Govt to monitor MCDs dengue steps

Plans to map areas which saw most cases of the disease last year

The Delhi government will keep tabs this year on measures taken by the BJP-run municipal corporations to prevent dengue. The city government will call at least 3-5 per cent of the households on the list of those visited by municipal workers – to verify if the visits actually took place.

Admitting there were gaps in monitoring the ground situation in dengue preparedness last year, the government said on Friday it will start with the preventive steps from this month itself this time.
Last year, Aam Aadmi Party-run Delhi government and municipal corporations kept blaming each other for the slack in dengue prevention measures in the city. The year 2015 saw the worst dengue outbreak since 1996.

“The government has already held three meetings with officials of the municipal corporation and with the Centre to coordinate well in dengue prevention. We will place sample calls to 3-5 per cent of the households on the list submitted by the corporations in their weekly reports,” said Health Minister Satyender Jain at a press conference.

This comes amidst repeated complaints from resident welfare associations that the civic bodies do not visit their houses to check mosquito breeding or to raise the awareness level of residents. The state government is now planning to map the areas which saw the most cases of dengue last year. “The areas which saw record number of cases include several places in north Delhi and east Delhi. These areas are being mapped this year,” said Jain.

The government has come up with a dedicated dengue control cell this year to curb the disease. “Last year, the preparations started late. We need more coordination at the ground level. Also, there will be more focus on educational activities this year. There will be more focus on areas which report the first dengue cases or which reported a high number of dengue cases last year,” said a Health Department official.

According to the data available with the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, at least 65 per cent of those infected with dengue last year were in the age group of 15-45, said the official. “Therefore, this year we are thinking of mobilising children through projects, homework on taking early preventive steps,” he added.

However, the government insisted that citizens’ cooperation is required so that the Capital can avoid a dengue outbreak.

“It is necessary that residents designate a day of the week in monitoring that there is no mosquito breeding in their premises. It cannot be left to the domestic breeding checkers alone,” said Jain.

Meanwhile, the city government has registered a Delhi Healthcare Corporation (DHC). This body will be responsible for purchasing medicines, consumables and equipment. The corporation will have a staff of around 100. The Central Procurement Agency which makes bulk purchase of medicines and equipment has been merged with the DHC.