Click to play videoNew Delhi: It's a disease that creeps up every year around the monsoons. The threat of Dengue might just be looming large in the Capital. But that's not the only worry. Believe it or not, India's premier medical institute, AIIMS, has become the ideal breeding ground for the deadly disease.
Spokesperson AIIMS, Y K Gupta says, "We are well prepared for dengue this year, both in terms of prevention and treatment."
But one look around AIIMS and it is a different story all together from what the spokesperson says. With an early monsoon hitting the Capital, puddles of water have already started appearing at various places on the campus. And these could soon start swarming with the deadly Aedes mosquito that transmits dengue.
Hygeine at AIIMS has been attracting criticism for the past few years.
- In 2006 1 medical student died of dengue while 9 others got infected
- In 2007 again 1 medical student died while over 15 others got infected
This year again water logging has started near the hostel bulidings. With monsoons not yet over the complacency of AIIMS authorities may prove to be misplaced.
Gupta however says, "We are looking into everything. Water coolers have been repaired and treated with kerosene, garbage disposal has been taken care of as well. Constant spraying is being carried out."
But an open gutter right at the heart of AIIMS presents a different reality. And not far from it are water coolers - open and dripping. The laundry area of AIIMS is nothing short of an invitiation for dengue to breed. Finally there is a heap of garbage and rubbish dumped indifferently, proclaiming dangers to the health of both the doctors and visitors to AIIMS.
Professor Communicable Diseases AIIMS, Bir Singh says, "This year we are expecting greater numbers of patients as compared to last year."
The New Delhi Municipal Council claims to have so far served 30 notices to AIIMS, but the situation is still the same for all to see.
With recent reports that dengue virus has started adapting to summer heat looks like a calamity awaits right here at the heart of AIIMS.
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