GUWAHATI, April 29 � The State Government will launch a H1N1 flu vaccination drive on May 5 that will cover 32,000 doctors, nurses, paramedics and journalists especially those who cover health issues, in the first phase of the drive. This was announced by Health and GDD Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday.
Addressing media persons here, the Health Minister said that the vaccination drive which will be launched at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) will ensure the safety of all involved in the process of providing health care facilities to the affected.
Sarma also called upon the student community of the State not to get panicky by news appearing in a section of the media that seats in the medical colleges would be curtailed following a decision of the Medical Council of India (MCI).
Refuting the news as baseless, Sarma said no such decision has been taken by the MCI, rather the State Government was confident that the medical colleges would get additional 100 seats in the near future.
�We call upon the students to concentrate on their studies and not to panic by reading baseless news,� said Sarma, claiming that the infrastructure and facilities in the medical colleges of the State will increase the intake capacity of students.
On the other hand, Sarma referring to the artificial flooding in the capital city, said that the Rs 100-crore drainage project for the city has been sanctioned by the Centre but the fund was yet to be released.
It needs to be mentioned here that the gateway to the North East experienced the worst flooding this month with the pre-monsoon rains lashing across the city. Heavy siltation in the drains compounded the problem of flooding in the unplanned city. Sarma said that the PWD would clean the major drains this year at the estimated cost of Rs 7 crore.
On the other hand, Sarma who is also the government spokesperson made it clear that there would be no discussion on the issue of sovereignty with the ULFA.
