Task force to check spread of diseases

The City Corporation has formed a special task force in a bid to check the spread of infectious diseases.

The cell will function round-the-clock and comprise senior health officials of the civic body. The cell can be contacted at 99964 34517, 94964 34466 or 94964 34433.

Residents can seek the service of the cell in case of water logging in any area or to clean drains that fall under the civic body’s jurisdiction.

Mayor K. Chandrika told a press conference here on Monday that the Public Works Department, Kerala Water Authority, and the Irrigation Department (major and minor works) had not yet carried out cleaning activities they were entrusted with.

“The entire drainage network is interlinked and unless all departments complete such activities on a war footing, the rainwater will not drain away effectively,” she said.

In addition to such work, the task force may be called for fogging and spraying activities in the regions where dengue fever has been diagnosed.

Health workers will visit the spot and ensure that all possible vector-breeding sources are eradicated. In order to undertake this exercise more effectively, the civic body will on Tuesday convene a meeting of the representatives of private hospitals in the city to obtain data on the fever cases, including the areas from where they are reported, reaching these hospitals.

More fogging machines and medicines have been purchased. Inoculum will be sprayed on garbage heaps to hasten decomposition and to avoid stench. Residents’ associations are requested to inform the cell about garbage mounds in their locality. The Mayor warned that strict action, including prosecution, would be taken against those leaving their vacant grounds overgrown.

United Democratic Front leader in the council Johnson Joseph and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashok Kumar were present during the conference.

Transfer of official

Mr. Ashok Kumar said the government should revoke the order to transfer Corporation Health Officer D. Sreekumar to Thalassery municipality. He should be returned at least until the monsoon passed and the current emergency situation was dealt with, he said. Ms. Chandrika reiterated this and added that the Corporation ideally required more than just two health officers.

The Corporation officials will be carrying out a mass cleaning drive at Fort on Tuesday.