HIDCO, NKDA to combat spread of vector-borne diseases

Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) and New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) have chalked out elaborate measures to combat the spread of dengue and malaria in New Town. It may b recalled that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked all the civic bodies to take proper measures to combat mosquito-borne diseases. The state Urban Development department has pulled up seven civic bodies including Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation for not carrying out anti-larvae drives properly.

HIDCO/ NKDA have distributed pamphlets prepared by the consultants of NKDA containing dos and don'ts to be followed by the residents to combat dengue and malaria. Teams are visiting the housing complexes and houses requesting the residents not to allow accumulation of water outdoor. They have been asked to keep the internal drains clean and use mosquito nets. Fumigation teams are spraying mosquito repellants from fogging machines while the spray teams are pumping larvae killing liquids on canal and lake banks.

Totos carrying placards containing the names of the institutions where free blood tests are done like the Calcutta medical College and Hospital, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Nilratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital, School of Tropical Medicine, Bidhannagar Sub Divisional Hospital and Bidhannagar Poura Matri Sadan are going around New Town as a part of the awareness programme. It may be mentioned that Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is the only civic body in Bengal that has a well knit health wing to look after the anti-larvae drives. There are six dengue detection centres in Kolkata where blood samples are examined free of cost.