Health teams impose fine on residents

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 18

Officials of the Health Department today conducted raids at houses and offices, and imposed fine on people as dengue larvae was found breeding on their premises.

Health teams, along with teams of the Municipal Corporation Bathinda, checked coolers and containers where water was found lying stagnant.

Health officials claimed that they conducted raids at the District Administrative Complex a few days ago, found larvae of dengue there.

With dengue larvae being traced again this year at various spots, especially after rains, the Health Department has become attentive to counter the disease.

Already, the department has initiated a door-to-door awareness campaign and has started cultivating the gambusia fish that eats up the larva of dengue mosquito and other mosquitoes.

Two blocks of fish hatchery carrying gambusia fish have been constructed near the Civil Hospital.

To counter vector-borne diseases, the fish are left into ponds and places where water remains stagnant.

The authorities are conducting the door-to-door campaign in all blocks of the district, including Goniana, Rama, Rampura Phul, Talwandi Sabo, Maur, Sangat, Nathana, Bhucho and Bathinda (Urban).

They claim of having covered all 50 wards of the city under its awareness campaign.

Every Friday is observed as a ‘Dry-Day’ by the health authorities in Bathinda. On that day, the focus is on spreading awareness among the public regarding hygienic surroundings.

Authorities also try to make people aware of keeping coolers and refrigerators clean.

In June last year, dengue had spread its wings in Goniana town while later it spread across the district, leaving highest number of dengue cases reported from Bathinda.

Above 2,017 cases were reported positive while half a dozen deaths were also reported but the Health Department feigns ignorance over any death.

Epidemiologist Dr Rajpal Singh said, “We have imposed fines on about 12 persons at the district complex and in residential areas of the district while many others, including some institutions like Bathinda Press Club, were left after being given a warning.”

“Our motive is only to create awareness among the masses and not imposing fines, but when people ignore the warnings, we impose fines. We have already covered more than 60,000 houses in all nine blocks in the district, besides the 50 wards in the city in our door-to-door awareness campaign. More than 25 suspected cases have been reported till date, but not a single patient has been reported positive,” he said. “We are making people aware by keeping their surroundings clean and observing one day in a week as Dry Day,” Dr Rajpal Singh added. The Health Department, impose fine up to Rs 500 in case dengue larvae is found.