Health Minister urges Centre to sanction lab

Puducherry, Oct 11 (UNI) Puducherry Health Minister E Valsaraj today urged the Centre to sanction a laboratory with required reagents and equipment for diagnosing viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases.

In a copy of the speech delivered at the meeting of Health Ministers of Chickungunya-affected states in Delhi today, Mr Valsaraj urged the sanction of Rs 25 crore for the purpose.

He demanded that a unit of the National Institute of Virology or National Institute of Communicable Disease be established either in JIPMER or outside, and it should assist the southern states in closer proximity. It would reduce the pressure on national laboratories.

Mr Valsaraj urged as an immediate measure of protecting people residing at vulnerable areas, perma nets (insecticide treated bed nets) should be provided under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme at 50 per cent subsidy in all areas affected by chikungunya, dengue and other viral fevers of enormous proportions.

He said as an effective preventive measure to contain the spread of the disease additional flogging machines, automatic sprayers, pyrethrum, batex, bleaching powder and additional labour required would be provided to the union territory.

He also demanded that as an ad-hoc grant to meet the emergent situation, which might get accentuated day by day with the floating population visiting the different regions of Puducherry, the Government of India should sanction an additional Rs one crore.

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