New Delhi, September 3
Following 6,978 dengue cases and 24 deaths across the country this year, the government today admitted the country was facing an epidemic situation but said there was no cause for panic as a concerted effort was on to prevent the spread of the disease.
In the Capital alone, over 1,014 cases and three deaths have been reported ahead of next month’s Commonwealth Games, forcing the government to appeal to the people to cover fresh water storage sources (dengue mosquito breeds in fresh water) at home and maintain civic consciousness.
“Every night before going to sleep, I also empty all uncovered vessels, including the ones our dogs use. Each one of us must ensure there’s no breeding ground for the mosquito in our homes,” Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said after chairing a two-hour meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Cantonment Board and Railway Board, which have been given the responsibility of keeping Delhi infection-free ahead of the Games.
The meeting came in the wake of Australia and
Malaysia issuing dengue advisories to their citizens travelling to Delhi. At the end of the meeting, Azad admitted there had been a lack of coordinated effort by public health agencies, which have now been told to work together.
A decision has been taken to launch a drive from Monday to clean up Delhi’s unattended bylanes, distribute disinfectant Tamifos to houses through resident welfare associations and clean up hospitals after dengue outbreak in AIIMS. Interestingly, the MCD has been told to even institute a reward for the cleanest ward in Delhi, while the Central Public Works Department has been assigned the mammoth task of surveying uncovered water tanks across Delhi’s multi-storeyed government and private buildings.
“We are told there are hundreds of such buildings. To our surprise, entry to their terraces is barred, which means the CPWD will have to physically look for uncovered tanks and cover them,” Azad said.
