Kozhikode Corporation to intensify drive against fever

KOZHIKODE: A special council meeting of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation held on Saturday decided to intensify operations to tackle the spread of fever by boosting cleaning campaigns and monitoring the activities. The council decided to convene ward-level meetings to effectively implement the cleaning campaigns and also to observe a dry-day on all Sundays. Mayor Thottatil Raveendran said that more funds would be disbursed to wards to take precautionary steps against the spread of fever. The meeting also decided to one squad each for 50 houses for the activities.

Addressing the council, the Mayor said that Rs 16 lakh worth modern medicine and Rs 25 lakh ayurvedic medicines had already reached medical centres. “Steps will be taken to get another '9 lakh worth of medicines for hospitals soon,” he said. The Mayor added that more sanitation workers would be deployed for the campaign and would consider extending the time of the health centres to the afternoon too. Health Standing Committee Chairman K V Baburaj said that it had been decided to appoint six more doctors and to purchase one more fogging machine in the City limits.

Health Officer Dr R.S. Gopakumar said that the efforts of the Corporation had resulted in fewer cases being reported in the City limit compared to other parts of the district. “If we can continue these efforts in full swing for another 45 days, we can tackle the fever effectively,” he added. He said that awareness programmes were not the need of the hour but strictly imposing the law against waste dumping and unhygienic conditions was what was required.

“Residents associations are also equally responsible for maintaining clean surroundings,” he added. Palayam councilor Ushadevi Teacher said that despite being brought to the notice of the health department, no action had been taken against the hotels which were dumping their waste into the drainage. The Mayor directed that action be taken in the matter and also informed that the Corporation-owned lorries would be made available for waste removal from the City.