JOIN USAs Delhi's population races ahead, much more needs to be done to grapple with the demands of the health sector. Even now, millions of people are exposed to health hazards.
A major chunk of the population, living in poor conditions, is the worst hit as vector-borne diseases are on the rise. “According to the National Health Profile Report 2013, cases of swine flu were high in Delhi.
The risk of chikungunya fever and dengue is also higher in Delhi than in other states,” says Jitendra Choubey of the Centre for Science and Environment.
“Thirty-seven per cent households in the city have open drainage facilities and five per cent have no drainage facility. Besides, 11 per cent households have no connectivity to toilets on their premises. Their future is vulnerable,” says Choubey.
Population density is the most significant factor that has deterred people from accessing basic resources. Over 14 per cent of the population has no access to drinking water.
Experts in the field of architecture point out that better living conditions for the poor and building settlements away from open drains will act as a deterrent against infectious diseases.
“Because of population density, an increased amount of shared air space increases exposure to influenza, common cold viruses and measles.
Cholera and typhoid are steadily rising because of poor sanitation conditions,” says Dr B L Das, president of research and innovation with SRL Diagnostics.
Migration affects the transmission of communicable respiratory diseases, adds Dr Das.
“Cities often provide favourable conditions for the spread of germs imported by migrants from rural areas. Many newcomers do not have specific immunity for certain urban diseases and so develop severe forms of these diseases. Dengue and malaria, both urban diseases, too have created havoc in Delhi.”
The city also faces acute blood shortage in summer and winter. When cases of dengue increase, blood banks are under more pressure.
“There has to be a paradigm shift to voluntary blood donors from replacement donors to bridge the gap between demand and supply,” says Dr Vanashree Singh, director of blood bank, Indian Red Cross Society.
Eradication of disease source
The Urban Development Ministry and the irrigation department are closely working with the health department and civic bodies to eradicate breeding sources of vector-borne diseases in the capital, says Dr Charan Singh, additional director of public health, Directorate of Health Services, Delhi.
The vector-borne diseases include malaria, dengue, lymphatic filariasis, kala-azar, Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya.
“We are trying to eliminate the breeding sources to bring down these diseases. We are also creating awareness among the public of preventive measures through campaigning,” adds Dr Singh.
The United Nations report has predicted that Delhi’s population will reach 3.60 crore by 2030. The capital will be on the verge of great risk if population is not controlled.
Thriving quackery
The city still loses several lives to illegal doctors.
There are some 40,000 quacks in Delhi. Slums in Anand Parbat, Jahangirpuri, Karol Bagh, Seemapuri, Sangam Vihar, Seemapuri, Kirari, Mangolpuri and Chirag Dilli, among others, have a high number of illegal clinics.
“The government needs to think beyond dispensaries, which usually close down at 4 pm in these areas. Would a day labourer want to miss his day’s earning by going to a doctor in the morning? This is where quacks have a flourishing business. Several anganwadi buildings can be turned into charitable trusts in evening,” says Dr Anil Bansal, chairperson of anti-quackery cell, Delhi Medical Association.
The rise in illegal sex determination and subsequent abortion of the female foetus, which influence sex ratio, can be attributed to illegal clinics.