KMC plans to combat vector borne diseases

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in an attempt to fight the rise in the number of vector borne diseases of dengue and malaria in the city has devised an action plan for 2009-10.

Speaking at an awareness session organised by the Corporation, Alapan Bandopadhyay, commissioner of KMC, stated that it had adopted a four pronged approach of introducing new medical kits, technologies and practices; training, reorientation of in-house doctors, microscopists, staff, field workers; creating an awareness campaign and stronger co ordination to fight the diseases.

KMC would be introducing Rapid Diagnostic Kits (RDK) at its 106 malaria clinics in the city, along with introducing the artimisinine combination therapy (ACT) which was expected to be provided soon by the Directorate of National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, said Bandopadhyay.

Outdoor fogging would be immediately stopped even after repeated requests from residents because of its harmful impact, claimed Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, mayor of Kolkata. Indoor fogging would be done in and around dengue positive households. KMC would also develop a detailed module of training and re orinetation of in-house doctors, malaria microscopists and field staffs, as per the guidelines of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.