The spurt in cases of dengue has jolted the health department from its slumber. On Friday, the newly appointed Director General (DG) of health services, Dr R K Pandey visited the dengue infested areas of the city. The DG also ordered the department to ensure that an additional isolation ward is set up at the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital.
On the day, Dr Pandey visited the dengue infested Shanti Vihar and Vani Vihar areas of the city where 15 and 12 cases of dengue have so far been reported by health department. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Dehradun, Dr S K Gupta who accompanied DG health during the visit said that though the number of cases of the disease have increased but most of them have already recovered from it. To the utter discomfort of the department officials accompanying him, the DG spotted many breeding grounds of the mosquito.
In these colonies, the DG visited the houses of the affected families and held detailed talks with the local councillors. He also visited the local schools and asked the students to wear full sleeved cloths to prevent mosquito bites. Dr Pandey told the students and teachers that Tiger mosquito, the vector of the disease strikes during the day time.
After visiting these areas, the DG visited the CHC Raipur where he sought a report about the disease and the areas where the disease is more prevalent. Later he inspected the dengue ward of the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital where eight patients of the disease are admitted. He directed the Medical Superintendent (MS) of the hospital Dr K K Tamta to prepare an additional isolation ward for the dengue patients. The joint director Dr A S Sengar, State nodal officer Dr Pankaj Singh, IEC officer J C Pandey and others accompanied the DG during these visits.