Guj govt slammed over high Swinfe Flu death toll in state

The Gujarat government came in for criticism today for the high Swine Flu death toll with the Global Hygiene Council saying the state lacked proper health infrastructure, a day after the High Court expressed its dissatisfaction on the overall health facilities.
"Inspite of being touted as 'progressive and developed', Gujarat has witnessed higher number of deaths due to Swine Flu and this is not a good scenario," said Dr Narendra Saini, India Representative of a group of leading health and hygiene experts from around the world at a media interaction here.
According to Saini, 834 cases of Swine Flu have been registered in Delhi whereas in Gujarat there are 816, Rajasthan has 564 and Haryana has 305 cases during this season.

"But compared to Delhi, which reported only 16 deaths of Swine Flu, in Gujarat this number is 158," he said.
"Lack of awareness and also lack of enough facilities like isolation wards, ventilators are likely to be responsible for the high death toll in Swine Flu cases in Gujarat," he added.
Saini said though globally swine flu has reached the post-pandemic level, India has witnessed a rise in swine flu (H1N1) cases and Gujarat is among the few states in the country where number of Swine Flu cases are "significantly rising.

Justice Anant Dave of the Gujarat High Court while reacting to a report submitted by State health commissioner, yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the overall situation regarding health facilities and infrastructure against the backdrop of rise in Flu cases.

"On paper it seems everything is perfect, but it clearly shows that there is a lack of proper health facilities and infrastructure in the rural areas and more particularly in tribal areas," he observed after the state government submitted a report on steps it has taken to contain the spread of the viral disease.
"In nine tribal areas there are very less health infrastructure facilities. Are they not part of the state," Justice Dave had observed.
During the last hearing, on March 26, the court had sought an explanation from the state government on why, inspite of such a rise in swine flu cases, it has still not shown seriousness by declaring it as an epidemic.