Naveen expresses concern over rising malaria in Banda hills, asks officials to initiate steps

10 June, Bhubaneswar

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday directed the officials to initiate steps to control the rising incidents of malaria at the Banda hills in Malkangiri district.

The Chief Minister expressed his deep concern over the spread of malaria in Malkangiri district and gave the direction while reviewing the steps taken to prevent the waterborne diseases.

He also reviewed the progress of the implementation of the Niramaya scheme launched by the government to provide free medicine to the poor patients.

The meeting was told that medical team along with medicines already rushed to the malaria affected area in Malkangiri. A massive public awareness campaign would be launched soon to educate the people about malaria, dengue and diahorrea.

Patnaik said since rain has already started, he asked the officials to take measures to prevent outbreak of waterborne diseases like diahorrea and dengue.

The chief minister also directed the Urban Development department to expedite the work undertaken for the replacement of old water pipes and ensure that more people get the medicines under the Niramaya scheme.

Official sources here said 72.80 lakh people were provided free medicines under the Niramaya scheme. As many as 351 pharmacists were appointed for the smooth implementation of the scheme and the government decided to recruit 247 more Pharmacists soon.

As many 375 types of medicines including 82 types for Cancer only are being provided to the patients under the Niramaya scheme in different government hospitals.

The meeting decided to install scanning machines in all the district headquarter hospitals on PPP mode to provide better medicare to the patients.BM