By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, September 22: With over 3,800 dengue cases and 22 deaths recorded so far in the Indian capital in what turns out to be the worst outbreak of the killer disease in five years, the Delhi Chapter of Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC) has taken the initiative to prevent dengue at the Tibetan colony of Samyeling, also known as Majnukatilla, a transit for many travelers including Tibetans and travelers from the Himalayan region.
Volunteers of the RTYC regularly pumps anti mosquito smoke using hand-held fogging machine in the entire colony, a major breeding ground for mosquitoes due to its proximity to still waters of Yamuna River.
“We will carry out this cleaning drive thrice a week for a month’s period. We started this drive three years ago and since have become a yearly activity,” Tenzin Chodhar, President of RTYC Delhi told Phayul.
The organization faced a slight problem last year when the state government imposed a ban on using fogging machines. “However, this year the authorities have relaxed the ban. So we are using all the equipment at our disposal.”
The anti – mosquito drive also covers the slum areas on the bank of Yamuna.
Meanwhile, the Tibetan Settlement Officer, Lekyi Dorjee Tsangla, said that Municipal Corporation of Delhi and his office have given full support to the organization in terms of providing manpower, fogging machine and insecticides.
The Settlement Officer confirmed that all the 80 Tibetans diagnosed with dengue have successfully recovered.
“No deaths of any Tibetan have been reported so far. Moreover, we have three nurses at the dispensary of Department of Health and they have been working overtime since the outbreak,” Tsangla said.
Meanwhile, 15 Tibetans have been diagnosed in Dharamshala but Dr. Sonam Topgyal of Delek Hospital clarified that all of them were infected while there were in Delhi. The doctor also confirmed that all the patients were treated successfully with no causalities.
The year 2013 saw the worst outbreak with over 156 cases of dengue fever reported from Samyeling Tibetan colony.
