BMC continues war against mosquitoes

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation continued its war against mosquitoes even as malaria claimed three more lives and dengue, which is also transmitted via mosquito bites, killed a man. HT reports

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation continued its war against mosquitoes even as malaria claimed three more lives and dengue, which is also transmitted via mosquito bites, killed a man.

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On Saturday, committees were set up in all nine civic wards in the western suburbs to ensure that builders keep constructions sites mosquito free.

“We have set up five member committees with the ward officer, the Medical Officer of Health, the Pest Control Officer, the executive Engineer of the Building Proposal Department and Engineer from the Building and Factory Department,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health).

She added that efforts had been intensified in the western suburbs due to the spate of construction activity in the region.

The committee will be responsible for ensuring that construction sites are kept in such a condition that does not promote breeding of mosquitoes.

While the BMC has taken responsibility for vector control wherever water has stagnated in the process of building, the onus of ensuring that there is no water accumulation elsewhere or collection of debris lies with the builder.

The committee will also keep a tab on the number of cases of malaria in different pockets of the ward and ensure that adequate vector control activity is done where it is most needed.

The team will also have to ensure that the builder keeps a doctor on site to check on fever cases.

The BMC claimed that malaria menace have reached a plateau. According to official figures, while 629 malaria patients were admitted to civic hospitals on Friday, the number dropped to 504 on Saturday.

“There seems to be a slight decline. We will continue to monitor the number of malaria cases and deaths across the city to map trends,” said Mhaiskar.

She added that they also would take data from private hospitals into account, as many patients don't go to public hospitals for treatment.

The state government has asked private hospitals to set up evening Out Patient Departments (OPDs) so that people with fever can get prompt treatment.

In Mumbai, Gurunanak, Sushrusha, Somaya, BPT and BSES hospitals will set up evening OPDs. Municipal Commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya visited Nair Hospital on Saturday and asked doctors to ensure that hygiene is maintained.