Kolkata, Oct. 8 -- The state Health department is taking several steps in advance to control the spread of dengue during pujas. After a detailed review of the dengue situation in a meeting led by Health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, the department took several decisions.
A separate standard operating procedure (SoP) is being prepared for Puja organisers. Plans have been chalked out to carry out awareness campaigns at Metro Railway stations. According to statistics, dengue cases go up in the month of October-November. During Puja, the crowd in the mandap increases. In many cases, there is a possibility of water stagnation as temporary structures are built in and around the pandal premises.
However, all Puja organisers will have to follow the SoPs. The organisers must ensure that there is no water stagnation near the Puja pandals. The state Health department has also planned to conduct a campaign in the Kolkata Metro to make the people aware of dengue.
Borough I of KMC is being kept under special surveillance. According to Health department sources, the number of infected people in wards 2, 6, 7, 116 and 119 is comparatively high. It has been decided to conduct special surveillance and special drives in these areas to control dengue. From mosquito larvae control to door-to-door surveillance, additional activities will be conducted in several areas. According to sources, over 9,600 people across the state have been affected with dengue from January 1 to September 30 this year.
The dengue situation in Ward 29 of Howrah Municipal Corporation is also a matter of concern, sources said. To deal with the situation, it has been decided to conduct special surveillance and special drives in the ward. The Health department has also issued specific instructions to hospitals regarding the treatment of dengue patients. All hospitals have been asked to treat dengue patients according to the guidelines of the Health department.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.