Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has 198 wards and only 68 health inspectors – not even one for every ward, in fact the ratio is almost 1:3. Incidentally there 130 sanctioned posts of senior health inspectors in the BBMP, which too, is not even one per ward. The number of sanctioned posts for junior health inspectors is 282, just 125 of them are at present in service.

In recent times, the highest number of cases of dengue in the State has been reported from the BBMP limits.

The spurt in Dengue cases in recent times,  is due to shortage of health inspectors, said the officials.The department is flooded with calls about mosquito menace during this season. But our hands are tied, said another official.

Health inspectors play a crucial role in reducing the number of communicable disease cases in the City.

“Beginning from looking at source elimination, conducting surveys on places where a large number of cases are reported and identifying worse affected areas by doing field work, ensuring that fogging and spraying is done, health inspectors are entrusted with several responsibilities. However, with just 50 per cent of the posts being filled, measures the health department of the BBMP must take is not happening,” said a senior official.

Health inspectors also play an important role in solid waste management and issuing trade licences. “As they work on the field, they also have the responsibility of implementing various Central and State government health programmes. Even this has been affected to a great extent,” the official added.