MCD campaign finds mosquito breeding at over 1.4k sites
"Vertical gardens in the city can be a ground for breeding mosquitoes as watering is done through drip irrigation. Pots are installed at a height which can't be checked regularly. We found breeding at such sites. The teams also checked 12,344 premises and found breeding at 1,415 places. The breeding grounds were destroyed on the spot. Besides, anti-larval activities were carried out by the teams. They pasted 3,408 stickers, and 197 polyfoam charts or banners were displayed.
Additionally, 939 legal notices and 209 prosecutions were launched," stated the civic body.
Officials said that vector-borne diseases (dengue, malaria, and chikungunya) were transmitted through Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes.
You Can Also Check:
Delhi AQI
|
Weather in Delhi
|
Bank Holidays in Delhi
|
Public Holidays in Delhi
Indraprastha Vikas Party functionary and councillor Mukesh Goyal demanded intensifying the drive. "A total of 101 cases of malaria, 246 cases of dengue, and 17 cases of chikungunya were reported this year so far. Whereas during this period, only 26 cases of malaria were reported in 2023, 21 in 2022, and 13 in 2021," he said.
Recently, a drive was held to check mosquito breeding at historical sites and tourist places in the city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
Can't Turn Blind Eye To Diabetic Retinopathy
N ew Delhi: India, often labelled the diabetic capital of the world, faces an alarming crisis with over 77 million people diagnosed with diabetes and 25 million as pre-diabetics. In 2019 alone, India recorded a staggering one million diabetes-related deaths. The most notable complication for diabetics is diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye condition resulting from damage to retinal blood vessels caused by high blood sugar. Shockingly, 16.9% of diabetic individuals suffer from DR and 3.6% are at imminent risk of complete vision loss. Leading experts in the field say that without swift, decisive action in screening and treatment, the prevalence of blindness due to DR will escalate. AT the round table hosted by The Times of India on Wednesday, experts said that the time to act was now — delays would cost not only money, but sight and lives. The experts called for DR screening to be made a fundamental right for diabetic patients by 2030. Experts flagged early detection as the most effective way to stop DR-related vision loss. They stressed the urgent need for training frontline health workers and equipping primary care centres with screening tools like fundus cameras. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo They wanted DR prioritised under the National Non-Communicable Disease Programme to ensure it became a core part of routine diabetic care across all health systems. They were emphatic about DR screening under Ayushman Bharat, currently operational in only 12 states, being rolled out nationwide without delay. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Public awareness was another major gap. "Most diabetics don't know DR exists until they lose vision," experts said, urging large-scale awareness campaigns to promote regular eye checks. The panel also highlighted the need for accessible and affordable treatment, especially in rural areas, and pushed for stronger public-private partnerships to expand reach and innovation. India had 101 million diabetics in 2024 — a figure originally projected for 2030 — signifying the alarming pace of the disease's spread. Dr Manisha Agarwal, general secretary, VSRI, and vitreo-retina department head at Dr Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, noted that nearly half of the world's diabetics lived in China, India and the US. Dr Chaitra Jayadev, senior consultant, vitreo-retinal services, Narayana Nethralaya, Bengaluru, said that India had national frameworks like the National Control of Visual Impairment and National Programme for Control of Blindness, but stronger policy enforcement was essential to effectively address DR. A national mandate should require diabetologists, endocrinologists and physicians to physically stamp prescriptions with a clear message: "Get your retina screened by an ophthalmologist. " Many patients skipped screening simply because their doctor didn't advise it, Jayadev pointed out, adding that this gap could only be addressed through govt action. Taking advantage of the widespread smartphone use, the experts suggested a monthly voice alert reminding diabetics to get their eyes screened. "It's simple, cost-effective and could prevent avoidable blindness," one expert said. DR remains a neglected health crisis in India, commented Dr Rajni Kant Srivastava, ICMR-chair, disease elimination, founder-director, ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur, and visiting professor at SEARCH, Gadchiroli. "To bring real change, we must present a strong policy document that identifies existing gaps and actionable solutions," he said. He urged for the integration of diabetic eye care into the national programmes, citing Kerala's successful screening model and the potential of telemedicine in remote areas. "Retina health is closely tied to the twin silent epidemics of diabetes and hypertension in India," noted Dr Indu Bhushan, independent director, Corporate and Non-Profit Boards, ex-CEO, Ayushman Bharat, ex-director-general ADB and former IAS officer, while calling for preventive screening at health and wellness centres, use of AI-enabled teleophthalmology, and task-shifting to trained non-doctor staff for first-line checks. He also wanted retinal surgeries included in PM-JAY. Speaking virtually, Dr K Madan Gopal, advisor on public health administration at NHSRC, a premier think tank of the Union health ministry, said that over 1.7 lakh health and wellness centres were operational for daily consultations. Trained workers conducted initial screenings and connected patients to doctors at district hospitals or medical colleges. "States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are piloting tele-ophthalmology for diabetic eye care. Urban centres with stronger