By NewsGram Staff Writer
New Delhi: Dengue, a viral infection, is transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes mosquito. Initial symptoms of this infection include fever and joint pain.
With the increase in dengue deaths around the city and lack of proper medical facilities in the government hospitals, the Delhi Government has finally come into action.
On Friday, the government decided to immediately add 795 hospital beds in the national capital by granting temporary registration to 48 new private hospitals and nursing homes for three months to tackle the increasing number of dengue cases.
An official statement quoted Health Minister Satyendar Jain as saying that the government was willing to take help from all quarters in dealing with the dengue situation in the national capital.
Working on the directions of the minister, the department of health issued an order which said: "The concerned hospital authority will have to ensure that only medically sick patients, and fever cases suspected of having dengue and its complications may be admitted to the hospital."
The hospital authorities have to ensure that they have adequate manpower, equipment and that other accessories are stocked and available to take care of admitted patients.
"The tariff of these temporary beds will be 50 percent less than the respective hospital's specified charges for the lowest category of economy category patients," the statement said.
The statement added that none of the hospitals granted temporary registration or conducted any OT and Labour Room procedures till they were inspected by the competent licensing authorities and were given regular clearance.
In the same direction, the Delhi government would also open 50 fever/dengue clinics from Monday to meet the high demands.
"Delhi Govt is going to open 50 speciality fever/dengue clinics from Monday. These will open from 7 am to 9 pm daily," Jain tweeted.
According to Delhi government officials, these fever/dengue clinics would be opened in dispensaries located across the city so that immediate medical aid could be provided to everyone.
"These fever/dengue clinics will be opened at the dispensaries of the Delhi government. Doctors will remain present at these clinics to treat patients suffering from fever in the respective area," a government official told IANS.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Aam Aadmi Party legislators at his residence on Friday evening and discussed the dengue situation.
He asked the legislators to keep their constituencies in check for the availability of medicines, test kits and cleanliness in hospitals.
"Talk to the people and ask them not to panic and keep calm. Tell them to have as much fluid as they can and make them aware about dengue. Keep a check on the availability of medicines and testing kits in the hospitals," he said.
On cases of refusal by hospitals, the chief minister said such incidents should be reported to the government, and stern action would be taken.
He also asked the legislators to talk to municipal officials and get fogging done in their areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who was also present in the meeting, told the legislators: "There is no dearth of fogging machines. Talk to the concerned people, keep chasing them and get the fogging done."
In addition, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the central government to fight the dengue menace together, setting aside the political rivalry.
"My request to the central government is: Can't we fight on these issues after two months? Let us fight dengue for now," Kejriwal said, commenting on the Lt Governor's latest memorandum to the officers, and adding that he has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi making the request.
The chief minister said that he had received "a memorandum from LG (Najeeb Jung), saying that he had issued instructions (received) from the central government".
In his letter addressed to the prime minister, Kejriwal said, "All the ministers and the employees of the government are working round the clock in fighting dengue…"
"…I request you with folded hands not to spread confusion amongst Delhi government employees by asking them not to follow elected government's order. Allow them to work together as a team," Kejriwal wrote in his letter.
Kejriwal's comments came a day after Lt Governor Jung sent a memorandum to all officers posted with the Delhi government, including officers of All India Services, heads of departments, and others.
"The government of India has taken note of the current constitutional position in Delhi and major instances of violation of the constitution, law and rules," the memorandum said.
It said that change in the pay structure of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service officers according to the government of India was "illegal and ab initio void".
The memorandum also added that if any officer complied with the "illegal" orders, disciplinary action and recovery of financial loss caused to the government would follow.
"The orders declared illegal by the government of India should not be complied with. Should any officer choose to do so, both disciplinary action for compliance of illegal orders, and recovery of financial loss caused to the government as a result of such action, would follow," it said.
Kejriwal's move to write to the prime minister drew sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said Kejriwal should shed the path of confrontation on administrative matters and work for the development of the city.
"Kejriwal's manifesto did not carry a starred line that the conditions of constitutional changes apply before delivery of promises. CM should stop fooling people of Delhi," Upadhyay said here at a press conference.
The BJP demanded the Delhi chief minister to stop resorting to rhetoric of confrontation statements which he had been doing for the last seven months and should concentrate on people's aspirations for development.
"Former Delhi CMs have run the government under the same administrative guidelines as they exist for Kejriwal but never has Delhi seen such confrontation. Despite constrains, they worked and brought development to the city," Upadhyay said.
Vijender Gupta, BJP leader and the Leader of Opposition in Delhi Vidhan Sabha, termed Kejriwal's letter to Modi as mischievous in nature and diversionist in intent. He asked Kejriwal not to play politics on such a serious issue of outbreak of dengue in Delhi.
(With inputs from IANS)