Health department gears up to tackle seasonal diseases

Vijayawada: The district administration is gearing up to tackle seasonal diseases particularly viral fevers and respiratory problems this monsoon in Krishna district. District Collector B Lakshmikantham directed the medical and health department, panchayat and revenue departments to be prepared to tackle the seasonal diseases.

District medical and health officer T Padmaja Rani told The Hans India that adequate stock of medicine was dispatched to area hospitals, district hospitals, 88 PHCs and 600 sub-centres in Krishna district to meet any eventuality. She said over 150 doctors, including specialists’ doctors working in various hospitals in the district, would render services to patients.

Respiratory problems, viral fevers, malaria, typhoid and other infections are very common in the monsoon season, she said and added that some patients suffer from falling of platelets due to impact of viral fevers.

In Vijayawada, she said a separate ward has been set up to treat Nipah virus patients and so far, no case of Nipah has been reported in Krishna district. Every day, over 1,000 out-patients visit the New Government General Hospital in Vijayawada.

In-Charge superintendent Dr S Babu Lal said adequate quantity of drugs, injections, IV fluids, anti-allergic drugs, antibiotic and other drugs related to hyper tension, diabetes and blood pressure are available in the hospitals.

District panchayat officer MV Subramanyam said instructions were issued to 970 village panchayats to maintain hygiene and ensure arrest of leakages of drinking water pipelines. The DPO said the village panchayats have sufficient grants to spend for the maintenance of sanitation in their respective villages. He said funds are available from 14th Finance Commission grants and local taxes collected by the panchayats.