Thaindian News

Kolkata, Aug 13 (IANS) The union health ministry will carry out 10-day medical camps across West Bengal to create awareness among people about the swine flu infection, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee said here Thursday.
“The swine flu detection camps would begin from Aug 16 and would be carried out across all districts of West Bengal. These camps would he held at various government hospitals,” Banerjee told the Bengali news channel Star Ananda over telephone.

“I have consulted with Union Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi and asked him to take initiative to facilitate hospitals with proper infrastructure so that they can tackle increasing swine flu cases,” she said.

“In fact, the manpower and health infrastructures are not sufficient at the Beliaghata ID Hospital. We have to provide treatment to patients whoever gets admitted to the state hospitals with swine flu, dengue and malaria symptoms,” she said.

“We should not isolate the swine flu affected patients. Rather we must build confidence and advise them not to panic.”

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the state rose to 18 Thursday.

Banerjee said health was a state government subject and it should also think to improve the existing manpower in all its hospitals.

“I think every healthcare unit should open an emergency ward in their respective premises for the treatment of swine flu-affected patients. I appeal to all medical practitioners of the state to come forward during this crisis time when these diseases (swine flu, dengue and malaria) are taking an endemic form.