Delhi Health Minister Asks Hospitals To Formulate Protocol On Dengue As Cases Rise

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj will chair a meeting of medical directors and superintendents of hospitals to devise a strategy to counter the rise in Dengue cases.

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday said that hospitals in Delhi have been directed to formulate protocols on dengue amid a spike in cases. During an inspection of facilities at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital (LNJP) Hospital, he said that medical directors and superintendents of hospitals that are run by the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have been called for a meeting this evening, news agency PTI reported.

While talking to PTI, he said, "In Delhi and north India, the rain started earlier than usual. Delhi received rainfall in April, May, June and July. There are indications that vector-borne diseases are increasing and even dengue cases are seeing a spike. All the hospitals have been directed to formulate protocols for dengue-like (they did for) corona (COVID-19)."

The Delhi Minister will also be inspecting some schools on Wednesday in order to check the compliance of norms for full-sleeved clothing by students. He warned schools of action if they are found violating the directions on dengue.

"All the schools have been directed to ask students to wear clothes with full sleeves and be fully covered. Schools are not following the directions. Tomorrow (Wednesday), I will be going on a surprise inspection of some schools along with district magistrates. Wherever there will be lapses, action will be taken," Bharadwaj was quoted as saying by PTI.

While talking about the inspection at LNJP hospital, he said, "Things here were not according to expectations. I have called a meeting at 3 pm of medical superintendents and directors of government and MCD hospitals to issue directions based on the learnings of the inspections conducted so far."

Speaking further Bharadwaj said he has instructed the MCD commissioner to get fogging done in areas with under-construction buildings and other places by using drones. He added that if there's a budget crunch, the Delhi government is open to help.

According to a report of the Municipal Corporation released on Monday, the national capital logged 56 fresh dengue cases last week. As per the Municipal Corporation, the total number of dengue cases stand at 243, as of July 28.