Sovan Chatterjee to launch dengue awareness rally today

Mayor Sovan Chatterjee will inaugurate a rally to create awareness against dengue on Saturday to mark the beginning of a year-long programme taken up by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).

This is for the first time when any civic body in the country has taken up measures to control the spread of dengue in the winter season.

In all the 144 wards under KMC, rallies will be taken out on Saturday under the leadership of the Councillors.

Besides civic employees, celebrities and people from all walks of life will take part in the rally which will start from KMC headquarters on SN Banerjee Road.

In the past one week, KMC carried out extensive campaign in the city requesting people to take part in Saturday’s programme.

Due to global warming, the seasons are fast changing and the mosquitoes are changing their breeding season and character.

To combat the situation, humans should urgently change themselves, said Atin Ghosh, member, Mayor in Council (Health).

“It is because of this we want to inform people about the dos and don’ts. Dengue is posing a serious threat throughout the globe and awareness is very important.”

It may be mentioned that work of KMC in combating dengue has been appreciated by the Union Health Ministry.

After coming to power in KMC in 2010, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee held a series of meeting with Ghosh and other senior officials of the health wing to find out ways and means to control malaria and dengue.

The city was divided into several zones. The high risk zones were identified.

It may be recalled that in the 1990s, vast areas in South Kolkata particularly Kalighat and Bhowanipore were badly hit.

A comprehensive plan was prepared and health offices were opened in every ward and rallies held to prevent spread of the disease.

Similarly, the KMC prepared a comprehensive plan to combat Dengue. 

Five Dengue detection centres have been set up.

The health workers are visiting every household requesting people to clean the containers where water is kept at least once a week.

They inspect the overhead tanks and underground reservoirs and sent notices to the owners where mosquito larva is found.

Drives were conducted in state-run hospitals and offices under the leadership of Atin Ghosh. Teams comprising health workers have been formed in the ward and borough levels.

“We have achieved success but we want to inform people and make them aware of  various measures that will help to prevent recurrence of the disease.”