THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to contain the dengue outbreak, the Health Department on Friday instructed hospitals in severely affected areas to open ‘fever clinics’ and special wards to treat patients complaining of fever.
Health Minister K K Shailaja instructed hospitals to ensure adequate quantity of medicines to tackle the situation. Based on her instructions, the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital will soon open a 24-hour ‘fever clinic’ and a special ward for fever patients.
Tests ranging from basic ones to that for platelets count will be conducted free of cost in the casualty wing, the Medical College Hospital said. Health Minister K K Shailaja on Friday said dengue fever can be prevented with the active cooperation of the people, Health Department, health activists and Local Self-government Department.
The government has already taken steps for the prevention and spread of dengue, she said, while launching the dengue fever awareness campaign organised by the Thiruvananthapuram district unit of the Indian Medical Association and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics. She said every individual and institutions should see waste is disposed of at its source itself. They should not allow water stagnation in their surroundings, she said.
Pointing out that there were reports of increasing cases of dengue this year, Shailaja said the Health Department had taken preventive steps from the start of this year itself which had helped to bring down the fever cases. As dengue cases are high in the capital, the people here should take preventive measures against the disease, she said.
Thiruvananthapuram Mayor V K Prasanth said special medical camps would be held in the Corporation areas. He said the Corporation would also be part of the IMA’s initiative in the campaign. IMA Thiruvananthapuram district president Dr John Panicker, secretary Dr Vijayakrishnan, DMO Dr Jose Dicroose, DPM Dr Swapna Kumari, Dr Mohammed Kunju and others were present.
Three medicos contract dengue
Three house surgeons and one doctor at the medical college have contracted dengue. This being the situation, the Medical College superintedent has convened a meeting on Saturday to prevent the hospital itself becoming a source of the fever and to review the pre-monsoon sanitation drive. Various department heads and officers of the Works Department and Kerala Water Authority will attend. Thiruvananthapuram district has reported the highest number of dengue cases this season.