GVMC readies action plan to check diseases this monsoon season
The civic body has drawn a comprehensive action plan focused on mosquito control, raising people's awareness and improvement in sanitation.
Identifying fever hotspots based on history, intensifying anti-larval operations, and initiating widespread fogging and spraying activities are among the key strategies.
Chief Medical & Officer of Health (CMoH) Naresh Kumar said that 106 water stagnation points had been identified in the GVMC limits.
Sanitation teams are being deployed to monitor such spots and clear water stagnation points, especially during rains. Spraying operations are being carried out in drains across the city, and oil balls will be put in select water bodies to check mosquito breeding. The GVMC has been using drones to spray pesticides in some water bodies.
'While anti-larval measures are already on, we will intensify the operations in anticipation of the rains and the possible outbreak of vector-borne diseases,' Dr. Naresh Kumar said.
Augmenting manpower
To strengthen the manpower for these intensified operations, the GVMC has proposed the recruitment of an additional 430 personnel. Currently, around 230 workers are engaged in anti-larval operations. The proposal is expected to be reviewed during the upcoming GVMC Council meeting, likely to be held in the first or second week of June.
Starting June 15, when educational institutions are scheduled to reopen, fogging and spraying operations will be carried out in all hostels.
In general, Visakhapatnam reports dengue cases often when compared to chikungunya and malaria. Last year, a few cases of malaria were reported. However, the number of cases being reported is on the decline, the officials said.
Meanwhile, the GVMC officials are preparing to launch awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Health Department, ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and sachivalayam staff.
A door-to-door surveillance exercise will be rolled out to educate residents in clearing stagnant water, aiming to curb mosquito breeding at the source.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Mangal Pandey announces online dialysis booking portal
Patna: State health minister Mangal Pandey on Monday said they will soon launch a portal, which will have a facility for booking dialysis procedures at govt hospitals online. During a high-level meeting of his department at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, Pandey said additional health centres will be opened in the state. He instructed civil surgeons to conduct regular inspections of health subcentres, and ensure the availability of necessary medicines and the appointment of ANMs. He said the process to appoint 4,000 community health officers was underway. In the meeting, he also reviewed important initiatives such as HPV vaccination, uninterrupted availability of medicines, promoting institutional deliveries, reducing maternal mortality rates, expanding ECG services and the 'Didi ki Rasoi' programme. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
13-08-2025
- The Hindu
GVMC launches ‘Eat Right' campaign; SHE teams to ensure compliance with safety norms in Vizag
In a major step towards protecting public health, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has launched the 'Eat Right Campaign'. As part of this initiative, the civic body has formed 16 dedicated Sanitation & Health Enforcement (SHE) teams, which will conduct inspections and ensure compliance with the food safety standards. Recently, many instances of hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and street food outlets in the city failing to maintain proper food quality and hygiene have come to light. Furthermore, the use of frozen foods, harmful chemicals in certain food items increases the risk of cancer, heart diseases, and kidney-related ailments. To curb such malpractices, the SHE Teams have been formed. The GVMC authorities have allotted two SHE teams for each zone. 'Each SHE team will comprise an Assistant Medical Officer, a Sanitation Supervisor, a Food Inspector, a Secretariat Sanitary Secretary, and a woman police officer from the Secretariat,' said GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg. He said that these teams would conduct inspections at a minimum of two to three eateries every day. They would examine the raw ingredients and prepared foods for quality and check kitchen hygiene. In addition, as part of environmental protection measures, they will also enforce the ongoing ban on single-use plastic, ensuring that prohibited plastic materials are not used, Mr. Garg said. The GVMC authorities said that initially, the teams would focus on creating awareness among food handlers about quality and hygiene. However, repeated violations will lead to the imposition of fines. 'For now, two teams have been deployed per zone. However, the number will be increased to 32 teams if necessary, with four teams per zone,' Mr. Garg said and appealed to the food business operators to ensure maintaining a clean, healthy, and plastic-free city. Last week, the Food Safety wing of the GVMC, along with the Legal Metrology Department, conducted raids on hotels, restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops at various places. Cases were registered against 35 eateries on charges of using chemicals, expired products, serving stale food to consumers.
Time of India
12-08-2025
- Time of India
16 SHE teams to ensure food safety in Vizag
Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has launched the 'Eat Right' campaign and formed 16 special SHE teams (Sanitation & Health Enforcement) for its implementation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The primary objective is to safeguard the health of Vizagites and protect the environment. This decision was taken in view of the fact that many hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and street food outlets in the city fail to maintain proper food quality and hygiene, causing illnesses among the public. Furthermore, the use of harmful chemicals in certain food items increases the risk of cancer, heart disease and kidney-related ailments. To completely curb such practices, two SHE teams have been assigned to each zone. Each SHE team will comprise an assistant medical officer, a sanitation supervisor, a food inspector, a secretariat sanitary secretary, and a woman police officer from the secretariat. These teams will conduct inspections of a minimum of two to three food-selling establishments every day, examining both raw ingredients and prepared food for quality, as well as checking kitchen hygiene. In addition, as part of environmental protection measures, they will also enforce the ongoing ban on single-use plastics, ensuring that prohibited plastic materials are not used.
