Malaria Hits Girijans: Govt Blamed

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday blamed the state government for not attending to Girijans in the Agency Areas of Adilabad and Visakhapatnam districts, where the killer disease malaria was taking its toll.

"They are helpless, and yet, the government, particularly the Health Department, has been ineffective in protecting the lives of innocent Girijans," CPM MLA Julakanti Rangareddy and former Rajya Sabha Member Madhu told media persons at the Secretariat on Monday.

The CPM leaders made a representation to Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy, taking the government to task for the poor maintenance of the Public Health Centres.

They alleged that there were no hospitals, no doctors, no staff and no drugs available to be supplied to the patients.

"Out of every 5 persons examined, one was found to be suffering from malaria, in the Agency area of Paderu of Visakhapatnam district," the 2 leaders revealed.

They added that malaria was spreading in the Agency Areas, and that no preventive measures had been taken so far.

"There is no government," Ranga Reddy said.

He also came down heavily on the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government for letting the political instability play havoc with the lives of the poor in the Agency Areas.

Both the leaders urged the Health Minister to come to the rescue of the Girijans, and said that their party would organize medical camps in the Agency Areas shortly for attending to the patients of malaria and to take preventive steps. (INN)