Kerala: Health

In the clutches of fever

SHANAVAS. S | Issue Dated: August 5, 2011, New Delhi

Kerala is in the clutches of various types of fevers ranging from H1N1, dengue, viral fever, malaria, chikun gunya, leptospirosis, and Japanese encephalitis to the Congo fever. The total number of fever patients in the government hospitals has reached a staggering 26,53,245 so far. The actual figure will be higher as the present figure excludes the patients gone to private hospitals.

The new government has also stopped last government’s initiatives for controlling disease and the monitoring cell has fettered epidemic prevention-control mechanisms in the state. More than 100 people have died of H1N1, dengue, leptospirosis, and Japanese encephalitis. Confirmed cases of cholera, malaria, chikun gunya and typhoid have been reported from different parts of the state.

In 2007, the number of fever patients in the state was 35,63,585. In 2008, it dipped to 22,24,086 but rose again to 31,46,941 the next year. In 2010 the figure was 23,76,577 (Source: Integrated Disease Surveillance Project on Communicable and Non-communicable diseases, National Rural Health Mission). This year, the number is close to 30,00,000 so far.

State health minister Adoor Prakash said in the Assembly that the health department was taking various steps to tackle the situation and was making elaborate arrangements for sanitation in each and every ward of the state. But the health department is yet to take effective steps.

The situation is worsened by severe shortage of essential drugs and doctors in government hospitals. Cleaning and sanitation, solid waste management, mosquito eradication and awareness programmes are wanting. In brief, the situation is not under control despite the health minister claiming to that effect.

Poor sanitation, accumulation of solid waste on the streets and improper water storage breeding mosquitoes are the key reasons for the state’s present situation. “This situation has not arisen suddenly. This has been going on year after year with a new variety of flu or disease emerging every year.

So, we should have a permanent system— an epidemic cell— to control and monitor the infections. We should take essential precautionary measures before anything happens. An effective solid waste management can reduce the breeding of mosquitoes and fever cases. Good sanitation, mosquito eradication, waste management and good health routines are key to a healthy society,” says Indian Dr. Rajagopalan Nair, secretary, Kerala Medical Association. Meanwhile, if the situtaion remains the same, this year will see the number of fever cases touching a new high.

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