RANCHI: The epidemic situation in north Bihar is not as alarming or serious as a section of the Press would make it, said Mr. Y.A. Godbole, Adviser to the Governor in an interview to the Press yesterday evening [Aug 19]. He added that the Government of Bihar were in communication with the army authorities for the loan of a number of doctors to work in the epidemic [affected] areas while they were also prepared to take as many civilian doctors as would offer their services. The Government had already appointed a large number of matriculates to work as inoculators.

Referring to the malaria epidemic, he said that the Government has sufficient quantities of quinine and quinine substitutes at their disposal and these drugs were being distributed to the people through village headmen and other respectable villagers. The free supply of these drugs had also been increased for district boards and dispensaries.

As regards the danger of floods, the Adviser said that the sub-divisional officers of the Public Works Department had adequate means to deal with all eventual items and a sufficient number of boats had been placed at the disposal of these officers. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014