Corporation officials and workers in Zone 13 are taking the fight to the enemy’s camp. In this case, the enemy is mosquitoes. While Corporation staff across the city routinely call on residents to inspect their premises for anything that could encourage breeding of mosquitoes, the campaign appears to be intense in Zone 13.
Residents say the staff make regular visits to prevent water stagnation, one of the factors in any outbreak of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, chikungunya and dengue. The workers look for discarded plastic cups, covers, bottles, tyres, coconut shells and any other thing where water can stagnate.
They reportedly want to complete the campaign before the north-east monsoon arrives.
“We carry out this drive every year. But this year, the operation is intense. Apart from the streets, we visit each and every house and commercial establishment in the neighbourhoods that fall under Zone 13,”says an official of the Corporation. As many as 120 to 150 workers are employed for the operation.
“ Even a little amount of stagnant water is enough for mosquitoes to breed. The parasite that causes denguecan breed on the surface of water containers. With the help of a little moisture, they can survive,” says a Corporation official even as he directs a worker to remove a water bottle with a little water in it.
They have also been visiting slums and telling residents why they should keep their surroundings dry.
“In Thideer Nagar, a number of tyres could be found lying on the roofs. These houses collect water in buckets and save it for a long time which is not advisable. We insist they have their containers closed. Before refilling, it should be washed and dried,” he adds.
As part of the preparedness drive, workers have been removing hyacinths in Adyar estuary and de-silting the river mouth.
Besides, the Corporation is also conducting health education sessions for school students. It also has plans to convene meetings with school principals and residents’ welfare associations shortly. “We have informed the school authorities to report to the Corporation if students have contracted any vector-borne disease,” adds the official. The Corporation officials say breeding of the parasites could be prevented to a large extent if residents support our efforts..
