New Delhi: Additional 1,000 beds, special helpline for dengue, chikungunya

New Delhi : With four deaths each from dengue and chikungunya reported so far and hundreds infected, the Delhi government announced an additional 1,000 beds for fever patients and a helpline number to provide information to people.

The beds will be provided in the three nodal hospitals for vector-borne diseases Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital. It also announced a Control Room with a helpline number 011-22307145.

Urging the people to not panic due to the rising cases of dengue and chikungunya, Delhi government's Health Department said that it is fully prepared to deal with vector borne diseases.

"The government has established dedicated Fever Clinics in its 26 hospitals (functional 24 hours), 262 Delhi government dispensaries (functional from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and 106 Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (functional from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to cater to fever patients," said an official statement.

According to the Delhi government, the treatment, lab diagnosis of dengue and chikungunya, are available free of cost in all Delhi government health institutions.

According official data, the number of the dengue, chikungunya and malaria infections stands at 1,158, 1,057 and 21 respectively till September 10 in the national capital.

Delhi has so far witnessed four deaths due to the complications arising from chikungunya. Three patients died at Ganga Ram Hospital on Monday.

AIIMS has also witnessed six deaths, including one by chikungunya, since September 1, 2016.

The Delhi government has said that private hospitals and nursing homes can increase their bed capacity.

The government has deployed manpower to fever clinics and emergencies and also ensured that hospitals provide drinking water with ORS in all the hospital OPDs.

"The Government has also set the ceiling price for dengue testing kits (NS1-Ag and MAC ELISA), chikungunya (IgM ELISA) at Rs 600. RT-PCR test for chikungunya at RS 1,500, and platelets test at Rs 50 has been fixed for private laboratories and hospitals to reduce the economic burden on the community," said the statement.

"All Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSHs) have been directed to designate Nodal officer for dengue and send updated contact details to DGHS. All Nodal officers have been sensitized regarding dengue treatment and preparedness plan," said the statement.

It said that a dengue Task Force has been constituted with experts of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), MCD and Delhi Government to assess the dengue situation.