Chennai: Upon the directions of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Health Minister, Dr C Vijayabhaskar, has been taking preventive measures to curb water-borne diseases on a war-footing in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and other coastal districts that bore the brunt of Cyclone Gaja’s devastation.
Teams have been deployed to do fogging and prevent the breeding of flies from waste-laden and water-stagnant areas for the past nine days, says a release from the government.
A sum of Rs 1 crore for five districts have been granted to carry out the activities; 126 mobile medical vehicles, 170 Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) teams, 152, 108 ambulance vehicles, 48 food safety teams, 253 chlorine testing teams, 257 teams to control insect breeding and more than 600 doctors and nurses are on the ground to take care of health and hygiene needs.
As of 24 November, more than three lakh patients have been checked in 5,166 medical camps, adds the release.
In addition, under Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme – Tamil Nadu, 260 special medical camps by private hospitals were set up and more than 52,000 victims benefitted.
Also, 132 camps to provide Indian traditional medicine care was set up. As of 23 November, 14,45,572 people were given nilavembu decoction.