Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120257330600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Special medical team sent to check spread of contagious diseases

Staff Reporter

In aid: U. Mathivanan, Dairy Development Minister, distributing assistance to the affected people at Venmani near Nagapattinam on Monday.

NAGAPATTINAM: A special medical team has been sent to the district to prevent the spread of contagious diseases in the wake of heavy rains over the past few days. The team of doctors has been sent from the Thanjavur Government Hospital.

The district administration has planned to organise special medical camps in flood-hit areas and provide medicines to the people to check the spread of diseases. The 17 doctors are in addition to the doctors already serving in 46 Primary Health Centres and 18 Government Hospitals.

An official press release said steps were being taken involving the veterinary doctors to ensure that diseases did not spread to the livestock in the flood-affected areas.

The district administration has appealed to the people to consume drinking water after boiling it.

Diary Development Minister U. Mathivanan on Monday distributed Rs. 2,000 cash and ten kg. of rice to the affected people of Venmani village in Kizvelur union.

District Collector M. Jayaraman was also present. Later Mr. Mathivanan said he and other officials visited Thevur, Sattaiyakudi, North Panaiyur, South Panaiyur, Mupathikottagam villages and monitored the relief operations.

The assistance to the affected people, as per the direction of the Chief Minister, would be distributed on a war footing.

Stagnated rain water had started receding in many parts of the district. However the distribution of food to the people who had been lodged in the special shelters would be continued till total normality returned.

The work of assessing the damage is on. About 7.5 tonnes of fodder was procured from the neighbouring Thanjavur district and distributed in various parts.

The Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise, J. Radhakrishnan inspected various parts of the district on Monday.

He inspected the affected areas in Atrangarai street in Thittacheri town panchayat and also the breach in Mudikondanaru river in Tirumarugal union. He also visited the Nadukkarai in Kattumavadi panchayat, Thundambanu in Siyathamangai panchayat, Nathanpadugai, Muthalaimeduthittu and Nallur villages on the bank of river Coleroon.

He directed the PWD officials to take steps on a war footing the close the breaches.