Badly stung last year, health dept kicks off dengue awareness drive

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 29

In order to control dengue outbreak, the Health Department has kicked off an awareness drive “Friday Dryday” two months ahead of the schedule. 

Ironically, Patiala district was worst affected last year in the state with 2,334 cases of dengue reported.

The department led by Civil Surgeon Dr Manjit Singh commenced the drive from the worst affected area —Tripuri belt. 

Civil Surgeon along with district epidemiologists Dr Sumeet and Dr Gurmeet went door-to-door to apprise residents about preventive measures. Last year, the drive began in July, however, the department concerned has been leaving no stone unturned to curb dengue menace this season. 

Friday Dryday drive

“Friday Dryday” is a mass awareness drive against dengue, wherein, the health teams would go door-to-door in high-risk areas and ask residents to keep their water containers dry, at least, for a day in a week.

The officials would also challan residents, if dengue larvae would be found inside their houses.

Community participation 

Even after destroying over 10, 000 dengue larvae in the district last year, we couldn’t effectively control its spread, said the Civil Surgeon. 

We think, lack of community participation led to the situation we were in, he said. 

It was impossible to check each household in the district, therefore, people’s participation is a must, he said.

“Dengue larvae can breed in  a water-filled cap and that too in clean water. It is impossible for health teams to inspect each household every week,” said Dr Manjit. 

Health teams observed that residents in urban areas were not enthusiastic enough to participate in the drive last year.