43 new cases reported; 36 receiving treatment at Civil Hospital Minna Zutshi Ludhiana, June 26 Even as diarrhoea cases are pouring in, the Health Department has shaken off its slumber to reel off statistics – a total of 851 houses were visited, 500 chlorine tablets, 85 ORS packets and 441 pamphlets were distributed and 43 group meetings were held. A communiqué from the Health Department has given these figures. Meanwhile, as many as 333 patients, by official records, are suffering from diarrhoea. Of these, 36 are still admitted to the Civil Hospital. According to the department, 43 new cases were reported today. A team from the state headquarters, Chandigarh, including Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, State Programme Officer, IDSP, Punjab, Chandigarh, visited the affected areas today. Yesterday Deputy Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Agrawal had called for immediate remedial measures to control the situation. He had ordered that daily reports be submitted to his office till the situation improved. District Epidemiologist Dr Ramesh Bhagat said efforts were on to control the situation. The Health Department personnel were organising special camps, meetings, door-to-door campaigns, apart from handling the distribution of chlorine tablets. More than dozens of teams are working actively in Giaspura area to control the situation, say the health officials. But does this absolve the Health Department of its responsibility? As a retired government official, requesting anonymity, puts it: “Why is it that the Health Department wakes up only after the problem escalates? Giaspura is a vulnerable area. Earlier also, cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea have been reported from the area. Why were adequate precautions not taken before the outbreak of the disease? How many awareness camps and drives were organised in the area prior to the outbreak of diarrhoea? Outbreak of such diseases is preventable if timely steps are taken. However, if the department swings into action only when hundreds of cases are reported, it reflects a sorry state of affairs.” Is anyone listening?

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