AMC failed in curbing dengue, claim activists

Aurangabad: The civic and health activists have said that the civic administration has failed to control the spread of dengue and other infections due to lack of staff and absence of a full-time malaria officer.
In a letter to the municipal commissioner and mayor, activist Ajim Patel had said that the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation AMC has failed to carry out fogging and larvacide treatment in several areas of the city.
Patel accompanied by Nusrat Khan, Nizam Khan, Samad Khan and others met the mayor. The letter states that the number of dengue cases are rising because of the lack of response from the AMC’s health department.
“The fogging, house-to-house larvacide treatment and insecticide treatment are not being done,” was stated in the letter.
Keeping the epidemic situation in mind, the activists have demanded all AMC hospital should be open 24*7. They have claimed that the AMC is wading off it responsibility of patient by referring patients to GMCH.
“There are only five AMC hospitals which allow in-patient treatment with total of 30 beds. However, its several hospitals have the approval and the capacity to begin in-patient services but is failing to do,” Patel said.
The AMC has registered 11 deaths due to suspected dengue and more than 200 cases have been reported here in November alone.
However, the AMC is running short of 19 medical officers and does not have a permanent malaria officer. One of the medical officer has been given the additional charge of the malaria officer.
In October after the rise in number of dengue cases, the mayor had written to the state government regarding the appointment of malaria officer and a provision of Rs 2 crore. The request did not receive any response.
The AMC health officer said that the municipal corporation is responsible for providing primary health services and its centres are ensuring that.