As the national capital continues to battle spiralling cases of dengue and chikungunya, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today launched 12 mobile fever clinics which will offer free treatment and medicine to people.
"Each mobile clinic carries necessary supplies like paracetamol and other medicines used for fever. Besides, a team of a doctor and a nurse will travel in those vehicles," Leader of House in SDMC, Subhash Arya told PTI.
SDMC has four zones, Central, South, West and Najafgarh. Three medium-sized vans will cover each region.
"In view of the rising cases of dengue, chikungunya and viral fever, we realised it is important to reach out to people and take medical help to their doorsteps. Treatment and medicines will be offered free of cost," SDMC leader Ashish Sood said.
"These will run till the end of dengue season. We may think of making those permanent," he said.
The rising number of dengue and chikungunya cases has resulted in a slanging match between the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations and the AAP government in Delhi.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had last week alleged that the MCDs are "doing nothing" for either combating the vector-borne diseases or cleaning up the city.
According to a municipal report released today, 560 cases of chikungunya have been reported in the national capital till September 3. Safdarjung Hospital alone had reported nearly 250 cases till August 29.
During the same period, at least 771 dengue cases were reported, marking a rise of nearly 60 per cent over the count last week, while nine people died of this disease in the city.
Jain has said hospitals run by the Delhi government are fully prepared to tackle the menace of chikungunya and dengue.
"We have 10,000 beds and the number of fever clinics has been increased from 55 last year to 355. People should not panic," he said.
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