The Hindu            23.10.2013

Fogging operations resume

The Chennai Corporation on Tuesday carried out fogging
operations on a war footing in all areas identified as hotspots of
mosquito breeding. This follows reports of two dengue deaths in the
city.

Residents of many localities said the frequency
of fogging operations had increased this week. “The mosquito density
has been high. By 5 p.m., the mosquitoes become a menance at home. The
malaria workers did not carry out fogging in the past few months and did
not take efforts to reduce breeding sources in our neighbourhood. Now
they have started fogging. A worker visited our area on Monday,” said a
resident of Anna Nagar West.

Fogging operations in
hotspots such as Velachery, Sowcarpet, Tiruvanmiyur, K.K. Nagar and
Saligramam, Kasimedu and Korrukupet would be intensified, said a
Corporation official.

“We want consistent efforts by
the malaria workers to reduce mosquito density in our area. We have also
taken initiatives to prevent mosquitoes. I planted nochi on my premises
recently and it seems to be effective,” said Jaswant Singh, a resident
of Mogappair.

The Corporation uses 550 sprayers, 350
fogging machines and 67 vehicle-mounted fogging machines for mosquito
control. But there is no mechanism to consistently regulate the
operations of the malaria workers, a Corporation official said.

In
many zones, a number of malaria workers are being engaged in other
works that do not relate to public health. This had had an impact on the
civic body’s mosquito control programme, he said.

As
many as 3,200 workers are involved in mosquito control in the city. One
malaria worker is responsible for mosquito control in 500 houses. But
residents of many neighbourhoods continue to be unaware that such
dedicated malaria workers are around to help them cope with the mosquito
menace. “If we know the malaria worker, we will be able to seek his
help,” said R. Saravanan, a resident of Nungambakam.

The
Corporation is yet to screen 16.5 lakh houses for domestic breeding
sources. Of the 17 lakh households, 50,000 houses have been screened so
far.

Meanwhile, a press release on Tuesday stated the
Corporation has “taken action to fill up vacant posts of sanitary
inspectors. Some of these inspectors who have small divisions have been
asked to hold additional charge of the vacant divisions. However, this
has not affected the performance of the health department and control of
vector and water-borne diseases is being effectively done, which is
indicated by the fact that the number of cases of malaria, dengue and
ADD is far lower than last year and is further showing a declining
trend. In fact, contrary to reports in the media there has been no death
on account of dengue so far this year.”