Elaborate measures have been undertaken in the state to prevent and control the spread of monsoon diseases, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
He was addressing a meeting convened in the Secretariat on Monday to discuss measures to prevent spread of epidemics.
A state-level coordination committee has been formed with the Chief Minister as chairman and Health Minister as vice-chairman.
Monday’s meeting, which was attended by Health Minister V S Sivakumar among others, evaluated that compared to previous year, the number of cases of dengue fever, rat fever, malaria and jaundice has fallen considerably.
District-level committees led by people’s representatives and district collectors would be formed to coordinate activities against spread of diseases. Chandy directed to allot Rs 25,000 each in all local self-government wards for meeting the expenses in the drive against diseases.
‘Health assemblies’ will be organised in government, aided and unaided schools on all Wednesdays to promote awareness against epidemics and take preventive measures. Active involvement of Student Police cadets, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides would be ensured.
House visits and weekly assessment of activities would be conducted under the monitoring of ward members in all wards of local bodies.
Making available potable water in places including coastal areas which may face water scarcity, quality checking of water supplied in tanker lorries, free checking of water samples given by Health Department in the labs of Kerala Water Authority are among the measures planned. Water supplied through drinking water projects of panchayats and Jalanidhi will be purified and chlorinated before being distributed. The meeting suggested availing of the services of all health inspectors in Corporations and municipalities to prevent the spread of epidemics. The Agriculture Department must ensure coordination of mosquito eradication activities in plantation areas by the plantation owners and workers. Measures have to be taken by PWD and Labour Department to prevent mosquito breeding in water collected at construction sites and buildings under construction. Public works and local self-government departments have to stay alert to clean drains and canals.
The Fisheries Department has been directed to ensure that parked fishing boats and fish seed rearing centres do not become breeding ground for mosquitoes. Suchitwa Mission has to be part of the activities coordinated by various departments.
Food Safety Department will take stringent action to curtail the use of ice blocks made on commercial scale in food items and also prevent sales of food products kept in the open. Raids would be carried out in hotels, bakeries, fruit juice shops and catering centres to check hygienic conditions. Meetings of district medical officers, health workers and officials in Corporations and municipalities will have to be convened to discuss measures against spread of diseases.
Meetings for prevention of epidemics will be convened at the district-level on May 9; block-level on May 12, 13 and at other local self-government on May 14 and 15.
Action plans for further activities will be formulated at these meetings.
Cleaning works and source-level eradication of mosquitoes will be done on May 19 at public places, hospitals and offices.
Cleaning of water sources to curb water-borne diseases will be conducted on May 25. Health Department secretary K Elangovan, secretaries of other departments and officials were also present at Monday’s meeting.
Revenue Minister’s Directive
With the Meteorology Dept warning of heavy rains in the state, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash has given instructions to all Revenue officials in the state to be more vigilant. All the staff in the Revenue Dept should be alert in case of any emergencies. In case of relief measures, they should coordinate with other departments, Prakash said.
They should see that all facilities are arranged in relief camps in case people need to be shifted.