Old City residents rue lack of efforts to curb swine flu

HYDERABAD: With over 35 per cent of Hyderabad’s swine flu cases coming from Old City, the condition in the area is shouting out for attention. Though the authorities say that extensive measures are being taken to control and improve the situation in south zone, the residents claim otherwise.
According to authorities, plans have been put in place for various awareness campaigns in the south zone, where about 17 lakh people might be in danger if an epidemic breaks out owing to the high population density.
However, the locals say that the plans have only been made on paper and nothing has been implemented so far. “Forget spreading awareness about the disease, they are not even completing their normal job properly,” said Raju Malthunkar, an activist from Jiaguda. “We are doing our bit and trying to educate the people in our area because the civic authorities are busy making hollow claims,” Raju added.
Areas like Azampura, Dabeerpura, Hyderguda and Karwan have long been demanding an improvement in the sanitation facilities in the area, but to no effect. “With over-flowing sewages and garbage on the roads how are we supposed to prevent swine flu?” questioned Confederations of Voluntary Associations (COVA) activist Syed Abid Ali Pasha. “The claims made by the civic authorities look good, but the problem is they remain just on the paper. In reality, there hasn’t been any inspection or awareness campaign in the areas surrounding Karwan even after cases being reported from neighbouring areas,” rued Pasha, a resident of Karwan.
Earlier this week, after over two weeks of the first swine flu case in the city, the government made special plans to deal with the situation in south zone. The civic authorities were asked to set up a round-the-clock swine flu specific control room and rope in the self-help groups in the area. The plan included awareness programmes, improving standards of cleanliness in the area and examining slaughter houses.
Despite the locals and activists painting a gloomy picture about the implementation of these programmes, the authorities maintain that everything is going according to plan. “Of the over 360 slums in the south zone, we have identified 65 slums and are focusing our energy in spreading awareness there on personal hygiene and safety,” said Sunil Sharma, who has been appointed special officer to monitor swine flu in south zone.
Sharma added that while posters and banners educating people about swine flu have been placed outside every colony, they are also going door to door in certain high-risk colonies to inform people. “We have visited the homes of the patients that have been reported so far in our zone and the houses adjoining them. Our officials are personally educating families and neighbours on how to prevent the disease,” Sharma explained.