Press Note Eng Dt: 21/02/2015 Swine Flu

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  Press Note                                                                  21^st February, 2015

 

• Swine flu is spreading in Gujarat because of criminal neglect of Gujarat government.
• Despite clear instructions of WHO that ambulances should be fumigated to check spread of swine flu, they are not fumigated.
• There is heavy shortage of doctors in Kutch to treat swine flu cases.
• In the swine flu affected Gujarat Government has aided its spread by organizing massive events like vibrant and marathon.
• 43 percent of the doctors of govt hospitals in Ahmedabad have been sent to medical colleges and so there is not adequate medical staff in Civil Hospital.
•  Districts do not have laboratories for RTCT tests.
• Govt records reveal that there are 2536 cases of swine flu in Gujarat and 186 deaths, though unofficial figure is much higher.
• Govt has not been vaccinating doctors who are treating swine flu patients.
• Kutch district badly affected by swine flu but its people are ignored by the govt.
• Right from speaker of the State Assembly to common man everyone is affected by swine flu.

            After meeting people and local leaders of the Kutch district, worst affected by swine flu, Congress MLA and national spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said in Bhuj that swine flu is spreading in Gujarat because of criminal neglect of Gujarat government. He said that Gujarat government was not following WHO guidelines in the case of swine flu and so the disease was taking heavy toll of people. Most of swine flu affected people are shifted to hospitals in 108 ambulances. WHO’s instructions say that such ambulances should be fumigated, but it is not done. Only Phenyl is used for cleaning the floor of the vehicle. Consequently swine flu is spreading, he said. Timely dose of temiflu can save lives of people. He said that PHCs and CHCs do not have doctors. As a result patients die without diagnosis and swine flu spreads to more people.

          Had government declared Gujarat swine flu affected at early stage, it would not have become such a serious threat. Events having large crowds should have been stopped but such programmes continue for publicity. Events like Rannotsav in Kutch, vibrant summit, kite festival and marathon led to spread of swine flu. In the past there were only nine cases of swine flu. The then chief minister had swine flu and so events of large crowd gathering were prohibited. This year the CM is not having swine flu and so there is no restriction on large scale gathering of people. This is not right, he said. Government records reveal that there are 2536 cases of swine flu in Gujarat and 186 deaths by February 20 this year. In kutch district in 50 days as many as 360 cases have been reported and 31 people died. Laboratory for test of swine flu has been started only after Congress pressed for it for a long time.

          People are forced to visit private hospitals as government hospitals are not taking care of patients. Private hospitals are fleecing people. Gohil demanded that government should adequately compensate the cost of treatment of poor and middle class patients. 43 percent of the doctors of govt hospitals in Ahmedabad have been sent to medical colleges and so there is not adequate medical staff in CivilHospital. These doctors are sent to medical colleges at the time of inspection of the colleges by MCI. As a result, the education of medical students and administration of hospitals both are affected. Government should recruit doctors on full time basis and not on 11 month contract on fixed salary, he demanded.

          Speaker of the Assembly Ganpat Vasava is down with swine flu. Right from speaker of the State Assembly to common man everyone is affected by indifference of the government regarding swine flu. Doctors and para medical staff is working under the threat of swine flu. Govt should arrange for their vaccination. Vaccines like Vaxigrip-Novartis, Influvac-Abbot and Aggripal s1 offer great security of up to 60 percent against swine flu. But government is not bothered and so people have to face problem of swine flu.

          Gujarat Chief Minister has expressed no concern for affected persons and has not visited AhmedabadCivilHospital which is very near to Gandhinagar. This shows insensitivity and irresponsibility of Gujarat government. Congress will take up this matter in the budget session of the Assembly starting on Monday, he said.

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