Expressing concern over increase in malaria cases in certain pockets, Gajapati district Collector Sudhanshu Mohan Samal on Monday asked the Chief District Medical Officer and others concerned to work hard to check the trend.
The Collector said this while presiding over a meeting held here to mark the ‘World Malaria Day’. ASP Pramod Kumar Jena, CDMO Dr Purna Chandra Karo, District Malaria Officer Dr Mohammad Ali Khan and Additional Medical Public Health Officer Pradeep Kumar Patra spoke on the theme, “End Malaria for Good”.
“Don’t conduct meeting only for name sake only. The doctors and the health officers should take the responsibility of creating awareness among villagers, especially in Mohana and Rayagada blocks where large numbers of people are affected by malaria,” said the Collector.
Wanting to know why the two blocks witness increasing cases of malaria, Samal said he, during his recent visit to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), found some doctors and pharmacists engaging in politics with a purpose to earn more money.
“You all have to work sincerely at your respective fields to provide better health services to people otherwise extreme steps will be taken. I will keep making sudden visits to the DHH and other hospitals,” he said.
The Collector asked the CDMO to prepare a specific action plan to eradicate malaria and assured him of all support.
CDMO Dr Purna Chandra Karo administered oaths to all present to eradicate malaria and check related deaths in the district.