With mosquito breeding being found in around 50 per cent more areas in Delhi as compared to last year, Delhi Health Minister A. K. Walia on Wednesday directed the civic agencies and public health institutions to ensure better inter-sectoral co-ordination and to gear up to combat the spread of dengue.
Dr. Walia said field-checks conducted by domestic breeder checkers during 2012 has detected mosquito breeding in more than 12,000 premises as against 7,653 premises in the corresponding period last year.
These field-checks were done by the Directorate of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme and the Public Health Departments of the local bodies.
The reports of the Directorate from February to June this year with regard to anti-larval cross checking have indicated an index of 15.0 at Dilshad Garden Metro Station in Shahdara South, 18.5 at J.J. Camp, Shahzada Bagh in Karol Bagh, 11.9 in JJ Camp in City Zone, 7.8 in Tijri, South Zone, 5.5 in Aaya Nagar, 5.1 at Nangal Raya in West Zone and 6.6 at EME, Delhi Cantonment, he said while pointing to the worst-affected areas.
Dr. Walia observed that the field checks had also revealed that there was a sharp increase in the breeding density index also.
The Minister said three cases of dengue have already been reported in Delhi while one from outside Delhi has also been detected during the current year. “Although the number of dengue cases reported so far is the same as those reported in this period last year, yet there is a strong need to remain vigilant in view of the growing incidence of mosquito breeding,” he said.
Calling upon citizens to join hands with the Government bodies in prevention of dengue, Dr. Walia urged all residents, RWA office bearers and heads of offices, institutions, hospitals, police stations, educational institutions and market federations to check their premises on a regular basis to prevent rain water stagnation.
He said there was a special need to keep an eye on coolers and waste containers and articles lying in open in which water can accumulate.
The Minister has directed the Railways authorities and South, North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations to ensure that intensive anti-larval and anti-mosquito spraying was undertaken on both sides of railway tracks and directed officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to ensure that breeding does not takes place in the drains under their jurisdiction.
The Deputy Health Officers of all the municipal bodies have also been told to ensure that all hyacinth was removed from the drains and water bodies within their jurisdiction. Officials have also been told to ensure that domestic breeders not only visit the premises but also physically check coolers and other places of breeding.
