JOIN USGovt buildings under lens for mosquito breeding
Several government buildings have come under the scanner with the NDMC issuing notices to these for mosquito breeding on the premises.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has issued notices to New Maharashtra Sadan, Baroda House, Doordarshan Bhawan, Safdarjung Airport and the Delhi High Court after parts of these premises were found positive for mosquito breeding recently during inspections by the council.
The Ashok hotel was also sent a notice by the council for mosquitogenic conditions.
“The health department sent a notice to The Ashok hotel after the team found mosquito breeding on its premises. Other government buildings like the New Maharashtra Sadan, Shivaji Stadium, Delhi High Court, Baroda House have also been sent notices. If further breeding is found in these buildings, they will be issued challans,” said an inspector at the council health department.
After conducting a workshop with around 300 stakeholders like hospitals, state bhawans, Railways, CPWD, the council has now planned to invite representatives from over 100 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in its jurisdiction on July 2 to educate them on the precautionary measures of dengue and malaria.
“In addition to this, we are also holding meetings with at least four RWAs every Saturday where they will be educated through public lectures, pictorial representations on how to prevent mosquito breeding,” said Dr R N Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Public Health, NDMC.
In another effort, the council will send 50,000 messages every week to residents of NDMC area to sensitise them how early prevention can help bring down dengue fever cases. “Also, wherever our workers go, they are giving out booklets to residents,” said Dr Singh.
The NDMC is in the process of recruiting around 60 seasonal workers to step up dengue prevention measures in its areas. Currently, the council has 37 seasonal workers which is not adequate to cover all the areas.
The NDMC had issued 265 challans and 3,965 notices last year against hospitals and buildings for mosquito breeding. Last year, the capital saw a dengue outbreak with the municipal body recording 15,867 dengue cases and 60 deaths. The unofficial toll, however, was much higher, according to data collected from across hospitals.