Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas will tour Rampachodavaram and Chinturu and Principal Secretary (Health) Poonam Malakondaiah will visit Paderu and Aruku to take stock of the situation in the tribal areas on Wednesday. They took the decision after 16 tribal people reportedly died because of food and water contamination in the Rampachodavaram area in a span of a couple of weeks.
Responding to questions at the Secretariat here on Tuesday, Dr. Srinivas said there were some problems in the Agency areas. Official and staff were finding it difficult to access the tribesmen living high up in the hills. Attempts would be made to bring the sick people to the areas where basic amenities were available, he said.
The Minister said efforts were on to overcome the problems prevalent in the hill areas.
He said action would be taken against negligent staff. At the same time, doctors would be sent to work there on rotation basis. He said doctors were not willing to work in the Agency areas.
Anthrax cases
Dr. Srinivas said officials in Visakhapatnam were put on high alert with regard to Anthrax cases. Steps were being taken to see that the infection did not spread.
