Dhenkanal in need of dengue drive

DHENKANAL: It is high time the government took steps to prevent the spread of dengue in the district.
Atleast 25 patients have tested positive for dengue out of the 49 samples sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, sources at the Dhenkanal district headquarters hospital said.
Cleanliness and sanitation is the first preventive step. But heaps of garbage lie strewn around the town choking up drains many times.This facilitates mosquito breeding.
Garbage piles can be found at station square, Hata road, bylanes of Meena Bazaar, Kunjakanta, Dolamandap Sahi and Jagannath Road. Drains from Ganesh bazaar to Chandan bazaar have not been cleaned since two months. "The municipality workers never come to our area to clean the drain. We feel insecure with too many cases of mosquito-borne diseases being reported," Rama Chandra Sahoo of Dolamandap square said. People are also to be blamed for open defecation and dumping garbage.
Even awareness campaigns in schools have not gathered steam. Only two schools have been covered in the municipal area till date with over 15 schools being left out. Locals alleged that there announcements over loud speakers is rare.
Dhenkanal municipality officials on their part blame shortage of manpower and infrastructure for the sorry state.
"Staff shortage, lack of infrastructure and political will have hampered the drive against dengue in Dhenkanal," an official of the municipality said. Even tonnes of garbage cannot be disposed off because of these problems, the official added. Health officer of Dhenkanal Municipality Dr B B Nanda said, "We have started the drive and covered two primary schools". "Out of the three vehicles used for awareness drives, two are defunct," he added. tnn and claimed that six sprayers have started cleaning works and fogging is going in the evening.
The 25 persons who have tested positive for dengue, five were working in a steel company. "We have visited the company premises and asked them to take preventive steps as soon as possible. We will visit other industries soon," chief district medical officer B C Behera said. "We will visit other companies too," he added.
SCB Medical College and Hospital