On Friday, Dr. Tanu Jain, Director of the National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control (NCVBDC), visited the Maasaheb Minatai Thackeray Hospital in Navi Mumbai to review initiatives aimed at controlling dengue and malaria. Accompanied by senior health officials, including Joint Director of Maharashtra Health Services Dr. Babita Kamalapurkar, Thane Deputy Director Dr. Ashok Nandapurkar, and Assistant Director Dr. Balasaheb Sonawane from Konkan Bhavan, the team assessed various measures implemented by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).

The central team also visited an awareness camp at the Urban Primary Health Centre in Indiranagar. They praised the innovative approach of the camp, which included live demonstrations of mosquito breeding sites commonly found around homes. Dr. Jain's team recorded video footage of the activities to promote similar initiatives in other parts of the country.

As part of its comprehensive public health efforts, the NMMC has been organizing awareness and testing camps across its 26 Urban Primary Health Centres. To date, 342 camps have been conducted between August 3 and December 13, 2024, benefitting 149,826 residents. A total of 13,814 blood samples have been collected for testing during this period.

These initiatives extend beyond routine healthcare measures. Camps are strategically organized during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri to emphasize the importance of dengue prevention. At these camps, citizens learn to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water in containers, discarded tires, and plastic sheets. Demonstrations also guide residents on maintaining clean water storage practices to curb mosquito larvae development.

Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde has urged citizens to ensure their homes and neighborhoods remain clean and free of potential mosquito breeding grounds. He emphasized that collective efforts between the health department and residents are crucial to combat dengue and other vector-borne diseases effectively.

The health camps have received a positive response from the community, reflecting increased awareness and participation in preventive measures. With consistent efforts from NMMC and active public involvement, Navi Mumbai is taking significant steps toward eliminating the threat of vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria.