CHENNAI: First ‘anti-dengue day’ was observed at various hospitals and government district headquarter hospitals across the state on Thursday.
As part of its efforts to tackle the dengue menace in the State, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami instructed the government institutions to observe every Thursday as ‘anti-dengue day’.
As part of the mass cleanliness drive, Nilavembu Kudineer was distributed in government hospitals including Kilpauk Medical College (KMC), Kasturba Gandhi Hospital (KGH), Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital, Stanley Medical College (SMC) Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).
Health minister C. Vijayabhaskar participated in anti-dengue day programme at Omandurar government hospital and Manthoppu Government Higher Secondary School in Saidapet. He also directed students to pledge to follow dengue prevention measures.
While medical students of Kasturba Gandhi Hospital organised street play at the hospital, around 13 schools in the city were identified by Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital for mass cleaning and distribution of Nilavembu Kudineer. On similar lines, KMC students took charge of three corporation schools for campus cleaning.
Hospital authorities of SMC conducted awareness campaign at a corporation school in Royapuram and organised awareness programme by displaying pictures on preventive measures against dengue.
Dean Dr R. Jayanti checks on dengue affected children at Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital in Triplicane on Thursday. (Photo: DC)
Students and medical officers of Kilpauk Medical College conducted a public awareness campaign after campus cleaning.
Heath workers, faculty, conservancy workers, medical superintendents and medical students at Madras Medical College also carried the cleanliness campaign at RGGGH and MMC.
Pamphlets were also distributed to the students, public and staff at the hospitals to create awareness on preventive measures against dengue.
Fever cases continue to spike
The numbers of dengue and suspicious fever patients continue to spike at government hospitals despite increased efforts by the State Health Department. Pediatric cases are being witnessed in large numbers. After two recent deaths at Institute of Child Health, the number of fever cases is 202, while the dengue ward has around 19 in-patients. The cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever are being witnessed in large numbers among patients from neighbouring states and districts. A total of 55 pediatric fever patients are admitted at KMC, while dengue positive includes 11 children among total 14 patients. Though a decrease in dengue positives have been witnessed, fever out-patients have increased at Stanley Medical College (SMC) Hospital. The total fever patients are close to 238, while around 150 patients are admitted. “A total of 13 dengue patients are under treatment. The situation is under control but recent rains have triggered a rise in viral fever cases. We are taking intensive care to prevent any outbreak,” said
Ponnambala Namashivayam, dean, SMC. While Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has witnessed many new cases this week, total being 26 dengue patients and 214 fever cases. Omandurar Government Hospital has around 200 out-patients on a regular basis for fever.
More than 400 have died of dengue: Stalin
Alleging that more than 400 people have died across the state due to dengue, leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Thursday accused the state government of “hiding the truth” on the issue and asked it to be “pro-active” in reducing the incidence of the disease. Stalin visited hospitals in his Kolathur constituency where people have been admitted after being diagnosed with dengue. “The state government says only 26 people have died due to dengue. Ten people die everyday due to the dreaded diseases and reports say more than 400 people have succumbed to the disease. If the government had cleaned lakes and neighbourhood areas, the incidence of dengue could have been reduced,” Stalin said.
Dr R. Jayanti, dean, Tamil Nadu Govt Multi Super Specialty Hospital
All facilities including blood components and medicines are available in adequate quantity for free at government hospitals. People should visit hospitals at the earliest symptoms of fever
Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK leader
Number of people affected by dengue has increased from 5,000 to 13,000 and the death toll has crossed 90. Moreover, 18 people have passed away in the past 48 hours in the state and these people belonged to Pudukkottai, Salem, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagapattinam, Vellore and Krishnagiri. State government must declare medical emergency in the state to control the spread of the disease.
