South Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to lower the prices of dengue and chikungunya tests, and has ordered for 900 test kits as an early action step for prevention/control of vector-borne diseases.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to reduce the cost of dengue and chikungunya diagnostic tests undertaken at its healthcare facilities, officials said today. Both the tests currently cost Rs 600, as per the capping done by the Delhi government. South Delhi Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat, at a press conference held at the Civic Centre said, the SDMC has decided to charge Rs 299 for dengue test and Rs 399 for chikungunya test.

"Also, the corporation has ordered for 900 test kits, in the first phase from the National Institute of Virology, Pune. We had ordered 600 kits last year. With one kit 96 people can be tested for the symptoms of vector-borne diseases," she said. A senior official said the new rates would apply from the next financial year, maybe 20 days or so from now. At least nine cases of dengue have been reported in Delhi in the first two months this year, indicating early spread of the virus carrying the vector-borne disease in the national capital.

The SDMC has taken early action for prevention and control of vector-borne disease this year by organising a workshop in February, wherein experts from various agencies exchanged ideas, she said. The corporation in a statement later said it is going to spray Alpha Cyper Methene for warding off mosquitoes. "This spray is capable of eliminating breeding of mosquitoes continuously during three months. Under the first phase, it will be completed from May to June, whereas the second phase will be from July to August," it said.

The spray will be especially concentrated in JJ and rehabilitation colonies, she said. The mayor also said the SDMC will take up testing with the help of Elisa diagnosis kit on a large scale this year. The corporation has also come up with a special school diary wherein observance of cleanliness habits has been shown pictorially to follow. "This year, it has been decided to give homework cards to the students of all the schools, including public schools and the Delhi government-run schools, which will go a long way in getting a real time picture about breakout of diseases," the SDMC statement said.

Sehrawat said the SDMC is also soon going to introduce a cashless insurance health facilities for its regular employees. "Under the scheme, 42,000 regular employees of SDMC will be benefited. The slabs of Rs 3 lakh, 5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh have been proposed, but there will be no capping on the upper limit" she said. The mayor also said the SDMC will construct 20 'Pink Toilets', meant for women only, five in each of the four zones, in the next financial year. She also said the present landfill site at Tehkhand is not being used for dumping.

"Another site, nearby, of over 35 acres is being developed which is more or less functional. The present site which is not being used, will be developed as an 'Eco Park' for which a consultant has been selected," she said. The SDMC has fixed a target of sterilising 90,000 dogs this year, she said.