“To address the dengue problem this year we have decided to set up 300 dengue clinics in the Capital. Tests for dengue will be conducted at these clinics and primary treatment for the same will also be provided here,” Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said on Tuesday.
According to a civic body report, of the 39 dengue cases reported in the national Capital so far, 15 were reported in June, while 24 cases were reported in the first 10 days of July.
The vector-borne disease claimed at least 80 lives in 2015, a year that saw 15,867 cases of dengue.
Sources in the Delhi government said dengue clinics will work like the mohalla (area) clinics that are
aimed at providing good quality door-step medical facilities to people.
“These dengue clinics will be set up in various localities of the city and work on the lines of mohalla clinics. Nodal officers will be appointed for these clinics. The government might also pool private clinics in this move,” a source in the Delhi government said.
On Monday, Union Health Minister J P Nadda chaired a meeting with Jain and Mayors of Delhi’s all municipal corporations here to review the preparedness for prevention and control of dengue in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
In the meeting, Nadda assured all necessary help to the government in dealing with the situation. He said that 33 surveillance labs, and two apex labs with advanced diagnostic facilities were adequately equipped to undertake dengue tests.
It is important to note that as many as eight cases of dengue were reported in one week, up from three the week ending July 2, shows Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) data till July 9. This takes the total number of dengue cases to 39 in the NCR. Only 23 cases had been registered during the same period last year, when Delhi had witnessed its worst dengue outbreak, affecting more than 15,000 and killing 60. However, the number of cases rose suddenly by the middle of the month last year and a total of 36 cases were registered in July alone. Till now, 11 cases have been registered in July this year.
Health department officials have been on their toes this year as the weather department has predicted above average rainfall. Aedes Egypti breeds only in clear water, which remains stagnant for around seven days. The mosquito also breeds in clear water stored at homes in various containers, in coolers or bird-baths. To prevent this, the government officials have been asking people to observe a “dry day” once a week.
“People must drain out water from coolers, plastic containers, feng shui plants, bird baths, etc., scrub them and dry them. This will break the breeding cycle of the mosquito that takes around
eight to 10 days to mature from the larvae,” a government official said.