After witnessing a steep rise in the cases of Dengue and Chikungunya at the city’s Hindpiri locality, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, besides conducting regular medical health camp in the infected areas, is adopting several steps to curb the rise of vector borne diseases. Ranchi Civil Surgeon, Dr. Vijay Bihari Prasad said that volunteers of different organizations have been roped in for spreading awareness among the public residing in infected areas.
“A team of volunteers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra will also start campaigning from Department’s side soon. Besides this, Sahiyas have been instructed to do door to door survey covering all houses of the infected areas. As per our report, 40 to 50 per cent larvae have been found inside the households in comparison to the open streets in Hindpiri locality,” said Dr. Prasad.
The Civil Surgeon further stated that the district health team for compliance of medical advisory would adopt all possible measures. Notably, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Nidhi Khare recently released a communiqué stating that all public places (offices and commercial setups) where stagnant water is found, the owners will have to pay a hefty penalty. “We are drafting a proposal regarding the same. If required additional work force will be constituted for source reduction of larvae breeding and to check stagnant water,” added the Civil Surgeon.
The medical bulletin released from the Civil Surgeon’s Office stated that till August 6, as many as 109 persons have been diagnosed with Chikungunya whereas 7 persons of Hindpiri locality have been diagnosed with Dengue. Further, five persons have been diagnosed with Chikungunya and Dengue. On Tuesday, 88 blood samples were collected and sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS). The patients were clinically examined at Millat Academy, Azad Nagar, Manthan Yuwa Sansthan and other localities.
Further, special cleanliness drive under the guidance of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) continued on the third day as well. RMC Officer (Health), Dr. Kiran Kumari said that drain cleaning work and spraying sterilizers is going on, covering the interior localities of wards 22 and 23. “Around 100 sanitation workers have been deputed in the infected areas. Five fogging machines have also been there into service. Workers have been told to devote ample time in cleaning the areas,” Dr. Kiran said.
Convener of lahu Bolega, Nadeem Khan who is assisting the health department team in organizing medical camps said that they are trying to organize more numbers of health camps in the other parts of the Capital City as well.
“As per our findings, symptoms of vector-borne diseases can be found in more areas here,” Khan said.