Even as Health Minister Atanu Sabysachi Nayak on Friday visited the SCB Medical College Hospital here to take stock of the dengue situation, the Odisha Human Rights Commission issued notices to the Government asking it to file action-taken reports (ATRs) on measures to contain spread of the viral disease.
Taking up a petition filed by HR activist and advocate Nishikant Mishra expressing concern over spread of dengue in Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Puri and Khordha districts, the OHRC asked the concerned district Collectors to file reports on the dengue situations within two weeks. Notices were also issued to the Health and Urban Development Secretaries asking them to look into the matter seriously and take proactive measures to combat dengue immediately. Both the Secretaries and the SCB Superintendent were also asked to submit their ATRs within four weeks.
Visiting an exclusive dengue ward of the SCB Hospital, the Health Minister informed that special taskforces have been formed in all the three State Government teaching hospitals under their respective medicine professors to take appropriate care of the dengue patients.
“At least 426 patients across the State have so far tested positive to dengue virus this year,” the Minister said, adding that 36 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the SCB and 11 in two Government hospitals of Keonjhar district. He said the hospitals have been asked to treat the patients free of cost.