infrastructure are also testing this," he said. While implementation was currently limited, he added, the model held promise though scaling it nationally would require significant investment. Rajwinder Mehdwan, MD & CEO, Roche Pharma India, urged health leaders to frame a sharp, actionable policy to bring DR into govt focus. "We have expertise in public-private partnerships, screening, and treatment access. But for real change, we need a clear narrative that gets govt's attention — like it did with polio or cataract," she said. She emphasised Roche's readiness to support with proven models and called for unified action to move from problem recognition to policy impact. Other experts who participated in the round table were Dr Bhavna Chawla, professor, retinoblastoma and ocular oncology services, and Dr Vinod Agarwal, professor, vitreo-retina services, AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Muna Bhende, director, vitreo-retinal services, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Maulana Azad dental science institute installs AI scanner to reduce wait time
New Delhi: Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) has installed ScanOair, an AI-powered scanner capable of detecting common dental issues such as tooth decay, gum inflammation and teeth misalignment to improve diagnostic efficiency and reduce patient waiting time. The device, which uses artificial intelligence to provide a provisional diagnosis within minutes, is being positioned as a patient-friendly innovation, especially beneficial in a high-volume setting like MAIDS. Final diagnosis and treatment planning, however, will continue to be handled by dental specialists following clinical evaluation, institute officials said. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Speaking to TOI, Dr Gyanendra Kumar, professor and head of the department of comprehensive dentistry at MAIDS, said three ScanOair units have been installed on the ground floor near the registration counter and will be inaugurated on Wednesday by Delhi health minister Pankaj Kumar Singh. Each scanner costs approximately Rs 3 lakh. "The scanner is user-friendly and fully automated," Dr Kumar said. "Once the patient registers, they can select a preferred language, enter their name and WhatsApp number, and follow guided instructions. The machine adjusts its camera height, captures images from three angles — front, upper and lower — and generates a detailed AI-based report within five minutes." The scanner employs a three-layer AI system, detecting the mouth, jaw and appropriate camera angles. It also tilts to scan the roof of the mouth and identifies specific dental anomalies such as cavities, gum swelling, bleeding and even records body temperature. Patients receive a full PDF report on their WhatsApp, enabling them to consult doctors directly with the preliminary findings in hand. "With such a large OPD load, this system significantly reduces the time spent on routine oral examinations," Dr Kumar said, adding that assistants will be available to guide patients as needed. "Those who want to wait for a manual exam can still do so, but others can speed up the process with the scanner." Dr Arundeep Kaur, director principal of MAIDS, said the integration of ScanOair — supported by IDBI Bank under its CSR initiative — is a transformative step in streamlining care delivery. "It not only improves safety and efficiency in a post-COVID environment but also marks a major technological leap for govt dental institutions," she said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
High-risk transplant saves 7-yr-old with rare disorder
New Delhi: A seven-year-old boy, diagnosed with X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) that is a rare and often fatal genetic disorder, has made a remarkable recovery after undergoing a high-risk stem cell transplant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. X-ALD is a genetic condition caused by the buildup of very long-chain fatty acids in the brain and spinal cord, leading to progressive neurological deterioration, sensory loss and death if left untreated. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for survival, doctors say. The boy has already lost his elder sibling to the same disease. Upon diagnosis by the hospital's genetics team, led by Dr Ratna Puri and Dr Sunita Bijarnia, he was referred to the pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant (BMT) unit. However, the transplant posed significant challenges as no fully matched donor was available within the family or in global registries. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Eventually, his father was chosen as a half-HLA matched donor. Serious complications followed the transplant. The child developed grade 4 graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which caused widespread blistering and skin peeling. "There were moments when hope seemed to fade," said Dr Manas Kalra, a senior member of the treating team said, while adding that the boy's and his family's courage saw them through. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seniors Are Ditching Finger Pricks with This Breakthrough Monitor Thelifeh Undo The child also developed a severe adenovirus infection that was unresponsive to conventional treatment. The infection significantly prolonged his hospital stay. As his new immune system began to develop, doctors were able to control the infection. Now, over 200 days post-transplant, the boy achieved full donor cell engraftment and is showing early signs of neurological recovery. He will remain under close follow-up in the coming years. While this child was not born of a consanguineous marriage, doctors stressed that such unions significantly increase the risk of inherited disorders like X-ALD. They emphasised the need for early genetic screening, improved public awareness, and stronger donor registry access. Doctors also highlighted the financial burden of such procedures and the need for wider support under rare disease programmes. "This success shows what is possible with timely diagnosis, advanced care, and community support," said Dr Kalra.
