The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tall claims of Govt. fall flat on face

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 04, 2006
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New Delhi

Tall claims of Govt. fall flat on face

Sandeep Joshi

During the past two weeks the number of dengue patients in the Capital has doubled

REAL SCARE: An NDMC worker on dengue prevention drive at the premises of National School of Drama in New Delhi. Photo: V.V.Krishnan

NEW DELHI: Belying tall claims of the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation that the dreaded dengue disease was under control and there was no need to panic, the facts reveal that during the past two weeks the number of patients from Delhi admitted to various hospitals has doubled.0 Similarly there has been a steep increase in the number of dengue patients being brought to the Capital from neighbouring States.

The week-wise reports on dengue reveal that in the last one week at least 112 patients from Delhi were admitted to various hospitals, while the week before that the figure was 63. So there was almost a 50 per cent increase within a week. However, the arrival of patients from neighbouring States was largely unchanged -- 59 patients between September 24 and October 1 and 64 between September 17 and 24.

Similarly, between September 10 and 17, a total of 34 Delhi residents were affected by dengue while 43 patients were admitted to hospitals between September 3 and September 10. During the same period, dengue patients from other States continued to arrive in the Capital -- 64 of them between September 9 and 17.

Compared to previous years, more dengue cases are being reported this year. In 2005, a total of 158 cases were reported, while the figure for 2004 was 68; it was 285 in 2003. This year over 280 cases have already been reported so far. Similarly there has also been a spurt in cases coming from neighbouring States, with the maximum being from Uttar Pradesh at 120. This year a total of 217 patients have been admitted from neighbouring States, while the figure last year was just 65 and in 2004 it was 47.

In Delhi, 228 cases have been reported from MCD areas. The worst affected zones are Karol Bagh and Najafgarh (41 cases each), followed by Shahdara-North (26), Shahdara-South and West Zone (25 each), Rohini (19), Central (18), Civil Lines (14), Narela (7), South (6), City and Sadar Paharganj (3 each).

Meanwhile, senior MCD health officials have blamed the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) administration for the spurt in dengue cases on its campus despite warnings by the civic body. MCD officials said they had set up 12 dengue task forces and deployed fire brigade tankers for outdoor fogging.

According to MCD Standing Committee Chairman J. K. Sharma and Leader of MCD House Jitender Kochar, the civic body health staff has also been asked to carry out the dengue control programme for a month. They are also holding meetings with RWAs and social organisations and leave of all MCD health employees has been cancelled till further notice.

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