JOIN USThe health department will set up surveillance teams at Bangalore International Airport and Mangalore Airport to screen passengers arriving from the West Asia, where Mers Coronavirus has created panic, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Friday, he said that Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was first surfaced in Saudi Arabia.
“As per the advisory of the Central Government, the government will set up surveillance teams at the Bangalore International Airport and Mangalore Airport to conduct tests on passengers arriving from the West Asia. Ten beds in the district Wenlock hospital will be quarantined to treat the suspected patients. As there is no prescribed medicines for the disease, the patients will be treated, depending on the symptoms.”
The surveillance team at the Airport will have a doctor and nurse. The help from private hospitals will also be sought in screening the passengers. The Health department director has convened a meeting with the DK DHO, Mangalore Airport Director, Bangalore Airport Director and DHO on Friday and the teams are likely to be stationed from Saturday.
The medical personnel at the counter will give the passenger necessary instructions and Information, Education and Counselling (IEC). In case a passenger exhibits symptoms, the blood samples will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune.
Recently, it has been confirmed that Arabian camel is the origin of the infectious disease.
BJP flayed
Khader has criticised the BJP for sending an invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi, saying that, in the past when such initiatives were undertaken by Manmohan Singh’s government, he had to face a lot of criticism at the hands of the BJP.
“The BJP should not forget that Manmohan Singh was criticised for carrying forward the process of normalising the relations with the neighbouring country initiated by former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee. Whenever, the UPA government took an initiative to stabilise the relations, there were criticisms from the BJP.
As a result, the BJP does not have any moral ground to extend the invitation. The BJP should clarify the issue on extending invitation to the citizens of the country,” the Minister said.
AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi had tried to introduce transparency in the system. “We will not allow Janardhan Poojary to retire from politics. Under his leadership, we will work for organising the party,” he added.
Sea erosion
The Minister said that the government will spend Rs 249 crore for a protection wall along the coastline in Ullal and Kotepura region. Permanent measures will be taken up to check sea erosion. Out of Rs 249 crore, Rs 223 crore will be utilised for Kotepura, Hilariyanagara, Ullal wherein two brakewaters will be dismantled and two artificial reefs and four inshore berms will be erected near Ullal coast under the programme, not only to manage sea erosion, but also to address long term needs of coastal planning.
As Uchila, Someshwara and Talapady are also facing threat of sea erosion, Rs 26 crore will be utilised to take permanent measures. Minister for Ports, Inalnd Waters Baburao Chinchansoor will be visiting Mangalore on June 2 and the work will be initiated shortly in Ullal, he added.
2-wheeler ambulance
Two-wheeler ambulance service will be introduced in Bangalore. The two-wheeler ambulance will have oxygen kit and foldable stretcher. “We have asked the two-wheeler ambulance manufacturers to make provision for administering oxygen to patient during emergency. Without oxygen, the ambulance would serve no purpose,” Khader added.