three suspected dengue deaths were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kannur while one confirmed dengue death was also reported from the capital.
One fever death was reported from Malappuram. Idukki reported one suspected leptospirosis death and Malappuram, one suspected Hepatitis A death.
A total of 23,190 persons reported with fever at various government hospitals on Thursday. Dengue was confirmed in 157 patients, 78 of whom are from Thiruvananthapuram. Other districts which reported dengue are Kollam 20, Ernakulam 17, and Kannur 11.
Till date, 7,630 cases of dengue have been confirmed in the State, with 14 confirmed deaths.
SPC directive
State Police Chief (SPC) T.P. Senkumar has directed all offices of the Kerala Police, including police stations, to ensure that the offices and its premises do not have any conditions which may promote vector breeding . It should be ensured that there is no possibility for rainwater stagnation and mosquito breeding in any of the vehicles or things on police station premises.
Dr. Senkumar has also asked all police officials to actively join vector control activities and fever prevention programmes being organised by the local bodies and other departments.
Treatment protocol
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), which met here on Thursday to review the fever epidemic, said that the focus should entirely be on preventing fever deaths by making sure that the treatment protocol was followed and that the right treatment was provided to the dengue-afflicted.
The epidemic situation would go out of hand if vector-control measures are not intensified on a war footing and the local bodies should take the lead in organising activities with community participation.
The IMA has decided to bring out its guidelines for vector control and has decided to observe June 28 as mosquito elimination day. It will join hands with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration to train LSGs in scientific vector control measures. It will also ensure that the fever treatment protocol issued by the government is taken to all doctors in the State and it will organise training programmes to get all doctors familiarised with the protocol.
It will also conduct fever clinics wherever required and provide additional human resources to government institutions upon request.
