COME SEPTEMBER!!!

In 1961 Hollywood unleashed a deluged of entertainment upon the people with a romantic comedy film titled Come September starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida. Come September and Delhi, the Capital of India,  is hit by a deluge- but of a different kind- a deluge of swelling population of Aedes Aegypti- a small ,dark mosquito of approximately  4-7 millimeters with typical white markings on its legs and a marking of the form of a lyre on the thorax. Delhi screeched to a halt and so did many other states and cities. The news headlines screamed to announce that the industry was hit by a slowdown, and work on roads and bridges delayed by months. The reason- the population of the migrant workers shrunk by 20%. Why? Stung by the miniature mosquito. While the country lamented the loss of its brave hearts in the battle on the border, there were many who battled the disease in the heart of the country anonymously. Those in the position of power passed the buck while others went head hunting- and the common man groaned in pain, waiting for action. Some blamed it on the complacency of administration, others on corruption, and a few others on the boom in the Realty sector-with indiscriminate construction work in progress, the mosquito found many aqua bodies to proliferate! As the disease spread its burning breath and the death toll hit North, the administration scampered to action. By then it was already too late- the disease claimed victims indiscriminately- from a few month old to the elderly and in quick succession.

  But September comes every year, and leaves behind a trail of woes that create havoc in the lives of ordinary, poor people, that defies any quantification of loss incurred as in the industry above. It is that time of the year when viral fever, Dengue and Chikangunia stealthily lurk in the nooks and corners of schools, offices and homes, stalk people stealthily and then strike the unsuspecting . Though you and I may not have been visited by it ask Rani, a domestic help, who works part time at 5-6 houses to eke out a living She has been trying to save money for her youngest daughters to buy crackers on Diwali, new cycle for her eldest daughter, and a question banks for her son preparing for boards. She started to save money after Holi, come September and all the family members, already underfed and malnourished, become easy prey to these ailments. Numerous visits to the doctor, who of course would be an unqualified one, and lack of strength to do work  further complicates the problems and they often find themselves out of work!

This has cascading effect. Most of the families in the city where women go out to work rely heavily on these domestic help .With them out of action, I am sure, a lot of working women too would have to take leave from their work to attend to their duties at home .

To further assess the damage, one only needs to attend a PTM in any school. A lot of children suffer academic loss for not being able to attend school and many have to forego the crucial midterm exams. Children, forced to keep away from school are the worst suffers- their future hangs in a balance- September is the time of assessment and evaluations in schools. Those appearing for the boards or others in the university suffer the risk of losing a year! Opportunities are lost and Futures are blighted.

But all these are nothing when one realizes that these diseases pose a great threat to life- they may become fatal.  The huge number of mortalities makes it imperative that stringent preventive measures must be taken and much in advance –at the onset of Monsoon. The Municipal Corporations should ensure timely and proper collection and disposal of garbage. Proper Drainage is another area that needs attention.  Roads should be maintained and all potholes filled. Water should not be allowed to stagnate and Fogging should be done as prevention and not just as remedy. Children in school should be educated about these diseases and exhorted to check their homes and surroundings for any signs of water stagnation. Hospitals should be readied for speedy diagnosis and treatment of such cases. People themselves should act as pressure groups for the timely and proper delivery of these important services. If we join hands and prepare ourselves then perhaps we too will say COME SEPTEMBER!!!