Dengue control: Health Department and BBMP launch ‘Check, Clean and Cover' campaign in Bengaluru
Speaking at the State-level National Dengue Day celebrations, the Minister said Bengaluru contributes over 40% of the total dengue cases reported in the State. Hence, it is necessary for citizens to take extra precautions. 'We have deployed 700 volunteers and 240 health inspectors in Bengaluru to facilitate active participation of communities and initiate preventive measures,' he said.
Prevent breeding
Pointing out that the campaign emphasises the importance of regularly checking for mosquito breeding sites, cleaning surroundings, and covering water containers to prevent the spread of dengue, the Minister called upon the volunteers, ASHA workers, health workers, and public to work in coordination to prevent mosquito breeding.
Early summer showers, construction activity, and water stagnation have led to mosquito breeding, and residents across Bengaluru are feeling the sting. Of the total 1,452 dengue cases reported in the State till May 21 this year, as many as 652 are from BBMP areas alone.
In fact, the number of dengue cases saw a sharp rise in the last 20 days. From 1,186 cases as of April 30, the number shot up to 1,452 as of May 21. With more rain predicted in the coming days, health authorities are concerned about the resultant water stagnation and mosquito breeding in the aftermath of the rains. The department is gearing up to prevent any outbreak.
Door-to-door visits
Earlier, the Minister went door to door in the Kumbaragundi layout of Chickpet to make the public aware of the preventive measures to be taken against dengue. Dengue is caused by day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that breed in fresh and clean water units such as tanks, household bins, old tyres, and coconut shells. 'It is important for people to avoid water stagnation as this will check mosquito breeding. We can control the spread of dengue with people's active involvement,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
10.18 females screened for cervical cancer till July 20: Health ministry
New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) Out of an eligible population of 25.42 crore females aged 30 years and above, 10.18 crore have been screened for cervical cancer till July 20 this year, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav informed Lok Sabha on Friday. He said efforts have been made to improve the current proportion of cervical cancer screening in the country. In a written reply, Jadhav stated that though health is a state subject, Centre has strengthened cancer prevention efforts through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and through promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Initiatives to increase public awareness about Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) like cervical cancer and promotion of healthy lifestyles include the observation of National Cancer Awareness Day and World Cancer Day, and the use of print, electronic and social media, he said. Under the National Health Mission, states and Union Territories are provided funds to carry out awareness creation activities, he added. A population-based initiative for screening, management and prevention of common NCDs including cervical cancer has been rolled out through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs as a part of the comprehensive primary health care under the National Health Mission, Jadhav said. The cervical cancer screening for women aged 30 to 65 years. It is conducted once in five years by trained health workers using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid at public health facilities, including the Ayushman Arogya Mandir sub-health centres and primary health centres. The positive cases are referred to higher centres for further diagnosis, the minister said. The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) conduct risk assessment of individuals in the specified age group by using Community-Based Assessment Checklist forms and bring them to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for screening of cervical cancer and other common NCDs. The ASHA workers also make public aware about the significance of early detection through regular health check-ups and screenings. The Union health ministry had launched an NCD Screening Campaign from February 20 to March 31 this year to achieve universal screening of individuals aged 30 years and above, Jadhav said. The campaign was conducted nationwide at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other healthcare facilities under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, he stated. 'As per National NCD portal, as on July 20, 2025, out of an eligible population of 25.42 crore females aged 30 years and above, 10.18 crore have been screened for cervical cancer," Jadhav said. PTI PLB RUK RUK view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 19:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
13 hours ago
- India Today
8 simple tips to protect yourself from dengue
