JOIN USThe State government is willing to adopt a flood-hit town in Jammu and Kashmir and provide all necessary healthcare facilities, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, he said the Karnataka Health department officials have been in touch with their counterparts in Jammu and Kashmir and the Union health ministry.
The Karnataka government is ready to adopt a town, if the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government assign a specific place, he added.
The State government has decided to send 17 doctors to the affected regions in Jammu and Kashmir.
A team of five doctors has already left for that state to assist rehabilitation works. It is feared that epidemic diseases may spread in the aftermath of the floods, he added.
Khader said he has directed the Health and Urban Development officials to hold a meeting on Friday and chalk out an action plan to prevent epidemic diseases in cities and towns in Karnataka. Not only the government, but citizens too have to make efforts in this regard.
Hence, the department is planning to observe health day once a week and promote cleanliness. People will be educated on the need for maintaining cleanliness and asked to concentrate on keeping their houses and surrounding areas clean, he added.
Seats increased
The Minister said the Centre has given its nod to increase the number of homoeopathy seats in the State under the government quota to 100 from 40. The additional seats will be allotted to students through counselling, he added.