Shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in various hospitals in the district may pose challenges to tackle the possible spread of epidemics during the coming monsoon.
A meeting held at the Collectorate to discuss preventive measures to be taken before the monsoon urged the government to fill all vacancies, including that of doctors and paramedical staff, in various hospitals in the district. Addressing the meeting, Therambil Ramakrishnan, MLA, demanded that preventive measures be intensified. Co-ordination between various departments was necessary, he added.
Involvement of local self-governments should be ensured in disease preventive programmes, said K. Radhakrishnan MLA.
District Medical Officer V.V. Venus said a few cases of malaria, dengue and leptospirosis were reported from the district in the last season. Intensified preventive steps had already been taken to deal with the emergence of diseases in the coming monsoon season, she said.
A special awareness programme was conducted among workers of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme against the spread of leptospirosis. An amount of Rs. 10,000 has been distributed to every ward in the local bodies for the sanitation drive. The DMO urged the local self governments to lay stress on the control of mosquitoes and rats, and on efficient waste management.
The comeback of diseases such as malaria, filariasis and leprosy, which were eradicated from the State, is causing concern for the district authorities. Malaria and filariasis cases have been reported from among migrant labourers in the district.
