State public health minister Dr Rajendra Shingane spoke about the rising number of swine flu cases in the state, and what measures the government has undertaken to prevent its spread.
State public health minister Dr Rajendra Shingane spoke to DNA about the rising number of swine flu cases in the state, and what measures the government has undertaken to prevent its spread
What precautions the health department is taking in wake of the outbreak of swine flu in Pune and surrounding cities?
I personally visited the hospitals in Pune on Tuesday and have taken stock of the situation. A counselling and awareness drive is being undertaken in colonies and wards. Health executives from the public health department and volunteers from Pune Municipal Corporation have been asked to personally monitor the situation in areas where the cases have been found. We are quite worried about the the disease spreading to neighbouring cities like Mumbai and Nashik. Our first aim is to control such spread.
What are the measures being taken in Mumbai?
Mumbai airports are well-equipped as far as scanning of people arriving from abroad and other cities is concerned. We are bringing the mechanism on par at airports in Pune and Nashik. Since Pune is an IT hub and Pune University has the highest number of foreign students in the state, special precautions are required. We have put the machinery in place for proper scanning at the entry points.
Do you think the public health department is prepared to handle the outbreak?
Yes, we are ready to take up the challenge. We have sufficient stock of Tamiflu, the tablets used to treat patients who test positive for swine flu. Our machinery is in place and precautionary measures are being undertaken.
What is being done at school and college level?
Our department has initiated a drive to bring awareness about the disease in schools and colleges. Managements of these institutions need to be guided about the precautions to be taken. I will be taking up the issue in the cabinet meeting scheduled on Wednesday. More decisions are expected to be taken at the meeting.
Patients have complaints against doctors...
We came across such complaints at Daund in Pune on Tuesday about doctors not being fully prepared. We are launching a training programme of two to three hours for doctors in hospitals where swine flu cases are being treated. These training programmes will be completed in the next couple of days.
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