Rural areas targeted to curb vector borne disease and Covid-19 spread

GREATER NOIDA: As vector borne diseases are expected to rise during monsoon months, the administration carried out extensive sanitation drives in rural areas of GB Nagar district even as it will hold camps for rapid antigen testing to detect Covid-19 patients from these areas.
A schedule has already been prepared for rapid testing camps beginning with Jewar area from July 22-30 where villages such as Chanchali, Dayanatpur, Mahvalipur, Jahangirpur, Sabota, Neemka, Charoli, Tirthali and Rabupura etc. will be covered.
“We are taking all possible measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection in the district, especially now that the threat of vector borne, communicable diseases rises during monsoon months. In this context, regular announcements are made in villages and rural parts of the district where preventive measures, awareness against the virus and overall sanitation methods are apprised. For this, the village head (the pradhan) has been directed to make the rural residents aware of how to maintain cleanliness and protect themselves from diseases for which he is directed to make public announcements twice a day,” said Kunwar Singh district panchayat raj officer.
Even as there are 86 gram panchayats in GB Nagar district, whose heads will now apprise the villagers about communicable diseases and prevention against them, some of the directives from public announcements will include mandatory use of boiled water, use of chlorine tablets to disinfect the water before consumption, to use mosquito nets at homes, not to allow larva to accumulate at homes and areas around it and to call Asha if symptoms of fever, cough or other problems arise.
While roadside drains and sewers are being cleaned along with spraying of pesticide/medicines as a preventive against vector borne diseases and Covid-19 infection, the main focus of the administration is mostly, on detecting those falling sick – either from communicable disease or Covid-19 – and get them to hospitals or primary health centres (PHCs) at the earliest, for speedy detection followed by requisite treatment.
“We need to prepare ourselves with adequate preventive measures and awareness drives to deal with both, Covid-19 and threat of malaria and dengue as seen imminent at this time of the year,” said Narendra Bhooshan nodal officer in-charge of Covid care in the district.