Himachal Pradesh Govt. sets up toll free number for swine flu information

New Delhi, Aug.21 (ANI): The Himachal Pradesh Government has started a toll free number to provide information on swine flu to the general public.

The state's Health Minister, Dr.Rajeev Bindal, told a health ministers conference here today that a state team comprising of epidemiologist, physician and microbiologists has been trained at national level and sensitization workshops have been conducted at state and district level to raise the awarness about swine flu among health practioners and general masses.

He also said that teams have been formed to treat suspected swine flu patients in the state.

He revealed that so far samples of eighteen suspected swine flu patients had been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in New Delhi, out of which 13 samples have reported negative while one sample has reported positive.

Bindal requested the NICD to provide a report on the swine flu samples within the next 24 hours so that treatment could be started immediately.

He also sought central assistance for training IEC and to meet other contigencies arising out of the swine flu threat in the state.

The minister appealed to the Centre to provide additional medicines, masks, ventillators and other infrastructure required to treat the patients.

He said rapid response teams,isolations beds, protective equipments and facility to collection of samples have been made at all district hospitals and two medical colleges of the state.

Bindal also welcomed the Central Government's decision to set up a national level institute for alternative medicine.

Bindal revealed that so far Rs.70.12 crores had been spent under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme and added that rupees 11.62 crore rupees had been disbursed to health committees in the state. (ANI)