Delhi:
An attempt to keep dengue fever and chikungunya at bay in the national capital through the use of mosquito-proof coolers (MPC) in the summer months has failed to make any impact as it did not catch public attention.
It has been nearly three years since the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) developed and launched the coolers, but inadequate publicity and marketing affected its sales, a senior official said.
"As air coolers were favourite breeding spots for mosquitoes and the cause for rising number of dengue cases during extreme summers, we designed the MPC in 2007 and started marketing it in 2009," T.G. Thomas, Joint Director of NCDC, said.
He alleged that there was no move to make its usage mandatory. The Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not take any active step to promote the mosquito proof coolers.
"The advertisement campaign was also low profile. Even though Delhi government and MCD had promised its promotion, nothing happened," Thomas said.
According to him, the apparent indifference is evident as the license for the MPC has been given only to one agency in the national capital.
Thomas also said that no agency has come forward to take up the coolers' marketing because they have to pay Rs.10, 000 as registration fee.
But V.K Monga, chairman of the Public Health Committee, said advertisements were run.
"Coolers are favourite breeding places for mosquitoes and the cause of increasing dengue cases. We have been advertising about the mosquito-proof coolers (MPC) and its benefits," Monga said.
According to a recent study conducted by the MCD, 70 percent of mosquito breeding in Delhi has been found in air coolers.
Over 5,000 dengue cases were recorded by the civic body and eight deaths were reported in the capital in 2010.
Thomas claimed that while a conventional cooler requires regular cleaning to check for mosquito larvae, the MPC needs a clean-up only once in three months.
"The MPC has a metallic sheet put above the water tank inside the cooler, which prevents mosquitoes from entering and breeding," he said.
The water inlets and outlets are covered with strong steel net so mosquitoes cannot enter, Thomas added.
There is also no need to fill water every day as in the conventional cooler because the stored water inside the MPC cooler does not evaporate.
"The cooler has a modified water tank and special in-built technology that prevents water stored inside the cooler from evaporating," Thomas explained.
Jaiprakash Sharma, the sole MPC agent in Delhi, said: "The coolers are not much in demand because many people don't know its advantages. Last year about 100 MPCs were sold as against over 5,000 normal coolers."
It has been nearly three years since the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) developed and launched the coolers, but inadequate publicity and marketing affected its sales, a senior official said.
"As air coolers were favourite breeding spots for mosquitoes and the cause for rising number of dengue cases during extreme summers, we designed the MPC in 2007 and started marketing it in 2009," T.G. Thomas, Joint Director of NCDC, said.
He alleged that there was no move to make its usage mandatory. The Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not take any active step to promote the mosquito proof coolers.
"The advertisement campaign was also low profile. Even though Delhi government and MCD had promised its promotion, nothing happened," Thomas said.
According to him, the apparent indifference is evident as the license for the MPC has been given only to one agency in the national capital.
Thomas also said that no agency has come forward to take up the coolers' marketing because they have to pay Rs.10, 000 as registration fee.
But V.K Monga, chairman of the Public Health Committee, said advertisements were run.
"Coolers are favourite breeding places for mosquitoes and the cause of increasing dengue cases. We have been advertising about the mosquito-proof coolers (MPC) and its benefits," Monga said.
According to a recent study conducted by the MCD, 70 percent of mosquito breeding in Delhi has been found in air coolers.
Over 5,000 dengue cases were recorded by the civic body and eight deaths were reported in the capital in 2010.
Thomas claimed that while a conventional cooler requires regular cleaning to check for mosquito larvae, the MPC needs a clean-up only once in three months.
"The MPC has a metallic sheet put above the water tank inside the cooler, which prevents mosquitoes from entering and breeding," he said.
The water inlets and outlets are covered with strong steel net so mosquitoes cannot enter, Thomas added.
There is also no need to fill water every day as in the conventional cooler because the stored water inside the MPC cooler does not evaporate.
"The cooler has a modified water tank and special in-built technology that prevents water stored inside the cooler from evaporating," Thomas explained.
Jaiprakash Sharma, the sole MPC agent in Delhi, said: "The coolers are not much in demand because many people don't know its advantages. Last year about 100 MPCs were sold as against over 5,000 normal coolers."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
