THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala said on Sunday that the UDF MLAs have decided to go on a clean-up drive in their constituencies against the spurt in dengue, even as the government appealed the people to join its mass sanitation drive on a war footing. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Cliff House on Sunday morning and submitted a 11-point memorandum seeking the government support to control the fever. "The government as well as the health department has totally failed in curbing the fever related incidents. I have also asked the Chief Minister to take over the mantle of health minister as the present health minister has failed in her duties", said Chennithala to reporters after the meeting with CM.
Meanwhile chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government had already stepped up its sanitation drive with the support of local people, adding social hygiene was essential to keep diseases at bay. "Political party activists, representatives of local self government institutions and members of socio-cultural outfits and clubs should take part in the sanitation drive on war footing," he said in a statement. The Chief Minister said fever cases have reduced in those places where waste management and mosquito control measures have been implemented effectively.
He said the government had ensured enough stock of essential medicines and the service of doctors in all government hospitals. During their meet at Cliff House on Sunday, Ramesh Chennithala informed the chief minister that the Opposition was not interested in staging any protests on this issue and said that the priority will be given for cleaning activities and helping the patients.
"Self-governing bodies should be entrusted for sanitation drive. I will lead the sanitation drive in Haripad on Tuesday. Other UDF MLAs would also be engaging in cleaning drives in their respective constituencies," he said. According to Health Department sources here, as many as 103 people, including women and children, have succumbed to various types of fevers including H1N1, leptospirosis and dengue from January till date.
