Doonites question dengue survey drive, claim ASHA workers & volunteers yet to visit homes

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

With more than a 100 cases of dengue being reported in Dehradun so far, many residents have expressed concerns about the dengue survey and awareness activities, stating that no Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers or volunteers from the Health department have visited their homes or nearby houses this year.

Residents said that they had only heard about dengue prevention efforts through different mediums, but had not seen any action on the ground. They urged the relevant authorities to look into the matter and take appropriate action.

Every year, the Health department deploys ASHA workers and volunteers to conduct dengue awareness and survey activities. Officials had previously claimed that this initiative had commenced as usual for the year. Typically, 100 volunteers are assigned in Dehradun and 40 in Rishikesh. However, this year, a total of 110 volunteers have been deployed in Dehradun comprising one in each ward and an additional 10 in selected hotspot areas where dengue cases and larvae resence were higher according to last year’s observations. Despite this deployment, residents have raised questions about the actual implementation of these activities.

Local resident Vibha (name changed) stated that for a few years, they have been informed about the dengue survey and prevention activities of the Health department through ASHA workers and volunteers. However, this has only been on paper and not been visible on the ground. She said that she has never seen these workers conducting any activities in their homes or anywhere in her ward. If the authorities have deployed these workers, they must ensure that these activities are implemented and visible on the ground, she said.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared similar concerns and asked the authorities why they have never been visited for a check in their residence or ward. He said that this is not the first year; they have previously experienced a lack of visits for these purported actions. The authorities concerned must take this matter seriously, he emphasised.

The Dehradun chief medical officer Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma acknowledged the residents’ concerns. He stated that ASHA workers and volunteers have been instructed to strictly carry out dengue awareness and prevention activities at designated locations. They have also been asked to wear identification cards and provide introductions so as to ensure that residents recognise their purpose and which department they represent. Additionally, the department has directed that these ASHA workers and volunteers must provide a report on the house numbers they have covered each day during this activity, he added.

112 dengue cases in Dehradun district so far

DEHRADUN: The total number of dengue cases reported in Dehradun district has reached 112 till Sunday. The Dehradun chief medical officer Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma informed that no dengue cases were reported on Sunday. Of the total 112 dengue cases, 54 are confirmed cases from Dehradun, while 58 cases have been reported from other districts and States, he said.

Sharma added that currently there are nine patients undergoing treatment for dengue: six at Himalayan Hospital, one at Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, one at Subharti Hospital and one at Graphic Era Hospital.