On the directives of Chief Minister Raman Singh ‘Jaundice Eradication Drive’ had been taken up on in all the major cities of the State including Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Dhamtari, on a war-footing, official sources here informed.
As a result of the drive, jointly organised by the State Health Department, urban bodies and Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), effective steps have been taken to prevent further spread of jaundice which has led to the number of jaundice cases coming down considerably in various cities of the State.
For purification of water, the Chief Minister has instructed all the urban bodies to use prescribed quantity of chlorine powder and alum on a regular basis in the tanks of water supply schemes.
He also asked the officers to distribute chlorine tablets door-to-door and for cleaning of roads, lanes, sewage lines and drains on top priority. Jaundice patients should be given free and best treatment in all government hospitals.
The Chief Minister urged people of the State to keep themselves away from superstition about jaundice and avail the facilities available in government hospitals.
Under the jaundice eradication drive, for the purification of water, bleaching powder has been put in 223 public and private wells in Raipur city. Collector Thakur Ram Singh and Municipal commissioner Avanish Sharan on Monday inspected the health check-up camps organised at Mominpara, Kelkarpara and lakhenagar localities.
The Collector asked the CMHO to ensure that the test reports of those citizens, whose blood samples were collected in the camps and tested in laboratories, reach their homes with the assistance of ANMs and Mitanins.
The Collector told peoples’ representatives and citizens that arrangements for better treatment of jaundice patients have been made in Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Hospital, Government Ayurvedic Medical College and Government District Hospital in the city.
The Municipal Commissioner has asked the employees of Raipur Waste Management Private limited for carrying out thorough cleaning of all the drains of the city and lift the waste on a regular basis by launching a drive. He also inspected the drain cleaning works on the main roads of Kotwali Chowk and Mahboobiya Chowk.
Meanwhile, in the Dhamtari district headquarters, the district administration and the urban bodies have launched a public awareness campaign in all the 24 wards from May 4. In Surguja district also the district administration has become active for prevention of jaundice.