Public health officials in the city are going all out to prepare for potential health issues, as the northeast monsoon set in on Monday.
While surveillance of fever cases is being stepped up keeping the rains in mind, measures to strengthen mosquito control initiatives and take up house-to-house checks for mosquito breeding sites have also begun.
K. Kolandaswamy, director of public health and preventive medicine said that at present, the incidence of fever cases was not alarming.
“Thanks to the downpour, we now have some breathing room for about 10 days, as all mosquito breeding sites will have been washed away. We can step up our vigil during this period,” he said.
A round-the-clock control room is in place at the department and people can call 044- 24350496 to report fever cases in their locality, he added.
“Our medical team will immediately be dispatched to the locality. Our staff at the control room is also keeping track of the news to monitor fever and other diseases. The control room receives status reports every day from the 42 health unit divisions in the State. This apart, we get 30 to 40 calls from the public asking for health-related information,” he said.
Mr. Kolandaswamy said residents must do their best to get rid of mosquito breeding sites such as unused containers in and around the house.
According to health officials of the Chennai Corporation, medical teams have been formed in all 15 zones. “The Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet is prepared to handle cases. We have bought all the required drugs for monsoon-related illnesses and dispersed them to dispensaries. The drugs cost nearly Rs. 3 crore,” an official said.
The 17 lakh houses under the Corporation limits have been divided into 3,200 sectors, each consisting of about 500 houses, he said.
“Field workers will monitor the houses in these sectors every week for diseases and mosquito breeding spots. We have identified 45 hotspots in the city, based on previous experiences over the last few years. These include Tondiarpet, Thiruvanmiyur and Sowcarpet. House-to-house checks for mosquito breeding have also begun,” the official said.
Residents can call the Corporation helpline 1913 for any on information.
