Akshay Azad
Jammu, Oct 10: The Omar Abdullah led State Government especially the Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan is seemingly showing utter negligence towards spreading dengue epidemic in Jammu region as it has failed to appoint a full fledged officer on the post of State Malariologist.
Sources informed Early Times the preventive steps taken by Health Minister for the last few months, pointed towards the fact that agenda about possibility of Malaria spread in Jammu region was never into their active consideration. "Showing non-seriousness, the Minister never appointed a full fledged officer to the post of State Malariologist", sources said, adding that for the last many months, the charge of State Malariologist post was given to officers already holding other posts, except one month of September.
"The post of State Malariologist fell vacant on September 30, after retirement of Dr. Shobna. The post remained vacant for a few days (When Dengue outbreak was at its peak) and finally Dr. Gurjeet was given the charge of State Malariologist Jammu", sources said.
Castigating the approach of State Health Minister, sources said that Dr. Gurjeet has already been holding two posts including State Tuberculosis officer, Zonal Leprosy Officer and recently he has also given charge of State Malariologist.
"How a person, holding three posts can give due attention to Dengue outbreak in Jammu region?. It only points towards casual approach of Government towards Dengue outbreak in Jammu and Samba districts, which has already claimed three lives, while around 400 have been found positive", sources said.
They further said that earlier the post of State Malariologist was held by Dr. Shobna for only one month (September 2013). "Before, Shobna had assumed the charge of State Malariologist, the charge was given to Dr. BD Sharma", sources said.
"Dr BD Sharma was State Malariologist, but after he was elevated to the post of Director Health Services Jammu, the charge of State Malariologist post remained with him for around two months, since he attained superannuation", sources said.
Lambasting the approach of Government, an official said that with each passing day number of Dengue patients increases but no concrete efforts have been made by department and concerned Minister. "In spite of increasing toll, they have not spared an officer for holding the charge", he rued. |
