Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
Government to crack down on fake chikungunya cures
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/12/stories/2006091206210600.htm
Tamil Nadu
Vani Doraiswamy
Minister cautions people
CHENNAI: Taking serious note of fake doctors promising quick fix cures for chikungunya, the State government has warned of "severe action" against such practitioners and cautioned the public against obtaining such treatment.
"Such complaints have been received from rural areas where awareness on chikungunya is low. The government will take serious note of such complaints and severe action will be initiated against any unrecognised practitioner claiming to cure chikungunya outside of government-approved treatment methods," Minister for Health and Family Welfare K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran told The Hindu .
"Vulnerable sections of the rural population tend to seek the services of unqualified service providers to get quick relief from joint pain due to chikungunya. Cures offered are either in the form of steroids or other `remedies' like donkey milk, none of which actually works. We have instructed the people to seek out only the round-the-clock facilities operated by the government in all public health centres," Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine P. Padmanabhan said.
Though 62,000 cases have been reported from all over the State till now, Namakkal, the chikungunya hotspot, is reporting fewer cases after the intensive Total Mosquito Eradication Programme carried out by government medical personnel and voluntary workers.
Namakkal alone accounted for more than 25 per cent of cases reported, while Erode, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Tuticorin accounted for 30 cases amongst themselves. The Namakkal model would be implemented throughout the State where aggressive source reduction of breeding spots by spraying larvicides once every six days had yielded positive results.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/12/stories/2006091206210600.htm
Tamil Nadu
Vani Doraiswamy
Minister cautions people
CHENNAI: Taking serious note of fake doctors promising quick fix cures for chikungunya, the State government has warned of "severe action" against such practitioners and cautioned the public against obtaining such treatment.
"Such complaints have been received from rural areas where awareness on chikungunya is low. The government will take serious note of such complaints and severe action will be initiated against any unrecognised practitioner claiming to cure chikungunya outside of government-approved treatment methods," Minister for Health and Family Welfare K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran told The Hindu .
"Vulnerable sections of the rural population tend to seek the services of unqualified service providers to get quick relief from joint pain due to chikungunya. Cures offered are either in the form of steroids or other `remedies' like donkey milk, none of which actually works. We have instructed the people to seek out only the round-the-clock facilities operated by the government in all public health centres," Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine P. Padmanabhan said.
Though 62,000 cases have been reported from all over the State till now, Namakkal, the chikungunya hotspot, is reporting fewer cases after the intensive Total Mosquito Eradication Programme carried out by government medical personnel and voluntary workers.
Namakkal alone accounted for more than 25 per cent of cases reported, while Erode, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Tuticorin accounted for 30 cases amongst themselves. The Namakkal model would be implemented throughout the State where aggressive source reduction of breeding spots by spraying larvicides once every six days had yielded positive results.