Re: Approximately 58 deaths due to mystery fever in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh
Re: Approximately 58 deaths due to mystery fever in Lucknow district, Uttar Pradesh
This article contradicts the previous one as to whether this is water-borne, vector-borne, or something else:
LUCKNOW: All is not well within the state health and civic administration. The symptoms of the waning `health' of the two came out in open on Sunday when the Lucknow municipal commissioner SK Singh disclosed that the health department has not bought anti-mosquito insecticide for last two-and-a-half years. Director general (DG) health Dr SP Ram deflected the lapse to the Central government, which, he claimed, had not supplied insecticides to UP for past two years.
These disclosures have come at a time when over
1,200 people, including over 58 in Lucknow, have died in the past two months due to mosquito and waterborne diseases. "By any standards, this is a criminal negligence which created an epidemic like situation in the state," said a senior health official, while revealing that budgetary allocations made for purchase of insecticides were allowed to lapse in last two years in the absence of a policy to utilise the funds.
The vector-borne disease unit of the Union health ministry used to supply insecticides to the states till 2008. The arrangement was that the Centre used to supply the insecticides and the responsibility of the states was to provide infrastructure and manpower for anti-larva spraying and fogging to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. The Centre used to deduct the money spent on insecticides from the quota of funds allocated to the states for healthcare.
However, after introduction of the National Rural Health Mission, the funds were transferred to the states by the Centre. Consequently, the onus was on the states to buy insecticides. "But the health department could not form a policy on how to use the funds. As a result, the funds allocated lapsed without utilisation," admitted a senior health official. "The anomaly could not be detected as no `epidemic' broke out in past two years," he added.
Municipal commissioner SK Singh categorically said mosquito control was not the LMC's job. "We have several fogging machines and we do conduct fogging but that is purely an extra work which the corporation does for the sake of people, otherwise it's the malaria control unit of the state health department whose primary task is to take preventive measures against mosquito induced diseases such as malaria, dengue. etc.," he said.
The DG health, when contacted, admitted that insecticides were not procured in past two years but said it was because of laxity on the part of the Central government. He, however, added that he does not want to be dragged into the controversy as he took the charge only a few months back. "My priority today is to control the diseases and not to indulge in mud-slinging match with any officer of department," he said and refused to comment on the allegations.
While officials have indulged in a blame game, the poor man is suffering. If over 1,200 people have died due to tropical diseases in the past two months, hundreds of critical ones are in hospitals which are packed beyond capacity. Thousand others are suffering from `viral' fever. The state government figures say that over 600 people have died in last three months and over 5.90 lakh people were affected. The worst hit are the 40 districts ravaged by floods in September.
Ideally, the anti-mosquito drive should be carried out at the start of monsoon, but the state administration has woken up from slumber now. In a jiffy, Rs 1.10 crore has been sanctioned for the purchase of malathion (used in fogging), DDT (for killing insects in houses) and larvacidal (anti-larva spray chemical). The money has been distributed in 40 flood-affected districts for utilisation. For Lucknow, around Rs 40 lakh has been sanctioned.
However, questions are also being raised over the utilisation of funds sanctioned now. The viruses causing dengue and viral fever will subdue on their own with the drop in temperatures due to approaching winters. Another hurdle, as being witnessed in Lucknow these days, is the lack of coordination and cooperation between health officials, civic authorities and district administration in carrying out a drive against mosquito-borne diseases.
CHIEF MINISTER'S PRESCRIPTION
* Chief minister Mayawati held a meeting to review the situation, specially of Lucknow, following outbreak of dengue and viral fever due to lack of cleanliness and preventive measures.
* The seriousness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that this is second review within three days by the CM
FOR STATE
* District authorities and municipal corporations all over the state told to draw an action plan for cleaning, garbage disposal and supply of pure drinking water for their respective areas.
* Launch a special two-month drive. Fix responsibilities of officers. Ensure coordination among various agencies. Daily review by district magistrate, fortnightly by urban development department and monthly by chief minister's office.
* Hire private sweepers, if there is lack of manpower. Constitute special cell for monitoring and testing of drinking water supply. Divisional and municipal commissioners to supervise.
FOR LUCKNOW
* Lucknow district magistrate told to carry out cleanliness drive on war footing, conduct surprise inspections of the sites and take action against those found neglecting their duties.
* Dumping of garbage collected in Lucknow at a dumping site on Mohan road. Allocate barren land of agriculture department on Mohan road for construction of a solid waste management plant.
* Upgrade stray animals houses, catch stray animals and keep them in the houses. Take help of non-government organisations working for animals. Ensure fogging and anti-larva spray.
INFO
* The Lucknow Municipal Corporation has...
2 big fogging machines for VIP areas
12 small machines for other areas (only five operational)
25 cycle mounted fogging machines for slums and Old City
Epidemic control budget: Rs 80 lakh
* Health department's malaria unit in Lucknow
- Aim is to take preventive measures against vector-borne diseases
_ Almost dysfunctional
- Reacts when diseases outbreak
- Funds arranged from contingency funds
Read more: Blame game on even after 1,200 deaths - The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-deaths/articleshow/6806067.cms#ixzz13MopIz8Z
