4 GH staff suspended for poor upkeep of wards treating dengue, flu patients

Following a surprise inspection, the Health Minister questioned the authorities for the poor state of affairs in the hospital. The four suspended staff were supervisors Kathikeyan and Pradeep Kumar, and sanitary workers Mariammal and Lakshmi.

Further, the Minister ordered the formation of a special committee to manage the hospital affairs and maintain cleanliness in the special wards.

Vijaya Baskar said that only 2,900 persons were affected by dengue so far this year as against 24,000 persons last year. “Flu cases are declining due to preventive steps taken by the government. The flu can be kept under check by practising simple steps like washing hands after visiting crowded places,” he said. Local Administration Minister SP Velumani was also present during the inspection.

Meanwhile, two persons, an elderly man and a woman, died of flu in Coimbatore in the past 24 hours. Valarmathi (55), wife of Ponnusamy from Pushpa Nagar, died on Sunday afternoon after suffering from fever since two weeks. She was diagnosed with swine flu at a private hospital in Tirupur, following which, she was admitted in a private hospital in Coimbatore.

Similarly, Indirakumar (70) from Pollachi, who was undergoing treatment at CMCH over the last few days, succumbed to dengue on Saturday night.

Currently, 67 persons, including two persons for dengue and 17 for swine flu, are undergoing treatment at CMCH.