The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of dengue in the city. In collaboration with the state health department, the KMC plans to issue a set of directives to schools located in dengue-prone areas. These directives include advising students to wear protective uniforms to minimize the risk of mosquito bites.
Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh, who oversees the health department, revealed that the advisory would be sent out to all schools in the city by the end of the week. The KMC intends to instruct schools to regularly clean their campuses, including the roofs, to eliminate stagnant water and garbage. To ensure compliance, the KMC’s vector control team will conduct regular visits to identify and destroy mosquito breeding sites on school premises. Failure to adhere to the directive may result in steep fines.
Ghosh emphasized the vulnerability of students to dengue during the monsoon season, pointing out that many schools neglect proper sanitation measures. By adhering to a dress code that emphasizes coverage during peak dengue season, students can protect themselves from mosquito bites carrying the disease. School authorities are also required to notify the KMC about any students suffering from dengue or fever so that immediate sanitization measures can be taken.
Recently, Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh met with health department principal secretary N S Nigam to discuss further dengue-control measures. Ghosh highlighted the issue of garbage mounds and stagnant water at government-run hospitals, housing complexes, and offices. He requested cooperation from these institutions to collaborate with the KMC’s vector control wing in taking necessary action.
Ghosh admitted that dealing with effective vector control on vacant and abandoned plots across the city was a challenge. There are approximately 5,080 such plots, with many in areas like Behala, the Tollygunge-Jadavpur belt, and neighborhoods off the EM Bypass where dengue outbreaks have been reported. Mayor Firhad Hakim joined a KMC vector-control team to inspect two plots owned by central government agencies, Coal India and BSNL, in the Ultadanga-Kankurgachi area. The mayor criticized both agencies for the poor upkeep of their plots, warning that they could become breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
Additionally, Nigam has agreed to supply IgG test kits for dengue patients, which can determine whether an infected person had been previously infected as well. The results of these tests will help healthcare professionals determine the appropriate mode of treatment for patients.
The KMC’s efforts to combat dengue reflect its commitment to safeguarding public health in Kolkata. By raising awareness among students and ensuring proper sanitation measures, the city aims to reduce the incidence of dengue and protect its residents from this debilitating disease.
