Rampachodavaram, Aug 28th: East Godavari district collector, Mr. Gopala Krishna Dwevedi reviewed the health situation in the Agency and warned of stern action against doctors and health staff for lapses. He visited the agency on Friday and announced that special officers appointed to monitor the health condition of tribals in the wake of viral fevers reported earlier, at the mandal level were relieved and were asked to take care of their regular jobs.

He said that action was initiated against 16 doctors and health staff and added that some were served show cause notices while others, a recommendation was made to the director of health services to initiate action for being slack while discharging duties. He directed health authorities to keep a tab on the functioning of the teams in villages and also asked them to supply medicines. He said that the newly acquired 20,000 malaria testing kits should be dispatched to Accredited Social Health Activists working in remote villages to help check suspicious cases.

He asked health authorities to relieve doctors deputed to the agency after they served for a month and replace them with a new team of doctors. He instructed district medical and health officer, Dr. D Vijay Kumar to initiate action against those who failed to join duty.