PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
In view of the rising number of dengue cases in Dehradun, district magistrate Savin Bansal asked Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers to carry out their duties with full dedication to help prevent the further spread of the disease. He said that ASHA workers will also get an additional Rs 1,555 as a reward for good performance.
Acknowledging their ongoing efforts, he assured ASHA workers that their health will be prioritised and that any medical issues faced by them will be addressed promptly. Bansal stated this in a review meeting held on Friday at the Transit Camp in Rishikesh with Health department officials, ASHA workers and police. He said that the administration remains committed to supporting frontline workers and ensuring the availability of free public healthcare, especially for economically weaker sections. He also announced a total incentive of Rs 5,555 for all ASHA workers and ASHA Facilitators (AFs) engaged in dengue prevention activities. Each ASHA worker and AF will receive Rs 1,500 from the district administration, Rs 1,000 from the National Health Mission (NHM), Rs1,500 from the municipal corporation and an additional Rs 1,555 as a reward for good performance. He also issued directions to focus on larvae source reduction.
ASHA workers were instructed to conduct door-to-door surveys to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. The Municipal Corporation of Rishikesh (MCR) was also directed to ensure the cleaning of all major drains by May 15 to prevent waterlogging. The officials concerned informed that they will implement ward-wise action plans for ASHA workers. Larval control activities will be monitored by the Health department and progress will be tracked through a Google spreadsheet, which will be made publicly accessible. Awareness sessions will be organised in different wards and outreach teams will go door-to-door to educate the public about preventive measures.
The chief medical officer Manoj Kumar Sharma informed that, similar to last year, regular surveillance and preventive actions are being taken by ASHA workers and health staff. The DM instructed that all hospitals be equipped with rapid test kits, dengue ELISA tests and other necessary equipment for early diagnosis and treatment. He also directed that regular fogging and larvicidal spraying be carried out in each ward.
He also encouraged ASHA workers to remain committed to their responsibilities in order to control the spread of vector-borne diseases. The chief development officer Abhinav Shah also informed the DM that preventing the spread of dengue is a top priority and that related efforts are being monitored daily.
