Government ready to tackle gastro

BHUBANESWAR: Under pressure over its failure to deal with recurring outbreaks of gastro diseases in several districts and under direct scrutiny of the Orissa High Court, the State Government seems to be in no mood to leave things to chance this season.With monsoon forecast to keep its date this year, the government has started to troop its personnel into the epidemic zones to prevent and initiate quick response to outbreaks.A massive programme would be launched to generate awareness among the vulnerable populations on sanitation, hygiene as well as immediate treatment measures to counter diarrhoea in their community. A booklet on guidelines for dealing with the diseases has been published and will be distributed among the health workers at the grassroots level.Top officials, including director, Health Services, would start visiting the districts of Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangapur, Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Gajapati and Nuapada to assess and monitor the situation.The districts have reported outbreaks every year. Rayagada, considered to be the epicentre of the gastro epidemic, accounted for over 50 lives in September last year prompting the Orissa High Court to take note and order action against erring health officials. Between 2002 and 2005, more than 1,000 persons have died of cholera and diarrhoea diseases in Rayagada and the neighbouring districts.At a high-level meeting, Health Secretary Anu Garg has directed authorities for involving the Gaon Kalyan Samitis in a more comprehensive manner in spreading awareness on preventive measures in the vulnerable pockets. The district collectors have been instructed to appoint nodal officers on epidemic response down to the level of villages and send their lists to the Department.By mid-June all the Asha karmis in the districts would be provided with the necessary kits and medicines, Garg said. The Government has also decided to launch the ‘Nidhi Mousa Malaria Control Abhijan’ in the districts of Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Nuapada and Kalahandi from June. The programme would cover 1.10 crore people across 2,550 GPs. Apart from awareness generation, it would also focus on quick detection, screening and treatment of patients. It would also involve distribution of insecticide- treated nets (LLIN) among the people in the endemic zones.