Ghaziabad to take help of RWAs to tackle dengue, malaria

Ghaziabad: The health department has called a meeting of residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) on Wednesday to discuss steps needed to control the spread of dengue and malaria.
“To curb vector-borne diseases, the health department has planned to take the help of RWAs at the community level. A meeting will be held on Wednesday with representatives of various RWAs in the city.They would be sensitised about vector-borne diseases and asked to prepare teams in their areas,” said chief medical officer Bhavtosh Shankhdhar.
These teams, the CMO said, will conduct door-to-door awareness programmes. In case of symptoms, the rapid response teams (RRTs) of the health department would get in touch with the RWAs and take necessary steps.
SK Gupta, the district surveillance officer (DSO), said the RWA members attending the meeting on Wednesday would be asked to conduct the campaign in each society once a week and ensure that waterlogging does not take place in their areas. They would have to ensure that water tanks are properly covered and other common areas are dry in the housing societies.
If there is flooding, the RWA members have to contact the health department immediately for spraying anti-larvae chemicals.
With 11 fresh dengue cases on Monday, Ghaziabad’s tally stood at 155. One case each of malaria and scrub typhus was also recorded on Monday.