The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has mandated preventive measures to curb the spread of dengue, malaria and chikungunya during monsoon season while its Public Health Department is facing a staff crunch. In one of the segments, nearly 85 percent staff are contractual while just 8 percent are regular employees. Notably, MCD’s health department has jurisdiction to take measures related to vector-borne diseases in the city.
A reply filed by a concerned department official from the civic agency revealed the sordid state of Public Health Department as against 5176 sanctioned posts of multi tasking staff (public health) there are on 411 employees are on regular basis while 4111 are contractual, 375 are contractual on compassionate ground and 279 posts are still vacant.
There are 391 out of 600 sanctioned post of assistant malaria inspector are vacant, 55 are regular and 154 are contractual. Similarly, out of 150 posts of malaria inspector, 92 are vacant and 58 are occupied by the regular employees. As far as entomologists in the department are concerned, 12 posts are sanctioned out of which 3 are vacant, 4 are occupied by regular staff while 5 by contractual persons. Out of 12 sanctioned posts of epidemiologist, 7 are vacant while 2 has been occupied by contractual staff. Meanwhile there are 16 posts of deputy health officer, 3 posts of additional MHO and 1 post of MHO and all are occupied by regular employees of the corporation.
“Cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are on rise in the city due to the ongoing rainy season. Considering the seriousness of the diseases, there should we adequate and well trained staff. Without having a proper man power, we cannot fight with the menace. The corporation should pay attention over the issue on a priority basis,” said Yogesh Verma, a sitting councillor in the MCD.
Meanwhile, in a preventive measure, the MCD had earlier directed Delhi government offices, educational institutions, religious places and market associations to ‘eliminate’ stagnant water. It has also informed to enhance sanitation efforts, particularly in high-risk areas such as slums and densely populated regions.
The guidelines issued by the civic agency are applied to all government offices, educational institutions, commercial establishments, religious places, market associations, and Resident Welfare Associations. According to the directives, institutions must ensure that overhead tanks, coolers and water storage containers are properly covered and cleaned regularly. Stagnant water must either be removed or treated with petrol, diesel, or Temephos granules to prevent mosquito breeding.
