Mumbai: As COVID-19 cases rise, ward officials say they still lack enough members for surveillance

The sealed Porbunder Castle at Colaba. File pic/Suresh Karkera

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the city, the BMC has asked its officials to beef up surveillance in sealed housing societies and areas. Many people, whose societies or buildings have been sealed, have complained that they have to go out to buy milk, vegetables and medicines.

The BMC has asked ward officers to strengthen their respective field teams to supply essential items to people in quarantine, increase surveillance and follow up with the patients. Even the central and state health department teams have suggested improving surveillance. However, the wards say they are facing manpower crunch.

"Cases increase when infected people mingle with others in their neighbourhood. A full-scale lockdown may not prevent this effectively. We could curb the Coronavirus from spreading further and prevent hospitals from getting overwhelmed with patients by increasing surveillance," said Dr Pradip Awate, head of the epidemiology cell of the state health department.

Need more people
Ajitkumar Ambi, assistant municipal commissioner of N ward that comprises Ghatkopar, said the health team is getting help from other departments and we are trying to manage with existing manpower.

"We have been following all rules. We counsel patients, call them, inform the society secretary, and ask the building and factory department of the BMC to pay surprise visits. And, in case of a quarantine violation, we follow a three-step procedure before filing a police complaint. We first check the ground reality, sometimes force them for institutional quarantine. And if nothing works, an FIR is filed," Ambi added.

Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of G north comprising Mahim, Dadar and Dharavi, said, "We are reinstating the Dharavi model - increase surveillance with the help of private clinics and doctors."

"Until now, we haven't received any complaints from the housing societies that were sealed either partially or fully. In-person surveillance in gated complexes is difficult, hence, we need active participation from citizens as well as help from forces like police," said Vinayak Vispute, assistant commissioner of H West ward (Santacruz to Bandra).

May appoint nodal officer
"We have instructed all ward officials to increase surveillance and figure out ways to provide essential items like milk, vegetables to people in home quarantine. The BMC will take help of society members and will appoint a nodal officer if necessary," said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC.

He added, "We will even improve follow-up of patients. The wards already have a surveillance set-up that was used during the initial months of the pandemic. We do need more manpower, and in some wards, we are taking help from NGOs, but they also have limitations. Instruction has been given to police as well."