BMC to deploy volunteers to counter dengue menace
1
2
Bhubaneswar: BMC on Friday decided to engage 100 volunteers for three months for dengue surveillance. These volunteers will focus on generating awareness and carrying out mosquito breeding source reduction exercises as part of a plan to tackle dengue menace ahead of the monsoon.
BMC officials said each volunteer will be paid Rs 400 daily. The deployment will be in 20 teams, with each team conducting door-to-door surveillance, covering 40 houses daily. The urban malaria surveillance unit (UMSU) will oversee this initiative and compile regular reports, according to a BMC officer.
BMC sources said mayor Sulochana Das is slated to convene a meeting with all corporators to ensure wider publicity of prevention activities.
Medical officers, district education officers, and child development project officers will undergo specialised training to better coordinate prevention efforts.
"Our primary focus is on educating the community about dengue fever, its symptoms, transmission, and preventive measures," BMC officials said. "We're implementing a grassroots approach that will reach every household in the capital city," they added.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Click Here To Read More - micro segmentation software
Expertinspector
Click Here
Undo
BMC is also launching a comprehensive media campaign utilising various platforms, including radio jingles, FM talks, and social media outreach. Also, waste collection vehicles will be used to spread awareness messages across the city, officials said.
A novel 'Zero Dengue Day' will be observed in each ward, featuring rallies led by local corporators with the participation of health workers, ASHA workers, Swachha Sathi, and Residential Welfare Associations.
The corporation has also decided to coordinate with IDCO/MSME and other departments and market associations to ensure
dengue prevention measures
are implemented in their respective premises. "Special attention will be paid to hotspot areas through intensive fogging and anti-larval activities under the supervision of BMC health officer," BMC officials said.
BMC said various govt and private offices and schools will also be directed to inspect mosquito breeding sources and destroy them. There are open stockyards in both offices and schools, which have abandoned articles that become mosquito breeding sources. In the second phase, residents will be educated on how to check household articles and spaces around them to ensure there is no stagnant water.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Boil It or Risk It': Unpasteurised Milk Linked to Rabies & TB, Warns Vet Expert From Gadvasu.
Ludhiana: Drinking raw or unboiled milk could expose consumers to serious, even fatal diseases such as rabies, tuberculosis (TB) and brucellosis, a veterinary expert from Punjab has warned, amid growing concerns about zoonotic infections in India's dairy supply. Dr Randhir Singh, assistant professor of veterinary medicine at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) in Ludhiana, cautioned that pathogens from infected animals often go undetected until symptoms surface — by which time, the damage may be irreversible. "Milk from livestock infected with Brucella or Mycobacterium tuberculosis can carry bacteria into the human body if not properly boiled or pasteurised," Dr Randhir Singh said, speaking at a livestock health awareness session. "These diseases don't always show symptoms in animals right away. But the bacteria often circulate in their blood and are excreted through milk." Rising Rabies Risk The threat is compounded by the rising incidence of stray dog attacks on cattle, especially in semi-urban and rural areas. Dr Singh noted that a single bite from a rabid animal, including dogs, mongooses, or even rats, can infect a cow or buffalo. "Rabies symptoms in cattle typically appear within 10 days, but in some cases, the virus can remain dormant for up to a year," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo "During this asymptomatic window, the infected animal may look healthy and continue producing milk — which enters the human supply chain." Rabies, he stressed, is invariably fatal once symptoms manifest. Meanwhile, brucellosis can cause fever, chronic fatigue, joint pain, and even infertility in humans, while TB — already a major public health concern in India — is transmissible through raw milk from infected cattle. Preventive Measures Urged Dr Randhir Singh urged dairy farmers to adopt strict biosecurity protocols, including:- Routine animal vaccination Hygienic milking practices Regular veterinary screening "Preventing infection is always more effective than treating it later," he said. For consumers, the message is simple: boil your milk. "It's the most accessible way to neutralise bacteria and viruses," he said. "Pasteurisation serves the same purpose on an industrial scale, but boiling at home is an easy and essential safeguard." As the demand for organic and farm-fresh milk rises, experts warn that the risks of consuming untreated milk must be clearly communicated — especially in rural households and informal dairy networks where pasteurisation is not the norm.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Losing sleep? Your hair will pay for it
