Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with District Health Officers (DHOs) in Bangalore, Sriramulu said sufficient medicines will be stocked. The health department has also taken precautions to keep mosquito breeding in control. Extensive pest control measures will be taken up during monsoon. Fogging machines will be repaired and kept ready, he said.
Transport Minister R Ashok, who is also In-Charge of Bangalore urban district, said a meeting of BBMP officials and other agencies has been convened in Bangalore on May 23 to deal with rain related emergencies.
At the meeting, Sriramulu said he would speak to the Chief Minister to extend “Arogya Suvarna Suraksha” to entire state.
The scheme is being implemented on a pilot basis in Gulbarga division covering the districts of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Koppal and Bellary. The state government “Arogya Kavacha” health emergency response scheme had already saved 46,000 lives, the minister claimed. More ambulances will be purchased and pressed into service , he added.
Minister camps in office
The Bellary LS results seems to have woken up Health Minister Sriramulu. His sister J Shantha just managed to scrape through for a victory in Bellary. The Minister who hardly used to sit in his chambers in Vikasa Soudha but ran the administration from Bellary, made it a point to camp at his office from 11 am to 8 pm. Sriramulu and Bellary ministers - Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy have often come under criticism by the Opposition that they are hardly seen functioning in their official capacity.
The health minister, following suggestion from his officers, on Wednesday reviewed the performance of DHOs. His office said that minister conducted such marathon review meeting after a gap of nearly four months. He is scheduled to hold a meeting with district surgeons on Thursday.
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