It’s Time To Call War on Mosquitoes, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released a video appealing to people to come together fight Chikungunia and dengue.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released a video urging people to join hands in fighting Dengue and Chikungunya. (Photo: PTI)

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday made an ardent, slightly melodramatic appeal to the people of Delhi and urged them to join hands to fight the on-going war with the mosquitoes.

As Delhi suffers under the massive Chikungunya outbreak, the Chief Minister asked political parties to shun politics over the issue and come together to fight the epidemic.

Also Read: How Much Do Delhiites Know About Dengue and Chikungunya?

But of course, Kejriwal’s appeal could not be complete without adding a little drama. In his own style, he said the people should come together as they do in an India-Pakistan cricket match. He added if the people of Delhi could make odd-even policy a success, they could easily defeat Chikungunya.

This is Chikungunya’s worst outspread in six years. In fact, dengue and chikungunya together have claimed 36 lives so far and affected over 2,800 people. The figures for the previous years are 107 (2011), 6 (in 2012), 18 (2013), 8 (2014) and 64 (2015).

People suffering from dengue and chikungunya being treated at a Delhi hospital on 31 Aug, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

As CM made the plea through his video, his deputy Manish Sisodia also returned to the capital from Finland,

Also Read: Chikungunya Death Toll Mounts in Delhi

Full-Fledged Fight Against Mosquitoes

Fresh from a throat surgery, Arvind Kejriwal arrived in the city on Sunday from Bengaluru and released the video. He said mosquitoes do not discriminate on the basis of someone’s political affiliation and hence, everyone should fight the menace together.

He even corned the MCD on its lack-lustre functioning and inability to control the breakout of the epidemic. “We kept on saying MCD did not perform its duties. But since it has not, let’s do it together. Let us all work together”, he said in the video.

As a preventive measure, the Chief Minister also said that he has ordered the procurement of as many fogging machines as needed to fight the battle against the diseases.

Also Read: At least 1,500 New Dengue, Chikungunya Cases in Delhi in 10 Days

Chikungunya patients being treated at Hindu Rao Hospital in New Delhi. (Photo: IANS)

Mass Awareness Drive

The Delhi government on Sunday also launched a mass awareness drive to motivate the people to not let standing water accumulate in their residential premises.

‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquitoes that spread Chikungunya breed in places where clear water is found including flower pots, coolers, utensils, bird feeder etc.

Lt Governor in Action

Earlier on Sunday, the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung visited hospitals across the city to oversee the hospitals’ preparedness in the wake of increasing dengue and chikungunya cases in the city. He even stressed on giving special attention to the elderly.

Interestingly, his visit came after he was slammed by AAP for adopting a casual approach on the increasing health crisis in the city.

Najeeb Jung visited the city hospitals on Sunday. (Photo: IANS)

Politics Over Chikungunya

Meanwhile, the fervent debate over Chikungunya took a somewhat political turn when Congress leader Ajay Maken lashed out at Delhi Health Minister for being insensitive and ignorant over the current health crisis.

Also Read: Delhi Govt Panel Rules Out Chikungunya as Primary Cause of Deaths

The Health Minister, Satyendar Jain had accused the media of spreading panic over Chikungunya and asserted that it could not lead to death as per ‘medical literature’.

Also Read: Chikungunya Doesn’t Kill, Says Satyendar Jain as Toll Rises to 6

(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express)