After AIYF protests, Authorities promise to appoint DMO

ALAPPUZHA: The district health authorities have promised to appoint a  DMO here following a protest organised by the All India Youth Federation (AIYF)  on Thursday.

The activists  led by the federation’s state committee member C.A. Arunkumar blockaded the DMO office   for an hour from 9.30 a.m.  

The protesters alleged that the negligence of  the authorities  towards the health sector had caused  the spread of deadly epidemics during the monsoon.

The agitation  was called off following the assurance  from the district authorities that the post would be filled in a week. DC had carried a report on the situation on Monday.    

Dr Safiya Beevi, the previous  DMO, had retired two months ago.  Dr Vivek Kumar, DMO in-charge, says the posts including DMO, deputy DMO and junior health administrator are vacant.

“In fact, there are no takers for the DMO post. Though a doctor had been appointed, he refused to accept the order,”  he says. It may be recalled that a  pregnant woman,  Soumya, 19,  from Haripad had succumbed to H1N1 on June 5.