The Hindu Business Line : AP Govt convenes meet on mosquito menace

Andhra Pradesh is in the grip of mosquito-induced fevers such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Official figures put the number of people affected (or suspected to be affected) by these fevers at one lakh, one-fifth of them in Visakhapatnam district. Unofficial figures could be far more than that.

The gravity of the problem forced the Government to convene a meeting of district collectors and to declare a war on mosquitoes.

Majority of the patients (77,467) were reportedly down with chikungunya, while 23,215 were suffering from malaria.

2-PRONGED APPROACH

Addressing a press conference after the meeting with collectors, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said the Government would watch the situation with "eyes wide open." The two-pronged programme included measures to curb the spread of mosquitoes and take up awareness programme all over the State.

Beginning this week, the Government will take up `Operation Dengue' for at least 10 weeks. While setting up special wards and testing facilities for dengue at all medical college hospitals and district hospitals, the Government has released Rs 26.5 crore so far.

Housing project

The Chief Minister directed the Collectors to complete 24 lakh houses by March next. "The erstwhile Telugu Desam Government could not even construct two lakh houses a year. But we are averaging six lakh houses. This year we have ramped up the number to 24 lakh," he said.

More Stories on : Health | Andhra Pradesh

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