Kolkata, Sept. 1 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday directed the state Health department and doctors to report dengue cases and deaths transparently, assuring medical practitioners that they would face no administrative action for reporting genuine cases.
Adhikari held a review meeting on dengue and other vector-borne diseases. Chief Minister also said that 148 people are currently affected by dengue in the state. Compared to last year, dengue cases are 50 per cent lower. He also assured that the dengue drive will continue until November.
"This time last year, there were around 7,000 dengue cases. The figure this year was around 4,000. About 148 people have currently been affected by the disease. This year's figure is 50 per cent less than the previous year. In Nadia's Chakdah, many have been affected. In 12 wards under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), some people have been affected, he said. The Chief Minister also urged the family members of the affected people to remain cautious.
"I have issued some instructions in the meeting. We have adequate kits for dengue tests. If fever persists for more than two days, affected people should get dengue tests free of cost. There is no need to create much hue and cry. Everything was under control. Fogging machines will be used in limited areas with doctors' permission. The civic bodies will send mosquito nets in the slum areas," Adhikari said.
Attacking the Mamata Banerjee government, Adhikari said that during the previous government, the doctors were scared to mention dengue cases. CM also announced a cleanliness drive from September 3-5 in KMDA areas. The cleanliness drive will be carried out from 11 am to 6 pm on these days. Chief Minister also inspected the control room at Swasthya Bhawan.
Speaking to the media after holding the meeting at Swasthya Bhawan, CM said that in many civic bodies there are no administrators and the municipal chairmen in various places were not working properly. Some civic bodies were not delivering the civic services properly and development works were being hampered.
Earlier in the day, the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul said: "The rains are here, and this is the time when vector-borne diseases can increase. We are taking all possible steps, but public awareness and cooperation are equally important."
She also urged residents to regularly inspect rooftops, garages, gardens and other difficult-to-reach areas and remove stagnant water from unused flower pots, containers and other potential mosquito-breeding sites. Paul said inspections had been ordered at state government buildings under her department and Kolkata Municipal Corporation premises to prevent mosquito breeding.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.