With the rise in dengue cases, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will be extending medical benefits to citizens from low-income groups who are suffering from the mosquito-borne viral infection.
Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun said those in need of platelets transfusion may apply for reimbursement from the civic body, and that the funds would come from the Mayor's Medical Fund.
“The facility was first extended around two years ago when the number of dengue cases spiked. It was discontinued thereafter. Now, with an increase in the number of cases, I discussed with the Commissioner and Chief Health Officer about offering the facility this year,” she said.
According to health officials in the BBMP, the facility was offered first in 2017-18 following a discussion about the spurt in the number of cases in the civic body's council meeting. The following year, the reimbursement facility was discontinued. “We did not get any cases for reimbursement,” the official said.
This year, since January to date, as many as 5,369 dengue cases have been reported. While the number of cases reported from January to June was just around 530, the number of cases rose alarmingly from July. By the first week of July, the number of cases had increased to 1,830; and by August 14, it was 5,006.
The BBMP had taken up an intensive door-to-door campaign in the worst-affected wards, besides an awareness drive on identification of breeding spots and source reduction.
