Malaria in Tripura :Expert team arriving on June 24

The central government is sending a four member expert medical team led by regional director (malaria), Satyajit Sen to study the outbreak of malaria epidemic in the state on June 24 said Badal Chowdhury, health minister of Tripura.Addressing a press conference here at secretariat today evening the minister the toll in the outbreak of malaria in state has risen to 28, among the dead 23 are children. He stated that around 1,700 people have fallen ill from malaria and fever in the tribal-dominated mountainous areas of Dhalai, Gomati and South Tripura districts.At least 50 health workers, including 26 ASHA (Accredited social health activists), 13 ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) and three MPW (Multi-Purpose Workers), have been either suspended or will face punitive action for negligence in work informed the health minister.He said that the minister along with medical experts and doctors visited the malaria-affected areas several times and personally supervised medical measures.A helicopter is on standby to ferry doctors, health staff and patients in an emergency.

Government leaving no stone unturned to fight Malaria :- To fight the malaria menace, 226 health camps have been held across the state. Governmmt is adopting all possible measures to ensure the availability of medicines and arrangement of adequate treatment. Apart from the pediatricians, team of specialists is providing all sorts of services to the affected people in Gandacherra and Chwamanu. A medical team comprising of two doctors and four nurses has already been sent to Chamanu while one pediatrician, one medicine specialist, fourteen nurse and three laboratory technicians have headed for Gandacherra. Moreover, a control room has also been opened at the office of health and family welfare to have a close watch on the entire scenario. The phone number is 0381- 231-5879 and it will operate between 10 am to 7 pm. Meanwhile, according to the directives of health and family welfare minister, state government will bear all the expenses relating to medicines, treatments and transportation expenses of the malaria victims. Adequate medicines and DDT have been sent to the entire state. The field workers are carrying on the tasks of collecting blood slides across the state. Three MPW workers have been temporarily terminated. Twenty five persons have lost their lives till now, due to the recent advent of Malaria in state. Health minister accompanied by other top health officials has today again visited the spots to examine the overall situations.