New Delhi: The Delhi Government has decided
to start an ambitious plan of roping in school children and
educating them on how to contain dengue cases in the city.
As Delhi reported unusually highest number of dengue
cases last year with 6,259 people testing positive for
dengue fever, Delhi government is leaving no stone unturned to
check the menace this year.
The worries of the city government were further
compounded when the first dengue case was reported on March
three even before the commencement of summers.
"We have decided to involve children of all Delhi schools
this year in our fight against dengue. Children will check for
mosquito breeding in seven houses next to theirs.
"They will be given a report card which they will update
with details of work done by them in containing dengue cases
in their respective areas and they will submit the report card
with their schools," Delhi Health Minister AK Walia said.
"If mosquito breeding is located in any of the houses,
children will have to bring it to the notice of the house
owner and ask them to take appropriate measures," Walia said.
The move will be addition to the other measures including
the setting up of Domestic Breeding Checking (DBC) squads by
the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
"We considered involving children keeping in mind the
psyche of the people. Almost every house has a school going
child and people pay heed to what children have to say. Their
participation will at least keep mosquitoes at bay in their
own houses," Walia said.
The health ministry has asked all the civic bodies
including MCD, NDMC, PWD and CPWD to join hands and work
together towards controlling mosquito breeding.
An MCD official said, "Dengue is becoming an important
public health problem. The epidemiology of dengue is changing.
Countries that never had dengue fever cases reported their
first case this year. Dengue cases are being reported in
winter too."
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, April 06, 2011, 18:27