North DMC groups spar over dengue figures

Claims and counter claims were made over the unreported dengue deaths in the city on Wednesday by members of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North DMC)’s standing committee.

BJP officers blamed ‘over reporting’ as the main reason behind the uproar, while Congress leaders waved papers to prove ‘under-reporting’ of dengue cases. 

‘A government hospital has provided a death certificate clearly mentioning dengue as the cause of death for a 43 year old woman, Santosh, on 31 August in North DMC area. The death has not been counted in the report presented by the corporation,’ said Mukesh Goel,  Congress councillor while he waved a death certificate released by Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Rohini, dated 1 September.

On the other hand, Mayank Sharma, additional commissioner of North DMC, said: ‘Some hospitals have been found engaged in over reporting of cases. They report dengue without ELISA test, which is mandatory for dengue confirmation. The fast kit test shows positive even if dengue is not the reason of fever.’. The chairman of the standing committee Ram Kishan Singhal ordered an inquiry. 

Commissioner PK Gupta said, ‘We are trying to create awareness through students’ rally, handbills etc. Awareness campaigns on TV and newspapers are also being conducted, according to the responsibilities of the Delhi government’s health department.