PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The newly appointed Dehradun District Surveillance Officer (DSO), Dr Pradeep Rana urged the public to cooperate with Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and volunteers during their visits to homes for dengue awareness and survey activities. He said this while outlining his priorities after taking on the role of DSO. It is important to note that Dr CS Rawat recently retired from this position and Rana officially took over on July 1, with a commitment to diligently fulfill his responsibilities.
Rana said that upon assuming his new position, he had recently convened a meeting with ASHA workers and volunteers to discuss the current status of their efforts aimed at preventing dengue cases in the Dehradun district. He highlighted that considering the increasing number of dengue cases and the onset of the monsoon season, he instructed volunteers and ASHA workers to increase their hours dedicated to dengue awareness activities in the field.
For instance, if they are currently spending two to three hours in the field for dengue awareness and survey, this time should be increased to four to six hours. During the meeting, he was informed by the ASHAs and volunteers that 50 per cent of the population restricts them from conducting dengue awareness and survey activities in their locations. In light of this, he urged the public to cooperate and refrain from such behaviour. Additionally, he informed that, considering the monsoon season, he will ensure that schools in the Dehradun district adhere to the previously issued dengue guidelines. These guidelines recommend that students wear full-sleeved clothing, avoid stagnant water, and conduct assemblies that include dengue prevention tips, among other measures. He said that he has planned for the Health department team to visit schools in the coming days to ensure compliance with these guidelines.
He emphasised that by taking on this responsibility, he intended to manage the dengue cases and prevent any increase, particularly with the arrival of the monsoon season.
The DSO further urged the public to adhere to preventive measures for dengue, which include wearing long-sleeved clothing, using repellent, utilising mosquito nets and eliminating stagnant water in their surroundings.
