Dengue on the rise in rural areas

Visakhapatnam: With the rise in dengue and malaria fevers in the rural areas, Collector Pravin Kumar on Sunday directed the panchayat raj officials to deploy additional sanitation workers to clean the drainage lines.

The Collector witnessed the sanitation works in the villages and expressed his displeasure over the maintenance in the villages. The Collector warned the officials that he would initiate stringent action if the situation is not controlled immediately.

With the rise in dengue cases in the rural areas, Collector Pravin Kumar, along with district panchayat officer Krishna Kumar, district medical and health officer Dr Tirupathi Rao, visited villages, including Kasimkota, G Bhimavaram and LG Palem in the district, on Sunday.

While observing the uncleaned drains, debris and garbage in the villages, the Collector directed the panchayat raj officials to take up the fogging and spraying works to control the mosquitoes.

“Officials can take up the works as the funds are available. If necessary they can appoint sanitation workers to clean the drains to ensure free flow of the drainage water,” Pravin Kumar directed the officials. With the help of 14th Finance Commission funds, the panchayat raj department can take up the construction of drains in the villages.

The medical and health department should direct the ASHA, ANM and Sadhikara Mitra workers to move door to door and register patients. The officials should take up the responsibility to shift the fever patients to the nearest Primary Health Centres (PHC)s, the Collector directed.

The Collector visited the PHCs in Kasimkota and Tallapalem and interacted with the patients. He enquired about the treatment and supply of the medicines to the patients.