Dengue fever is a viral infection caused by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. It spreads fast, especially during the rainy season when water collects in open areas, making perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Common symptoms include high fever, body aches, headaches, skin rashes, and in some cases, even bleeding. While there is no specific medicine to cure dengue, the good news is that you can prevent habits like keeping your surroundings clean, using mosquito repellent, and wearing protective clothes can go a long way. Dengue is not just a personal health concern; it affects entire families, especially children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems. That's why prevention is so are 8 easy and effective tips to protect yourself and your family from dengue. 1. Don't let water collect around youMosquitoes that spread dengue breed in still water. Check flower pots, buckets, old tyres, AC trays, and coolers, empty or cover them every few days.2. Use mosquito repellents dailyApply mosquito-repellent creams or sprays on exposed skin, especially during the early morning and evening. You can also use natural oils like citronella or eucalyptus.3. Wear full-sleeved clothesCovering your skin reduces the chances of mosquito bites. Choose light-coloured clothes with long sleeves, especially when going outdoors.4. Sleep under a mosquito netMosquito nets are simple but very effective, especially for children and babies. Use them even during the day if you nap, as dengue mosquitoes bite during daylight.5. Keep your house and area cleanDon't let trash, open containers, or broken furniture lie around. They can collect rainwater and become mosquito breeding spots.6. Use mosquito screens and shut windows at duskInstall mesh screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out. Also, keep doors and windows closed around dawn and dusk.7. Add mosquito larvicide to stored waterIf you must store water, use larvicide drops that kill mosquito larvae. They are safe for use and available at medical stores or through local health workers.8. Watch for early symptoms and don't ignore themIf you have a high fever with severe headache or body pain, consult a doctor. Early diagnosis and care can prevent is preventable. All it takes is awareness and small changes in your daily routine. By keeping your environment clean and taking the right precautions, you can avoid falling sick and protect your family too. Don't wait for a warning, stay safe, stay alert, and stop dengue before it starts.- EndsTrending Reel
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka: Health Dept. considering relaxing referral system for certain procedures
Realising that the existing online referral system (ORS) has significantly complicated service delivery under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme, the State Health Department is examining a proposal to relax referral requirements for certain super-speciality procedures in the first phase. Apart from this, the department is also considering doing away with referrals for all simple secondary procedures in BBMP areas. This is because the existing government hospital beds in Bengaluru are not proportionate to the population and the referral system is causing severe hardship to needy patients. The proposal has been drafted following a detailed review of the existing online referral system through field visits and interactions with various stakeholders, including health service providers, beneficiaries at private medical colleges and empanelled private hospitals, as well as field staff from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the agency implementing the health scheme. The (AB-ArK) scheme covers 1,650 procedures — 294 simple secondary, 251 complex secondary, 934 tertiary care procedures and 171 emergency procedures. While the simple secondary procedures are completely handled at the government hospital level, for all other procedures, patients need to be referred by a government hospital to a higher facility (including empanelled private hospitals) if the former is not equipped to treat the illness. The scheme offers cashless treatment up to ₹5 lakh a year per family. Around 3.42 lakh patients have been referred online since June 2022, when the ORS was introduced in Karnataka, till June 2025. The referral policy, which has been in place since the inception of the scheme and was done manually prior to June 2022, has undergone multiple changes. Initially, the scheme offered free services at government institutions and package based services at the private hospital. However, it was later modified to include reimbursement packages for government hospitals for various procedures — 50% (secondary), 75% (tertiary), and 100% (cardiac) of the total package cost. Government institutions currently receive approximately ₹1,000 crore annually from the scheme in the form of claim reimbursements. Issues with referral system Harsh Gupta, principal secretary (Health and Family Welfare), told The Hindu that interactions with various stakeholders had revealed that the existing referral system has significantly complicated service delivery under the scheme, particularly for under-privileged sections of society. 'It adds another layer of complexity during emergencies. Patients are forced to navigate the process just to access services at empanelled institutions,' he said. 'The proposal is to relax the referral requirements for certain procedures that would anyways have been referred by a government hospital to a private empanelled facility. Procedures such as cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, urology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology can be considered in the first phase. The applicability of the referral policy should depend on the accessibility, availability of services, and capacity of the healthcare system, as well as the patient load,' he said. In reputed medical college hospitals Besides, referral relaxation is also under consideration for neonatal codes related to babies born in non-empanelled hospitals. This is likely to be permitted exclusively for medical colleges with adequate infrastructure. 'On a pilot basis, we have relaxed referral requirements for a sub-set of complex secondary and tertiary procedures at Sathya Sai Memorial Hospital in Chikkaballapur district and BLDE Medical College Hospital in Vijayapura for the last six months. Now, we want to try it out in other reputed medical colleges, selected on some objective criteria such as those preferred by top rankers in NEET exam. We can list out top 50% of such colleges either on this criteria or on some other reasonable criteria. Thereafter, these selected private medical colleges can be exempted from the requirement of reference for tertiary procedures,' he explained.
