Arvind Kejriwal visits 2 Delhi hospitals to check dengue preparedness

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets a patient at Rajiv Gandhi hospital in New Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused municipal corporations of 'siphoning off funds' while inspecting two East Delhi hospitals to take stock of dengue preparedness at a time more than 2,000 people are in the grip of the vector-borne disease in the city.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets a patient at Rajiv Gandhi hospital in New Delhi. Pic/ANI

Kejriwal made rounds of Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital. He opened 200 beds at the latter as part of the government's recent move to add 1,000 similar units by Sunday. "We are launching 200 beds at Rajiv Gandhi hospital today. For now, doctors and nurses from GTB Hospital will work here," Kejriwal said.

The Chief Minister, who interacted with patients, doctors and hospital staff during his visits, also lashed out at the BJP-ruled civic bodies for their alleged financial misappropriation. "Whatever amount you give them, they siphon off each and every penny. More than work, money is paramount for them. They are not satisfied no matter how much you give them," he told reporters responding to allegations that the government had not released enough funds to the corporations.

Kejriwal claimed that in the current financial year the government has released more money to the MCDs than last year. "How much money do they need to spray medicine? Why don't they deploy 10,000 men who are only for this purpose?" Kejriwal said that he is writing to all the opposition parties seeking their suggestions and active participation "in our efforts on dengue leaving politics aside."

"Meeting doctors and patients. All hospital staff and doctors working very hard (sic)," he said on Twitter.

With the death of 17-year-old Rishabh, a resident of New Seemapuri, the dengue toll has risen to 17 in the capital today. Health Minister Satyendra Jain, who accompanied Kejriwal during the visits, had recently directed that the new beds be urgently bought to accommodate dengue patients at government hospitals.

A 200-bed facility at Deep Chand Bandhu hospital at Ashok Vihar was opened for dengue patients yesterday. Another 200 beds would be set up by Sunday at a hospital in Janakpuri.