Govts negligence deepens diarrhea crisis

Tadepalli, Sep 13: Vijayawada Mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi expressed grave concern over the government’s irresponsible handling of the diarrhea outbreak that has gripped the city for the past four days, leaving 242 people receiving medical care.
She stated that the scale of the outbreak clearly reflects the government’s administrative failure. “Even after several days, officials have not identified the root cause of the spread, which exposes the inefficiency and negligence of the state machinery,” the Mayor said.
Mayor Bhagyalakshmi further highlighted that expired medicines from nearby health centers were distributed to patients, aggravating the situation. While ordinary shops were forcibly shut down, liquor outlets continued to remain open, a clear indication that the government prioritizes revenue from alcohol sales over the health and safety of its people.
She emphasized that the collapse of the Urban Primary Health Centers (UPHCs) in Vijayawada has contributed significantly to the worsening of the crisis. Victims and their families have repeatedly complained that emergency services such as 108 ambulances failed to respond despite multiple distress calls.
“The government has abandoned its basic responsibility towards citizens’ health. If this apathy continues, we will be compelled to fight on behalf of the victims until justice is served,” Mayor Bhagyalakshmi asserted.