Bedi voices concern over dengue; CM says situation under

Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today made separate visits to a government hospital here and interacted with patients suffering from dengue fever.

While the chief minister asserted that the situation was under control, Bedi said there was 700 per cent increase in the incidence of dengue since last year and pitched for a 'war' against the fever.

They made the remarks after visiting the Indira Gandhi Government General hospital and Research Institute separately within a gap of a few hours and interacting with the patients and officials.

Bedi had yesterday expressed concern over the increase in incidence of dengue in the Union Territory.
 

Accompanied by Welfare Minister M Kandasamy, the chief minister also ascertained from authorities the scale of treatment available to the patients.

Narayanasamy later told reporters that patients from neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu formed a majority of in-patients at the facility.

He said dengue fever was under control in Puducherry.

The chief minister said necessary drugs and equipment were available at the hospital to treat patients admitted with complaint of fever.

Hours later, Bedi turned up at the hospital and interacted with the patients and enquired about the care available to them.

Talking to reporters, she said, "There is an urgent need to have a prevention plan to face the challenge in future... Next year we should not be caught unawares as we need to equip ourselves in advance."

The Lt Governor said the present outbreak of dengue in Puducherry was posing a challenge to policy-makers and medicos and added that there was a 700 per cent increase in the number of patients hit by the "dreadful and dangerous fever" during the last one year.

"We cannot leave the situation to chances and should wage a war against dengue," she said, asserting that private medical colleges should also be in action round the clock.

The Narayanasamy-led Congress government in Puducherry has been at loggerheads with the Lt Governor over a host of issues since she assumed the office last year.