Khader further speaking on the service of 108 ambulances, said that the intention of the health ministry is to provide medical assistance to the people who are in need. Sometimes during emergencies poor people in rural areas cannot afford the ambulance services and do not get vehicle to bring their loved ones to the hospital, in this regard it is the duty of the health department to provide transport facilities to those who are in need. Our aim is to provide all the medical assistance to the poor and the needy people in the society. For any reason the ambulance services will not be stopped, he said.
He also said, “Earlier auditing was done by our own auditors but after I become the health minister I have hired a auditor and done the auditing which caused a delay of two months for the funds to be released for the ambulance staff. When the union leaders of the ambulance service came to us, we assured them of releasing the funds within two days. After knowing that the funds will be released, they went to the media and said that they will go on strike if they will not get the funds in two days. Their intention was to convey wrong information to the lower class employees, so that they would go on strike.
We found the union leaders roaming around in the Vidhana Soudha without going to work. When we asked them to report to work they went to the media with wrong information facilitating others to go on strike on January 24. We had released Rs 6.6 crore, While releasing the funds we have demanded the company to maintain a dress code for Ambulance drivers and that the ambulances should be well maintained. Government ambulances are not being maintained well whereas private ambulances are well maintained. 108 ambulance drivers have been reported to be misusing the vehicles. We have taken steps to monitor the ambulances. We will send a notification to the DC to take action against the Ambulance drivers if they create any problems. We have given responsibility to the DHO and DMO to monitor the activities of 108 Ambulance drivers, 80% of the ambulance drivers and nurses are working with integrity but 20% of the staff are creating unnecessary problems. We have instructed the DHO and DMO to take action against such persons.
Khader also said that there is fear of the Zika virus, which is known to spread through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of disease caused by the Zika virus are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). We have discussed about the Zika Virus with the WHO officials and the health department officials. In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. The outbreak in Brazil led to reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcome. When there is any contagious disease the world health organization is sending an alert. Earlier Dengu was not in India but it has reached Delhi now, so we have to take precautions about the Zika Virus especially pregnant women and mothers. The government is also taking measures to protect pregnant women from mosquito bites. We will distribute anti repellent oil free of cost so that they can save themselves from mosquito bites. The state government will take all the measures. So far we have not received any protocol from the WHO, how to test the virus.
Khader further said, “For the total development of the rural areas, people should elect the congress candidates in the ZP and TP elections”.
When asked about Yettinahole project will be a setback for congress in the ZP and TP elections, Khader said that if there is any set back in ZP and TP elections then it is for the BJP because when the BJP was in power the project was implemented. BJP has done the mistake and the Congress party is doing everything to settle the issue amicably.