P une: Over a few months, Raj from Mumbai noticed more hair on his pillowcase than usual. The 29-year-old approached a dermatologist who linked his problem to a poor sleep pattern. Raj said, "My sleep was hampered for months. I always thought hair loss was about stress or diet, but I never expected lack of sleep to hit this hard. I've lost a lot of hair. After researching and consulting a doctor, I realised that sleep is directly connected to hair health. I corrected my lifestyle and food habits and focused on my sleep pattern and that reduced my hair loss." Doctors said that sleep deprivation leads to a rise in stress levels that impact hair. The body creates extra cortisol, a stress hormone and high cortisol levels are associated with telogen effluvium, a disorder in which hair follicles enter the resting phase prematurely, resulting in excessive shedding. Deep sleep boosts blood flow to the scalp, allowing oxygen and critical nutrients to reach follicles. Dr Sapana Kamalani, dermatology consultant at Jupiter Hospital in Pune, said sleep regulates critical hormones such as melatonin which helps manage the hair growth cycle. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ecobonus 2025: perché approfittarne subito acquistando una pompa di calore Aira Scopri di più Undo Hormonal imbalance resulting from sleep deprivation can result in thinning and delayed regrowth. She added that deep sleep promotes collagen formation, an important structural protein that promotes healthy hair by strengthening the hair shaft and improving overall scalp health. "Lack of sleep can cause a dry, irritated scalp and reduced hair structure, leaving hair more susceptible to breaking and thinning. Finally, sleep is necessary for immune system function. A weakened immune system makes it more difficult for the body to heal damaged cells, particularly those in the scalp and hair follicles affecting hair growth," Dr Kamalani added. Preeti, a 37-year-old from Pune, said, "Post-partum, I have had many sleepless nights. My hair began to grow thin, appear lifeless, and fall more frequently than usual because of late nights and poor sleep. I was undergoing treatment for my hair but they were not effective. But once I corrected my sleep cycle, I could see my hair strengthening over the in the next few months." Dr Prajna Satpathy, dermatologist at Inamdar Multispecialty Hospital said when we hit that deep sleep stage, our bodies kick into repair mode, and that includes our hair follicles. During this time growth hormones are released, helping to fuel the hair growth cycle. If we don't get enough sleep, it can throw a wrench in this process by ramping up cortisol and lowering melatonin levels. Both can harm hair health, she added. She added, "High stress hormones can push hair into the shedding phase too soon, resulting in noticeable thinning or hair loss. Plus, a lack of quality sleep can mess with how our bodies absorb nutrients and synthesize proteins, which are essential for strong, shiny hair. Even the health of our scalp and oil production are influenced by our sleep patterns." She said that many people tend to overlook the importance of good sleep hygiene when tackling hair loss, but it is a crucial piece of any treatment strategy. "Ideally one must sleep for 7-8 hours every night. Certain medical conditions like thyroid problems, PCOS, anaemia, or autoimmune conditions can significantly impact both sleep and hair health," Dr Satpathy added. Saloni Anand, co-founder of haircare company Traya Health, said, "If you are not sleeping well, if your nights are restless or you are struggling to fall asleep it can directly impact hormonal balance and increase inflammation — both contributors to hair loss. Stress, city life and even geography influence sleep quality and consequently, hair health." BOX Pay Attention To Body's Clock In 2022, a study published in 'Annals of Medicine and Surgery', a peer-reviewed, open-access, online journal, involving over 25,000 individuals showed that those with sleep disorders were at a higher risk of developing alopecia areata Another study published in 2023 in 'Annals of Dermatology' by Korean Dermatological Association, demonstrated a correlation among stress, sleep disturbance and alopecia areata A recent study by a hair health company Traya involving over 1.5 lakh Indian men and women, showed a link between poor sleep and increased hair loss The study identified sleep disturbances in Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Bengaluru, directly related to compromised scalp and follicle health Factors such as delayed sleep onset, night-time wakefulness and regional stress markers contributed to hair fall
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Up in Smoke: Over 4k Raj kids found buying tobacco in 2024-25
Jaipur: Tobacco use among children and adolescents in Rajasthan persists despite well-known harmful effects of smoking and smokeless tobacco, the state's health department figures have shown. According to govt data, children not only frequently purchase tobacco products from local vendors, but issue is also exacerbated by the fact that sales often occur in close proximity to educational institutions, directly contravening existing laws. The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003 explicitly prohibits sale of tobacco products to individuals under 18 and restricts sales near educational institutions. However, enforcement has been inconsistent, with numerous cases of vendors caught selling tobacco to minors and operating within restricted zones. In 2024-25 alone, Rajasthan health dept issued 4,020 challans under various sections of the law for selling tobacco to minors and another 1,123 challans for sales near schools, highlighting the pervasive nature of the problem. While Rajasthan govt has received the national award for its rigorous enforcement of COTPA 2003, and the state has won top honours in the National Tobacco Control Programme for 2024-25, enforcement remains a challenge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Principal Secretary (Health), Gayatri Rathore, said the govt launched the Tobacco-Free Educational Institution initiative in Sept 2024, under which it conducted 14,725 awareness programs and issued 40,232 challans under Section 4 of COTPA 2003 to curb smoking in public places. Additionally, 15,765 individuals received counselling, and 7,539 were treated for tobacco cessation, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to tackling the issue. However, gaps remain in the fight against tobacco use among youth, with continued public education and community engagement being crucial for reducing tobacco consumption among the youth.
