Barasat Municipality conducts massive anti-dengue drive

Kolkata: Barasat Municipality has started a massive drive against dengue and other mosquitoes-borne diseases round the year as precautionary measures.

The Health department of the municipality has undertaken various campaigns to combat dengue and other mosquitoes-borne diseases. It is also organising awareness campaigns at various wards under its jurisdiction urging people to ensure there is no empty cups, broken furniture and other used materials kept on the their rooftop or in nearby areas.

A six-member team has already been formed by the Health department of the civic body to constantly monitor the drive.

Members of the conservancy team have been visiting houses and examining if the water is accumulated in the flower vases, tray of refrigerators, pots or empty cups inside or around the households. The conservancy team has also been instructed to carry out drive in under construction buildings that often become breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The health workers have been asked to visit individual houses and housing complexes to examine the overhead tanks and underground reservoirs. The owners of individual houses and the housing complexes are being asked to take up the issue immediately, if the reservoirs are not covered properly.

Champak Das, Chairman-in-Council (CIC) of the health department at Barasat Municipality said the anti-dengue drive was started from January and will continue throughout the year as a precautionary measure.

"Our conservancy team has been carrying out a survey for eight days in a month at each ward where people are urged to be vigilant so that water does not get accumulated in pots. The health workers are also examining the terraces of various houses, empty cups, refrigerators' trays during their visit to each household. We send the survey reports to the health department on a daily basis," Das said.

Anti-mosquitoe repellents have been sprayed through fogging machines. As many as 11 fogging machines have been procured by the municipality, Das said. He also mentioned that two health centers have been set up at Madhyabaluria and Badu, each having the facility of testing blood samples. Elisa tests are also being conducted at these health centers.

No dengue cases have so far been reported from Barasat due to prolonged campaign by the civic authorities. Leaflets are being distributed among people mentioning the Do's and Dont's to combat the disease.