The second phase of the vector control drive was rolled out in all the 100 wards of the Corporation on Sunday. The drive was started at 8 am in all wards. As part of the drive, identification of mosquito breeding sites and source-level eradication measures were done at all spots.
On an average, nearly 50 squads, each having two-three members, visited the homes in each ward. Around 5,000 such squads were pressed into service as part of the drive. The wards were placed under 25 zones. The drive was conducted in all districts of the state except Ernakulam, where it is planned to be launched next week.
According to health officials, the first phase of the drive had an 80-per cent coverage in the wards. “The source-level eradication in the second phase was done at places where the campaign was held in phase one. Compared to the first phase, it could be seen that people have turned more aware of the situation. The effectiveness of the campaign would be complete with the fall in the number of dengue cases in the city,” said District Medical Officer T Peethambaran.
The first phase had received criticism from some quarters, with people strongly raising the demand for a solution to waste management than a campaign against eliminating mosquitoes. “People should understand that mosquitoes causing dengue fever breed only in fresh water. Hence, the issue of garbage menace cannot alone be blamed. On visiting the houses, we could find that in many cases, the dengue-causing mosquitoes proliferated from within the household premises itself. Hence, the eradication of source-level breeding points gains significance,” he said.
The squad members comprising Kudumbashree workers, ASHA volunteers, Anganwadi workers, representatives of residents’ associations, junior health inspectors, junior public health nurses and other volunteers visited the homes. The drive would continue for two more Sundays.