Friday to be observed as ‘Dry Day’ in anti-dengue campaign

To curb the spread of dengue ahead of the monsoon season, the Phagwara Municipal Corporation has intensified fogging operations across various wards of the city. Led by Municipal Commissioner Dr Akshita Gupta, the civic body is conducting regular fogging drives to eliminate breeding of mosquitoes and raise public awareness about disease prevention.

The initiative aligns with the observance of National Dengue Day, marked annually on May 16 across India. This year’s theme, “Act Early, Prevent Dengue: Clean Surroundings, Healthy Living,” emphasises the importance of proactive community participation in preventing mosquito-borne diseases. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Akshita Gupta underlined that dengue and chikungunya are entirely preventable and are caused by the bite of the Aedes mosquito, which breeds in clean, stagnant water and primarily bites during the daytime.

To strengthen prevention efforts, Dr Gupta urged residents to take simple but crucial measures, including avoiding accumulation of water in coolers, pots, trays, tyres and other containers.

Reinforcing these efforts, the administration has declared every Friday as “Dry Day,” encouraging all residents to inspect their homes and surroundings for stagnant water and to dry out any potential mosquito breeding spots. The Municipal Commissioner called on citizens to see these actions as a moral and civic responsibility, stressing that individual effort can significantly contribute to the city’s public health.

Additionally, joint teams from the Municipal Corporation and Health Department will be conducting routine inspections, and challans will be issued if dengue larvae are found on any premises. The move signals a zero-tolerance approach to negligence in the face of rising health concerns.

The campaign, which combines regular fogging, public outreach and enforcement, underscores the city administration’s commitment to ensuring a healthy and dengue-free Phagwara.