Dharmendra writes to Naveen over Dengue Menace in Salia Sahi

Insight Bureau: Union P&NG and SD&E Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has taken note of dengue menace in Salia Sahi in Bhubaneswar, which reportedly killed 5 people recently, seeking immediate intervention of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik on this issue.

Based on a petition submitted to him by Salia Sahi Anchalik Committee, Bhubaneswar, the Union Minister wrote a letter to Odisha CM, saying more than a lakh people residing in the slum, are threatened by the deadly dengue outbreak due to lack of adequate provisions of sanitation, drainage and sewer lines.

“Owing to these deficiencies, the dengue fever has already taken the shape of an epidemic in Salia Sahi. Presently, 500 resident from Salia Sahi basti are affected by dengue and unfortunately 5 of them have lost their lives,” read the letter.

Dharmendra Pradhan further sought to draw attention of CM Naveen Patnaik to the fact that facilities at Capital Hospital and other hospitals in Bhubaneswar appear to be inadequate to cater to the demand of huge number of dengue patients. He also added that patients from the Salia Sahi and other such pockets are being forced to go to private hospitals which are way beyond their economic reach. He requested the State Govt to take immediate measures to bolster the capabilities in the hospitals to deal with the situation.

“As you are aware, the lack of preventive measures and palliative care is the prime cause of loss of lives of people affected by dengue, I request you to ensure that awareness campaigns are launched to prevent this menace and undertake measures such as fogging and cleaning of the sewerage lines are taken on a war footing to prevent any further loss of lives”, concludes Dharmendra Pradhan.