NDMC directs hospitals to gear up ahead of dengue season

Government hospitals were today asked to ensure provisions of emergency beds, adequate supply of fluids and blood units and other treatment facilities to deal with vector-borne disease cases in the city.
Commissioner of North Delhi Municipal Corporation convened an inter-sectoral coordination committee meeting of the various departments concerned on prevention and control of vector- borne diseases in the city ahead of the monsoon.
All the stakeholders and different departments were explained in detail their roles in prevention and control of such diseases and NDMC Commissioner Praveen Gupta directed them to undertake appropriate measures to prevent stagnation of water and control of breeding sites, the NDMC said.

The meeting was attended by the civic body's Additional Commissioner (Health) and Municipal Health Officer (MHO), besides, representatives from the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and senior officials of other departments.
The municipal commissioner also directed the Department of Environment Management Service (DEMS) to ensure proper and timely solid waste management to avoid stagnation of water during the rainy season, the NDMC said in a statement.
Over 5,500 dengue cases and six deaths were registered in the national capital last year, according to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which compiles the vector-borne diseases report for the capital city.

The capital had witnessed a large number of dengue cases in 2010 with over 6,200 cases reported in the city. In 2009, 1,153 cases were registered, over 1,300 cases in 2008, and 1,131 cases in 2011 while 2,093 cases in 2012 and 5,574 cases last year.

The engineering departments of all the agencies were also instructed to make provision of lids and repair of overhead tanks in government office complexes and residential colonies maintained by them.
Gupta also directed the Horticulture Department for draining of water from fountains and ornamental waterfalls ponds and to keep them completely dry.
The Commissioner directed the Zonal Deputy Commissioners to conduct fortnightly meeting of Zonal Intersectoral Coordination Committee and appealed to the citizens to take proper measure to avoid stagnation of water in and around their residents.