Take steps to treat H1N1 patients, Khader to officials

District In-charge Minister U T Khader has directed the district health officer (DHO) to ensure sufficient stock of medicines to treat H1N1 patients at primary health centres and taluk hospitals in the district.

Chairing a meeting here, Khader said that the treatment for suspected H1N1 cases should begin immediately without waiting for the results of H1N1 tests.

Earlier, DHO Dr Ramakrishna Rao said that 56 persons had been tested positive for H1N1 in Dakshina Kannada district, including 43 in Mangaluru taluk, 7 in Bantwal, 2 in Puttur, and 4 in Belthangady. A total of 484 samples were tested for H1N1 in the district. Out of 56 cases, 46 patients have been cured and five are undergoing treatment, he explained. 

A Health Department official said that surveillance was conducted soon after H1N1 cases were tested positive in the district. The H1N1 cases are sporadic in the district.

The minister said the people should not panic. They should take precautionary measures to protect themselves from getting infected with the H1N1 disease, he added.

Khader also directed the district administration to take measures to set up a separate ward to treat H1N1 patients at Wenlock Hospital, to ensure that the infection does not spread to others.

Fever clinic

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said a fever clinic has been set up at Wenlock Hospital. If a patient with a fever visits the clinic, then he will be assessed for all kinds of fever, he said. 

Khader directed the DHO to take measures to install dialysis machines at Ullal, Uppinangady and Kadaba government hospitals.

The DHO informed the meeting that the Government Assurance Committee of the Karnataka Legislative Council will visit endosulfan victims daycare centres at Kokkada and Koila on November 14. The endosulfan victims have been demanding an increase the monthly honorarium, he said. 

The minister directed the district administration to write to the government on the issue. 

Under Nagarothana Phase 3 water supply works, a sum of Rs 530 lakh has been sanctioned to Ullal CMC. However, the estimated amount has been increased to 568.50 lakh. Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board chief engineer has proposed to construct 15 lakh-litre capacity overhead tank at Masthikatte at an estimated cost of Rs 180 lakh instead of constructing three separate overhead tanks at Masthikatte, Uliya and Muda layout.

To this, the DC asked the officials to get a technical feasibility study and then a go ahead with the proposal.

The Nagarothana project has also proposed to restore and construct new open wells at an estimated cost of Rs 63 lakh. Further, it has proposed an RO water purifier at an estimated cost of Rs 100 lakh.