Kejriwal announces campaign against vector-borne diseases

Ten-week drive in city to begin from September 1

August 29, 2019 01:03 am | Updated 01:05 am IST - New Delhi

NEW DELHI 28/08/2019 :  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing a Press Conference alongwith Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain announcing the campaign for prevention of dengue and chikungunya from Sept 1, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI 28/08/2019 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing a Press Conference alongwith Health Minister Satyendra Kumar Jain announcing the campaign for prevention of dengue and chikungunya from Sept 1, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo Sandeep Saxena

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the launch of a mega 10-week campaign against dengue and chikungunya here on Wednesday.

Titled 10 Hafte, 10 Baje 10 minute Har Ravivar, Dengue Par War, the campaign will be launched from CM’s official residence on Sunday and continue for the next 10 consecutive weeks.

While making the announcement, the Chief Minister took the opportunity to appreciate the collective efforts of the government and the people of the Capital for “successful results” in containing and combating the vector-borne diseases during the last three years. He said that the city witnessed a “sharp decline” in the number of cases reported.

“We appeal to the people of Delhi to give 10 minutes every Sunday at 10 a.m. to check all sources of stagnant water at their homes as the dengue mosquitoes breed only in clean water,” the Chief Minister said.

“If we are not careful, mosquitoes lay eggs in clean stagnant water and within 8 -10 days they reproduce ...Every Sunday, we need to ensure that flower pots, coolers and other places are free of stagnant water by checking them, and if required please add preventives,” he said further.

As per government data, the number of dengue cases reported in the Capital steadily decreased from 15,867 in 2015 to 2,798 in 2018; 75 cases have been reported so far this year. Deaths due to dengue have come down from 60 in 2015 to four in 2018; no deaths have been reported so far this year. Chikungunya cases have come down from 7,760 cases in 2016 to 165 in 2018; 21 cases have been reported so far this year. The number of deaths due to dengue also reduced from 60 in 2015 to four in 2018 with no such deaths reported this year.

Similarly, according to the statistics, the number of chikungunya cases too had steadily decreased between 2016 and 2019 from 7,760 cases in 2016 to 165 cases in 2018. In the current year, 21 cases had been registered so far.

“I congratulate the people of Delhi and the medical fraternity for significantly controlling the outbreak... from 2015 to 2018. This year, we are planning to further reduce the number of dengue and chikungunya cases, gradually leading to a permanent solution,” the Chief Minister added.

BJP takes credit

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said that the data provided by Mr. Kejriwal was an “admission” of the fact that the BJP-ruled corporations had functioned well in controlling such diseases.

“The Chief Minister himself had admitted that no new cases of dengue and chikungunya have been detected in Delhi. It means that all the three Municipal Corporations are performing their duties in a better manner,” Mr. Tiwari argued.

“Cleaning of drains, prevention of waterlogging and the public awareness campaign, besides the hard labour of the sanitation workers have helped in prevention of dengue and chikungunya in Delhi,” Mr. Tiwari added.

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