Dengue bite gets sharper
With dengue cases going out of control in districts and the threat looming large in Chennai, the civic body on Monday formed committees, which in coordination with several other departments will ensure that roads and neighbourhoods remain mosquitoe free.
According to official figures, over 25 patients have been admitted to various government hospitals with symptoms of dengue in the past three days. Apart from this, over 30 children have been admitted to the children’s hospital in Egmore with fever; doctors, however, are yet to confirm the number of dengue cases among them.
The city corporation and the public health department, which have faced flak for their failure to curb the incidence of dengue in Chennai, on Monday formed zonal-level coordination committees to control dengue. The zonal committees have sought the co-ordination of other government departments like Chennai Metro Water, Tamil Nadu Housing and Slum Clearance Board, Public Works Department and Electricity Board to control mosquito breeding across the city.
Explaining the role of 15 coordination committees, Dr C.N. Mahesavaran, deputy commissioner (Heath) said the civic body was moving towards a dengue free Chennai. So far only the civic body had been carrying out anti mosquito and dengue control measures but from now other government departments and stakeholders would be involved in the anti-dengue drive.
Restaurants, hotels and government buildings are under the scanner to identify mosquito breeding centres and members of self-help groups, residents’ welfare association andanganwadi workers will also be roped in to campaign against dengue, he said. As part of the health ambassador project, corporation school children are periodically trained to create awareness on preventing vector borne diseases. Over 3 lakh awareness cards and 300 CDs on dengue prevention have been circulated in the city to control the virus, the official added.
“The disease is spreading as people are travelling back and forth from the districts. Our main focus is source reduction in the areas that have been identified as hot spots in the state,” said a senior health official.
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