AP CM to boost healthcare

Exhorts officials to release monthly health bulletins

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the health officials to release health bulletins every month in all the 13 districts of the state.

Participating in a tele-conference with the officials of various departments at his Undavalli residence on Friday, the Chief Minister asked them to extend the practice of releasing health bulletins to all the Assembly constituencies and mandals in a phased manner.

Expressing grief over the death of 16 tribals in the Agency area, the Chief Minister said tragic incidents like Chaparai were taking place due to communication gap.

While warning the officials on the possibility of recurrence of such tragic incidents in future, Naidu said the communication should be passed immediately so that the official machinery can act without delay.

While asking the rural development, urban development, health and medical departments to act in co-ordination for preventing infectious diseases, he warned of serious action against those who do not rectify their failures.

He said it is the responsibility of the local bodies to ensure public health and cleanliness. Directing the ITDA officials to create awareness among the people living in the Agency areas on drinking water, sanitation and food habits, Naidu asked them to be alert on epidemics like malaria, dengue and other infectious diseases.

While appealing to the people to participate in a big way in ‘Domalapai Dandayatra’ (Fight against Mosquitoes), which is scheduled to be launched from Saturday, the Chief Minister told the officials to take up sanitation programs collectively and antilarval operations actively.

Directing the health department to fill the vacancies of doctors and para medical staff immediately, he said the nodal officers should also be appointed wherever necessary. Giving a call to the people to make Vanam Manam programme, being launched on Saturday, a grand success, the Chief Minister said that the government was planning to plant 25 crore saplings in 125 days across the state.

The programme will be concluded in November during Kartika Masam, where Vana Bhojanalu (Feast in Forest) would be encouraged, Naidu said. He told the officials to debates on public health every Saturday in schools and public awareness campaigns on every fourth Saturday of every month.

Medical and health department principal secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, forest, rural development and urban development secretaries G Anantaramu, B Ramanjaneyulu, K S Jawahar Reddy respectively, and collectors of various districts besides MLAs participated in the teleconference.