New Delhi: Dengue scare has gripped the capital with two more patients dying of it and 613 fresh cases reported over the last one week, forcing the Delhi Government to cancel leave of doctors, open 'Fever Clinics' to treat those hit, and launch a 24X7 helpline to deal with the situation.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda reviewed the situation and directed the Delhi government to increase bed strength in its hospitals and check overcharging of patients by private hospitals. He said the number of beds in central government run hospitals in Delhi is being increased.
According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, five patients have so far succumbed to complications arising from the vector-borne disease.
As concerns mounted over rising dengue cases, the municipal corporation came out with fresh data saying 1,041 people tested positive for the disease between September 1 and 12, including 613 cases in the last one week.
The total number of cases between January 1 and September 12 now stands at 1,872, which is highest for the period in the last five years. Though MCD said five people have died of dengue this year, the figures given by various hospitals put the toll at nine.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held a meeting with top officials of Health Department and Rogi Kalyan Samitis which look after work of Delhi Government-run hospitals and issued direction to "do everything possible" to control the situation.
The Delhi Government has launched a round-the clock helpline-- 011-23307145-- to help dengue patients. Kejriwal said this helpline will provide all relevant information relating to treatment of dengue.
Officials said the Government has directed its hospitals to cancel leave of all doctors, nurses and para-medics in view of the situation.
The Chief Minister also asked the MLAs to visit the hospitals in their constituencies twice every day and ensure that proper treatment is offered to the patients.
After a meeting with chief district medical officers (CDMOs), regional health directors and top officials of his department, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain appealed to people not to panic and said government has made adequate arrangements to tackle the situation.
He said all Delhi government-run hospitals have been told to open 'Fever Clinics' to treat dengue patients.
Jain said suspected dengue patients should get themselves tested only in government hospitals as far as possible because it is free of cost and reports come within two hours.
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