A surge in dengue and chikungunya cases has exposed a shortage of manpower in the city’s mosquito (vector)-borne diseases’ management and control programme, prompting the civic administration to expedite the appointment of 265 contractual workers.
Additionally, one case of malaria has been reported this year. The city has recorded 1,081 suspected dengue cases this year, 46 of which have tested positive, according to the PMC report. Dengue cases have risen sharply during the monsoon, with 410 suspected and 20 positive cases recorded in August alone as compared to 323 suspected and 12 positive cases last month. The city has also recorded 15 chikungunya cases, eight of which were reported in August alone. The PMC has already filled 150 permanent posts for mosquito-control work. However, officials proposed hiring another 265 contractual workers to meet the manpower shortage, given the increase in the number of cases.
However, Bhimale questioned the effectiveness of the campaign saying, “If dengue and chikungunya cases are continuing to rise despite such action, the effectiveness of the mosquito-control campaign also needs to be reviewed”. Standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale on Thursday directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to complete the process of recruitment of the contractual workers on priority and deploy them first in areas where a higher number of cases has been reported.
