Technology to help fight dengue

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to fight vectorborne diseases — dengue and chikungunya — with the help of technology. It has procured 200 tablets to equip its field employees for instant reporting of mosquito breeding. The civic body has also started using WhatsApp and other mediums to control the two diseases. SDMC mayor, Kamaljeet Sehrawat said that 200 tabs are to be procured for the domestic breeding checkers (DBCs) deployed in the areas from where maximum number of dengue and chikungunya cases were reported last year. “A DBC worker, after visiting any household, will upload the information online through the tab, which can be accessed by the control room. The tablets will have an application in which the DBCs have to mark the details of their visits that will be supervised by seniors. We also formed a WhatsApp group for internal checks and to make updates on mosquito breeding. In order for residents to register complaints, a toll free number –1800112260 – has been made functional,” added Ms Sehrawat.

In the first phase, the DBCs deployed in areas like Jamia Nagar, Abul Fazal Enclave, Ayur Vigyan Nagar, Gautam Nagar, and Masjid Moth among others will get the tabs from where the maximum number of cases was reported last year under SDMC’s jurisdiction.

During a short discussion in SDMC’s House meeting, the members from the ruling BJP and Opposition AAP and Congress broadly agreed to work together to contain the effect of vector borne diseases.