Thousands of children carry out rally for dengue awareness

New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Thousands of school children today carried out a massive rally in the capital to create awareness of dengue, which has encompassed 957 people in its grip till day.

Hailing from 15 schools in the capital including the Presentation Convent School, Indraprastha school and a number of government schools, the children were led by Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibbal, Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri, chairman of the MCD Standing Committee Jai Kishan Sharma and chairman, appointment and promotion committee Brij Mohan Sharma.

Carrying banners and play-cards aimed at creating awareness with regard to prevention of dengue, the children, marching from the historic Chandni Chowk from Red Fort end to Fatehpuri end, distributed publicity literature with regard to dengue.

Mr Sibal administered oath to children and the citizens present on the occasion that they will ensure that water does not collect in and around their premises. They will ensure that they will not create mosquitogenic conditions, and also took an oath that they will do their best to make Delhi dengue-free.

Addressing the rally, Mr Jai Kishan sharma informed that MCD has pressed into service vehicle mounted fogging machines. In addition, it has pressed into service 370 fogging machines for indoor purpose. Five fire tenders have been pressed into service, which are fogging large nallas and ponds etc.

Mr Brijmohan Sharma informed that dengue is not an incurable disease. ''We can find complete control over the disease by adopting simple precautions,'' he said, appealing to the principals and the teachers to impress upon children the need for taking adequate precautions against dengue.

Among others who participated in the march were Deputy commissioner, city zone, Vijay singh, Municipal Health Officer N K Yadav, other senior officers and a large number of citizens.

A total number of 957 cases of Dengue have been reported from various hospitals of Delhi till this morning. While 590 of these belong to Delhi, 367 are from outside the capital city.

The worst affected by the disease has been the central zone which reported 110 cases while 72 cases were reporetd from Nazafgarh zone, 70 from Shahdara (North) and 48 from Karol Bagh.

Of the patients from outside Delhi, 199 are from Uttar Pradesh, 95 from Haryana and 12 from Rajasthan.

UNI AR VD HT1915