Dengue monitoring takes wing in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: The special squad meant to monitor dengue situation across the city today started its operation from Mancheswar Industrial Estate and Baramunda bus terminal area. The team, accompanied by cleaning staff of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), also seized used broken containers and tyres and asked the people to manage their wastes to prevent the larval growth of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito, which spreads dengue. 

Officials and staff of BMC North Zone sensitised the people of the area regarding the prevention of dengue as the Aedes aegypti loves to lay eggs in clear water found around human habitation in unused paper and plastic cups, thrown coconut shells and tyres. They also asked the community leaders to stop littering of garbage around habitations. It can be mentioned here that BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena on Tuesday had a discussion with officials of Health and Family Welfare Department and BMC to prevent dengue mosquito in Bhubaneswar.    

He has instructed health and sanitation officials to take preventive steps with use of its fogging machines, spraying of larvaecide oil in the drains and by biological control putting mosquito larvae eating fish (Gambusia affinis).    It was also decided that BMC will take up rigorous communication campaign for creating awareness on dengue through introduction of "Nidhi Budha" Ratha (tableau). BMC will reach to around one lakh household through various means of campaigning and communication tools including community meetings.   

Campaigning will focus on cleanliness of inside/individual residents’ area on dengue. Citizens will be urged for keeping their household and peripheral clean. Asha workers of Health and Family Welfare Department working under the BMC area will be engaged for prevention of dengue campaigning.   WARD SANITATION MONITORING:   Meanwhile, BMC Commissioner Dr. Krishan Kumar has instructed for the sanitation monitoring activity in all 67 wards, which will be done in phases. Today all deputy commissioners, all assistant engineers and assistant health officer (AHO) visited 10 wards during morning hour to ensure cleanliness.    

The officials also monitored street sweeping, drain cleaning, lifting of garbage, human resource management, effectiveness of door to door collection of household wastes and health safety measures.   The team will table its report to the authorities concerned and later basing on the inputs actions would be taken against the erring operators managing solid waste in the city.