quot;Epidemic forecast centre soonquot;

SURAT, Aug 3: State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt announced here on Monday that an Epidemic Forecast Centre, the first of its kind in the c...

SURAT, Aug 3: State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt announced here on Monday that an Epidemic Forecast Centre, the first of its kind in the country, would be set up in Ahmedabad soon. The centre, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, will be inaugurated on October 2, he said.

Bhatt, who was here to attend a one-day seminar on Prevention of Malaria and Leptospirosis8217;, organised by the Preventive Social Medicine department of the New Civil hospital, said that a Rs 40-crore Malaria Control Project would also be set up in Surat.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said every year, approximately 1.70 lakh people of the state were affected by malaria and many succumbed to the disease. He said the government had taken up the issue with the British High Commission, which has already been working in the field.

The department for International Development, UK has already sanctioned a fund of Rs 40 crore for research in the field, Bhatt stated, adding research on malaria will be taken up at 126 villages of Surat district, and will include educating people about prevention of the disease.

Bhatt said the international agency had contributed Rs 12 crore for the Epidemic Forecast Centre to be set up in Ahmedabad.

Director S K Mahanty said a social development consultant from the UK, Chris Crosgrove, will help co-ordinate the project. Health Commissioner R M Patel, who was also present on the occasion, expressed satisfaction at the activities held in the region. Bhatt said the state government had sanctioned an additional Rs 45 lakh for research work on leptospirosis.

He reiterated the state government8217;s resolve to provide all assistance as far as aid for research and medication of leptospirosis was concerned.

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Dr Khadija Saifee, medical superintendent of the Surat New Civil hospital, Dr Vikasben Desai of the PSM department, collectors of Navsari and Surat, top district administration officials, among others were present for the seminar.