Ahead of the impending dengue season, the Delhi government has decided to do a mapping of dengue-affected areas identified last year and launch an awareness campaign on prevention of the mosquito-borne disease in the capital.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said as cases of dengue mostly start emerging from June onwards, the government will focus on preventive measures so that mosquito breeding could be checked.
"We will engage people to prevent spread of the viral disease and for this, we will run a campaign on large scale in schools and other places," he told reporters here.
He said the government will focus on educating people about the prevention of the disease.
"If the government focuses on preventive measures this year we can be able to control dengue cases," he said.
The Minister also appealed to the people to do cleaning works at their houses every week and not allow storage of water in containers and plants for more than seven days.
As per the plan, the AAP government will strictly monitor works of domestic breeding checkers (DBC), hired by municipal corporations. DBC workers are involved in checking households for mosquito breeding which is essential to keep the cases of dengue under control.
Last year, with over 15,500 cases till mid-November, the dengue outbreak was reported to be the worst in the city since 1996 when 10,252 cases and 423 deaths were reported.
According to a municipal report, at least seven cases of dengue have been reported in the national capital this year, five of them in the first 10 days of April.
Jain further said the government will make sufficient
arrangements at mohalla clinics to treat dengue patients and fever cell will also be set up at these clinics.
The Delhi Health Corporation (DHC), which will be responsible for purchase of medicines, consumables, equipment, and providing other services across 36 hospitals run by the city government, was registered yesterday.
"Delhi Health Corporation registered today. A big step in health sector reforms,(sic)" Jain tweeted last night.
"After registration of DHC, government will not engage doctors in non-clinical works so that there will be no dearth of doctors in its hospitals," he said.
