Observe ‘dry day’, prevent malaria

Hoarding water in vessels in houses can proof lethal. The unused water in the containers is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Out of 14,357 cases of malaria this year, majority of them were caused in domestic households. Statistics show that the proliferating cases of malaria stem from water stored in containers for over a week.

“People store water in additional containers to last the day, when there is zero water supply. This water remains as it is over weeks together till it is used. This is the main cause of malaria,” said additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.

“Water is stored for more than 10 days at a stretch and becomes a suitable ground for mosquitoes to breed as it is stagnant. We will request people to not store water for more than six days and empty that container at least once a week,” she said.

She added that when the water itself is forgotten for days at a stretch, the containers too get neglected.

The whole set-up provides mosquitoes enough oxygen for breeding, and the menace spreads.

To curb such cases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will run a ‘Dry Day’ campaign.

Because of the malaria cases reported from storage containers left unwashed and unused for days, the BMC will ask citizens to empty and dry the containers once every four days.

In this mass awareness campaign, the BMC will educate the people on the need of emptying and drying water storage containers.

“The vessel, which is used to keep water, should be emptied every fourth day. It should then be dried for a day or two before using it again,” said Mhaiskar.

The campaign is mainly targeted at slum areas. The civic body will rope in FM channels and other mass media to spread the awareness.