Sixty-nine and still counting.
This is how seriously the dengue menace has come to haunt Patna this year. The stinging mosquitoes, the vectors of this disease, have failed to bring out the civic body officials from their slumber in controlling the spread.
Regular fogging could have kept the mosquito numbers in check, which in turn, would have helped keep the dengue menace at bay.
The apathy of the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) came to the fore on Monday, when just one executive officer attended its standing committee meeting, convened by mayor Afzal Imam, while three others did not turn up.
Sources said urban development and housing department minister Samrat Choudhary had issued directives to PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan and other officials to attend the meeting, as they had been boycotting the mayor’s meeting after Imam allegedly used foul language against some officials.
A furious Imam said: “Even the minister’s directive is not enough for these officials. They even didn’t provide me the details regarding fogging.”
Officials, meanwhile, had their own justification for not attending the meeting.
PMC additional municipal commissioner Shirshat Kapil Ashok said: “I have come to Makhdumpur on official work. I cannot comment on the absence of other officials.”
PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan, too, was not in town as he was on leave. Sources said other absentee executive officers were sticking to their earlier demand of an apology from the mayor.
The PMC power tussle would force residents to wait for the winter to set in when the Aedes aegypti, the dengue vector, becomes dormant.
Mayor Imam helplessly said: “What should I say about the fogging issue when officials are not providing me with the details and not even turning up for the meetings.”
Amid this “inaction” on the part of the PMC, which collects taxes from the residents in the name of providing civic amenities, the government agencies appear to be working overtime to downplay the menace. Though the officials of the district civil surgeon’s office collect data from both government and private facilities, they consider only those cases as positive, which are found positive at government related centres. The epidemic control officer, Prashant Kumar, admitted this to The Telegraph.
A ground check contradicted the officer’s claim. The Telegraph found Elisa test being conducted in at least two private facilities, Ruban Emergency Hospital and Gitanjali Patho Diagnostics. However Prashant Kumar seemed unaware of this. “I don’t have any idea about this. We will follow our system,” he said.
Amit Kumar (32) of Gai Ghat alleged that he faced problem in getting his 10-year-old son, Amitesh, admitted in the dengue ward of Patna Medical College and Hospital on Sunday.
Principal secretary, health, Deepak Kumar feigned ignorance. “I don’t know about this. We have directed the PMCH and NMCH to do make arrangements to treat dengue cases,” he said.
PLAY SAFE
SYMPTOMS
Rashes
Fever without cough or cold
Severe joint pain
Nausea
STEPS TO TAKE
Get your blood tested if fever persists for two days
If dengue is diagnosed:
Seek a doctor
Drink plenty of fluids
Be on drip if doctor recommends
Take Paracetamol
