Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appealed to officials to declare a war on mosquitoes with a slogan of keeping the surroundings clean to prevent deadly diseases. The Chief Minister released a book on incursion on mosquitoes and keeping surroundings clean, NTR child health care kit and woman master health card in Vijayawada on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister directed the officials to prepare an action plan to make Andhra Pradesh a mosquito-free state to protect people from diseases. He said a special awareness programme should be organised with one crore people, including students and women on Saturday, Septe-mber 24. He said a special book will be distributed on the ill-effects of mosquitoes and polluted surroundings which resulted in the spread of diseases.
The Chief Minister said that everyone should take a pledge to make the state mosquito-free on par with Sri Lanka. He said officials, students, and people should concentrate on cleaning the surroundings on fourth Saturday of every month. He said the programme would be implemented collectively with the participation of all sections of people. He said a team should be formed with 20 families to eradicate mosquitoes and surroundings kept clean by adopting the procedures of Japan and Singapore. He said that AP should be declared as the open defecation-free state by October 2.
Minister for health Kamineni Srinivas said NTR child protection kit would be distributed to women after deliveries at the government hospitals. He said a free master health check-up would be provided to women who complete 35 years of age. Chief secretary of medical and health Poonam Malakondaiah said an action plan was formulated to eradicate mosquito menace. She said the mega programme of incursion on mosquitoes will be organised on Saturday with students. Deputy Chief Ministers K.E. Krishna Murthy, Nimmakayala Chinna-rajappa, chief secretary S.P. Tucker, director general of police N. Sambasiva Rao and others were present.
