BBMP's crores has no effect on dengue

Palike says stagnant water pools the cause for mosquito breeding and spread of disease

Dengue related cases over the past six months has shown a marginal increase as compared to the number of cases reported throughout the year 2009. The number of reported cases for the year from January to July is placed at 159, while through the year 2009 it was a total of 330 cases.  Even as fresh dengue cases are reported every day in the City, figures related to funds spent on controlling the spread of dengue and chickungunya cases raise questions as to where the money went.

In 2009 alone, BBMP spent Rs 4.69 crore rupees on controlling the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. A substantial increase of close to Rs 50 lakh a year.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Leader of the Opposition in the BBMP Council, M Nagaraj said the Health Department of BBMP has turned into a “unhealthy” department. “They are looting the Palike and the citizens. The crores of rupees spent over the past three years is proof enough to show this,” he said. In their defence, The BBMP health officials have blamed the increasing dengue cases on the intermittent rains that have subjected the citizens to repeated hardships.

“Added to this is the fact that the City is facing shortage of potable drinking water for their everyday consumption. As a result storage of water for over a week provides the mosquitoes a perfect breeding ground,” said Chief Health Officer, Dr L T Gayatri.

Newly-appointed BBMP commissioner Siddaiah on Thursday stated that the Palike had foreseen the problem and taken immediate action to control it. While awareness campaigns and health camps were conducted every year, why then was there a spurt in the number of dengue cases?

“There was no question of being ill prepared. The process is continuous and we are intensifying it in some places where there is an increase in number of dengue cases,” said Siddaiah.

According to the Palike health officials, 128 health checkup camps were held over the past three months. Further, extra staff and fogging equipment was provided in wards where health officers had sought it. But, none seem to have achieved their goal controlling the spread of dengue.

Now, in a bid to provide some relief, BBMP has once again gone back to the drawing board to come up  with awareness camps and providing more fogging in paces where there has been increased number of dengue cases, an exercise that has gone on the past three years.

Voluntary blood camps

Rise in dengue cases in the City has forced the BBMP to take serious note of the health scenario in Bangalore. At a meeting between the Palike Commissioner Siddaiah, Mayor S K Nataraj and Medical officers (MOH) of the BBMP on Thursday, it was decided to hold voluntary blood camps in all the 28 Assembly Constituencies of Bangalore.

Futile spending?

Year      Amount spent
2007     Rs 3.91 crore
2008     Rs 4.13 crore
2009     Rs 4.69 crore