150 more beds, Rs 25 lakh to tackle Chikungunya

Alappuzha, Sep 16 (UNI) The Kerala Government today announced a special package, including Rs 25 lakh for community health centres and setting up of 150 more beds in the Cherthala taluk hospital, to tackle the Chikangunya outbreak in the area.

State Finance Minister T M Thomas Issac and Health Minister P K Sreemathy today visited the Cherthala 'taluk' hospital, where more than 600 people have been admitted with suspected Chikungunya fever.

Later, the two ministers convened a meeting of the local representatives including MP K S Manoj, MLAs P P Thilothaman and A M Arif, and chairpersons of the Alappuzha and Cherthala municipalities.

District Medical Officer, Dr M K Velayudhan, said of the 70 samples sent to the Pune Virology Institute from Cherthala, 11 had tested positive. The maximum number of positive cases were from the Kakakkarappally village, he added.

Later, talking to reporters, Mr Issac said funds would be no constraint and it was the priority of the state government to curb the spread of the disease.

He said Rs 25 lakh will be sanctioned immediately for community health centres in Cherthala. Another Rs five lakh have been sanctioned for the Cherthala taluk hospital to buy medicines.

A special package would be announced for the primary health centres also, he said.

UNI XR ARC RA HS1955