VIJAYAWADA: Elaborate arrangements are being made by the health department to provide medical assistance to pilgrims, who will be taking a holy dip in the Krishna river during the Pushkarams, and to prevent any outbreak of epidemics. The State government is stationing 1,400 medical personnel, equipment and medicine at all 74 bathing ghats in Krishna district from August 12 to August 23 with all medical nursing and paramedical staff will start their work from August 7 itself.
The officials estimated that around Rs 2 crore will be required to provide 89 types of drugs, medicines and disinfectants to the Pushkar Nagars and primary healthcare centres located near the Pushkar Ghats in the district. A proposal was already sent to the government seeking the medicines. The drugs and medicines will reach the district on Wednesday and will be supplied to the pushkar nagars and PHCs by August 7, said District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) R Nagamalleswari.
Twenty-two ambulances and 16 other vehicles are being hired for meeting contingencies in addition to the existing fleet of vehicles. There will be strict monitoring of food and drinking water based on the measures adopted for the Godavari Maha Pushkaralu in Rajamahendravaram.
“All stale food and material exposed to dust, would be destroyed on the spot. Food licenses would be verified and the establishments were ordered to remain closed until the owner rectified the defects causing waterborne diseases,” the DMHO said. There will be a ban on sale of unlicensed mineral water and water sachets while ice-creams and soft drinks would be subjected to strict scrutiny.
Chief medical and health officer of Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) M Gopi Naik said that the corporation has decided to take anti-larval measures at all the bathing ghats and pushkar nagars for every six hours to prevent breeding of flies.
The banks of the river also would be chlorinated regularly if the quality of the water was found deteriorated. The officials were directed to take steps to avoid open defecation near the bathing ghats. As many as 600 mobile toilets will be arranged near all the bathing ghats in the city during the festival, he said.
“Around 910 additional staff will be deployed by the corporation for the desilting works and other 1,000 staff services would be used for providing better sanitation near the bathing ghats,” Gopi Naik said.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force’s 10th battalion at Mangalagiri will establish ten medical posts near Sitanagaram to provide medical assistance to the pilgrims near the bathing ghats. About 80 NDRF personnel will be deployed for the purpose.
