Even though the Brihanmumbai Corporation (BMC) has spent lumpsum amount for creating awareness among citizens about Dengue, but this massive drain on civic funds has failed to yield results. As per an RTI application filed by activist Anil Galgali it was revealed that on an average the civic body has been spent Rs 8.28 lakhs per month on this campaign. His inquiry revealed that Rs 2.98 crores were spent during a span of last three years from 2013 to 2015.
Galgali inquired about the details of sum spent on public awareness about Dengue in Mumbai. A massive budget of Rs 2,98,21,995 had already been spent on this awareness programme from 2013 to 2015. Dr Neelam Kadam, Assistant Health Officer & PIO of Information, Education & Contact Cell informed Galgali. The figures of the present year are yet to be collated. An amount of Rs 22,62,857 was incurred in 2013, Rs 1,51,65,079.78 in 2014 and Rs 1,23,94,059.14 in 2015 on various Dengue Awareness programs. Eleven patients lost their lives to Dengue in 2013, 12 deaths were reported in 2014 and eight in 2015.
Anil Galgali has written to BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta suggesting use of social media platforms for this Public Awareness initiative. He said, “The BMC could build a database, beginning by collecting Mobile numbers of thousands of patients visiting its hospital each day. It’s time to utilise other options that are available for communication”.
