Surat still in grip of mosquito-borne diseases

The monsoon has bid adieu but the city is in the grip of mosquito borne diseases. While private clinics and government hospitals are filled with patients, the civic administration claims it is taking every possible action.

People in many areas of the city like Varachha, Katargam, Amroli, Pandesara, Bamroli, Vadod and Limbayat are suffering from chikungunya, malaria, dengue and diarrhea.

"I am getting 10-15 patients on an average daily suffering from these diseases. The trend is going on from mid-September. Majority of patients are children and women. People who do not bother about hygiene and don't take precautionary measures are vulnerable," said Dilip Patel, a private practitioner at Varachha.

According to Patel, majority of his patients complain of heavy mosquito breeding, water logging and filth deposits near their houses.

Sources said that Varachha, Katargam, Puna-gam and adjoining areas are worst affected. Here private hospitals are packed with patients and so is SMIMER. The civic body operated hospital gets 500 patients daily in OPD.

"The flow of patients is very high and even we don't know the reason. Change in atmospheric conditions might have led to the problem. Cases of fever and cold are are also prevalent apart from water borne diseases," a doctor posted at SMIMER hospital said, requesting anonymity.

Meanwhile, Hemant Desai, deputy municipal commissioner (health and hospitals) of SMC said, "The campaign has been started in every zone, while we have asked our people to use defogging machines and sprinkle medicines at water-logged spots.

Owing to festive season, we are facing staff crunch, but are trying our level best."