Punjab government on high alert to check jaundice

Chandigarh, May 2 (UNI) The Punjab government has put all the district authorities on high alert after reports of outbreak of jaundice in some parts of the state.

This was announced here today by Chief Secretary Ramesh Inder Singh at a high level meeting of the departments of Health and Family Welfare, Local Government and Water Supply and Sanitation.

He instructed that regular publicity campaigns be undertaken to educate public not to consume contaminated water, uncovered/over ripe fruits and vegetables. People should be advised to use pre-boiled drinking water daily, he added.

Mr Singh informed that Rapid Response Teams have been constituted and Mobile Medical Teams are working in the affected areas to assess the situation and provide prompt treatment.

House-to-house survey has already been done in affected areas by special teams of the Health and Family Welfare department and chlorine tablets and chlorine drops are being distributed in affected areas, he said.

He said that Municipal Committees have been directed to ensure alternate drinking water supply in the affected areas. Round the clock treatment has been already made available in hospitals with separate indoor beds for the affected patients and the treatment will be provided free of cost, he informed the meeting.

Mr Singh said that sufficient stock of essential medicines has also been ensured in all the hospitals. The regional Local Bodies Deputy Directors and the Corporation heads have been directed to ensure the supply of safe drinking water and carry out regular spray in the affected areas.

Control Rooms have also been established at all the district headquarters and in the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare at Chandigarh to monitor and assess the situation on daily basis.

UNI