Dengue scare: Haryana cancels leave of doctors, paramedics

Chandigarh: Keeping in view the rise in cases of dengue being reported in the state, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today directed to cancel leave applications of all doctors and paramedics so as to provide timely treatment to the patients.

Vij said that the state government would leave no stone unturned to prevent the spread of dengue in Haryana and every patient would get proper treatment on time.

"Directions have been issued to cancel leave applications of all doctors and paramedics so as to provide timely treatment to the patients," the Health Minister said.

He said that all private hospitals have also been directed to give full information to the government about dengue patients who visit their hospitals so that treatment facilities could be provided to all patients on time.

The Health Minister said that school students were being made aware about the measures for prevention of dengue.

"Instructions are being issued through pamphlets and advertisements so that people can be made aware of various measures for prevention of dengue," he added.

Following the directions of Health Minister, Principal Secretary, Health, R R Jowel today held a meeting with all Civil Surgeons through video conferencing and issued necessary directions to control dengue and malaria.

While issuing directions to the Civil Surgeons, Jowel said that they should carry out survey at every doorstep in the state to put a check on growth of mosquito larvae.

Apart from this, minimum time should be taken to provide treatment to patients, he directed.

Jowel also said that separate wards have been set up in hospitals of the state for the patients suffering from dengue and additional doctors have been pressed on duty for taking their care.

Besides, dense fogging was being carried out in streets and towns of the state, he added.

He said that so far 542 cases of dengue have been reported in the state during its recent spread. Similarly, 3,437 cases of malaria have been reported which was 25 per cent less than that of the cases registered during the last year.

Jowel said that Rapid Response Teams have been constituted in all districts including Mewat (from where malaria cases have been on rise), so as to keep a check on dengue and malaria.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Punjab, where two persons have died due to dengue and over 1,000 have tested positive, State's Local Government and Medical Education Minister Anil Joshi today issued instructions to all Municipal Corporations and Municipal Committees to launch intensive cleanliness drives in all cities especially in the slums, industrial clusters and congested areas.

The Punjab Minister also issued instructions to intensify fogging to check the spread of dengue.

Joshi directed all medical colleges to set up separate wards for dengue patients and ensure that every suspected patient (of dengue) was provided complete treatment.