The picture of the drowned Syrian toddler shook the world and sparked an international debate on the current refugee crisis. But the numerous deaths of Indians, year after year, due to preventable, seasonal diseases as a result of the hopeless public health system, often defined by its absences, fails to move a soul.
There have already been around 2000 positive cases and 11 deaths in Delhi this season, the numbers indicate the outbreak will be much severe in the coming months. Virologists say, the current outbreak is the worst in five years because of the combination of strain 2 and strain 4 of dengue in circulation. Dengue type-4 is a rarer and a stronger strain which has not gripped the Capital since 2003; its symptoms include fever with shock and a drop in platelets.
And now, both the Union Health Minster and Delhi Health Minister are in overdrive mode, visiting hospitals, giving sound bytes, none owning up to the responsibility of the menace. Instead of the “tu-tu-main-main” situation, here are five steps which the power circle can take to curb the disease and arrest the panic:
1. Appoint an Approachable Nodal Officer
That the primary responsibility of tackling the outbreak is with the BJP-run Municipal Corporation of Delhi, is a given. But the ineptness of the civic body is an issue every year. Caught in this cross-fire is a hapless city battling a serious health crisis.
In this situation, a go-to guy for all dengue-related queries and latest information on positive cases, equipment shortage, platelet stocks, hospital beds should have been appointed in July. The nodal officer or his team, should be available on Whatsapp to tackle cases where hospitals refuse to provide treatment or diagnostics which are over-charging on dengue tests.
2. Advertise the Right Information
Publishing ads, putting up banners on how to prevent mosquito breeding should have been done in June, before the start of the rains.
In the middle of September, when the outbreak is in full-swing, wasting money on such ads is not going to serve any purpose. Experts say, no matter how frantic the anti-dengue drive gets now, the disease will curtail only once colder temperatures set in and the mosquito can’t survive.
So, dear AAP leaders, divert a fraction of the Rs 526 crore you spent on publicising your “achievements”, on full-page ads to inform people on the list of hospitals that have created dengue wards, the number of beds and contact details of these hospitals, the registered blood banks which are giving platelets, and the number of the nodal officer. All in interest of the aam aadmi.
3. Ensure Patients Get Clean Drinking Water
One of the biggest complications in dengue is fever-induced-dehydration which leads to seizures and admission in the ICU. The water dispensing machines in government hospitals are a sham. No public hospital has provisions to provide safe, clean drinking water to doctors also; so much so that the issue is a common demand in all resident doctors’ strikes.
In dengue, the blood count is compromised, in such a situation, unsafe water can wreak havoc and cause major complications for the patient.
If the water purifiers cannot be maintained, a Rs15 mineral water per patient can go a long way in saving lives.
4. Train Paramedical Staff on the Latest Strain
Strain-4 of dengue which is circulating in Delhi is a very rare one. Its complications, symptoms are different from the strain-1, 2 and 3. For starters, in this, platelets usually fall after the fever has subsided. So the paramedical staff cannot discharge a patient once the fever is in control but should keep on monitoring the platelet count.
Now Watch: The Delhi Health Minister, Satyendra Jain assuring people that no hospital can refuse treatment to a dengue patient:
5. A Functioning Helpline Number
Dear Health Minister, changing your anti-corruption helpline number of 1031 to a dengue helpline number is a good idea. It would be a great one, if the helpline was functional. At the time of writing this story, the number gave me no help whatsoever!
The real killer in Delhi is not dengue but the apathy and the sheer neglect of the power circle. When the drowned Syrian boy’s image went viral, so many people on my Facebook timeline were lamenting, “Oh! This could’ve been my baby!” Totally. My point is not that we shouldn’t care about the Syrian boy. The question is: Why aren’t we capable of caring for those closer home?
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