THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Opposition Congress-led UDF demanded that Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan takeover the health portfolio from K K Shailaja because of the failure in containing the spread of fever and other contagious diseases. The Opposition also staged a walkout from the Assembly on Thursday after Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan denied permission for an adjournment motion on the outbreak of diseases. Congress MLA and former Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who gave notice for the adjournment motion, demanded the removal of Shailaja.
“The government miserably failed in containing the spread of fever. The minister’s statement that it was due to climate changes was absurd as no alarming situation prevailed in neighbouring states. At least till the situation is brought under control, the Chief Minister should take over the health portfolio,” he said. The opposition made a similar demand in the assembly the other day while presenting an adjournment motion notice alleging a muddle in medical college admissions. Replying to the adjournment motion notice on Thursday, the health minister said that the spread of fever and other diseases could be contained due to the effective measures initiated by the government.
The minister also said that four cases of Cholera were reported in the state and the victims were migrant workers but its spread could be effectively contained. Shailaja also said that the government was initiating development activities costing Rs 3,000 crore at medical colleges in the state. All primary health centres were also being upgraded by deploying more doctors and introducing laboratory and observation facilities. There would be a drastic change in the state’s healthcare sector in the coming years, she said. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that many deaths due to fever were due to improper treatment. He said that a delay in initiating preventive measures ahead of monsoon led to the outbreak of fever and other contagious diseases.
