Swachch Bharat or Photo-Op in Mahatma’s name?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachch Bharat’ or Clean India abhiyan or campaign first announced in his Lok Sabha election manifesto and later repeated by him and his faithful followers is set to reach its first round peak on 2nd October to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. In his rush to cash in on the Mahatma’s name and to pay him a public tribute at New York’s Madison Square Garden during his American tour, he re-named the Father of the Nation as Mohanlal(instead of Mohandas) Karamchand Gandhi ! It seems in Modi lexicon a lal here and a das there are fair game in pursuit of campaign propaganda. Back home his followers have been no less enthusiastic. In an early clean-up drive at Red Fort, the wall area normally kept fairly tidy with a semi-cordon, the civic authorities arranged to spread a few basket loads of rubbish so that the bosses could be seen cleaning it up for the benefit of the photographers ! Leaving aside such real ‘jokes’, we must concentrate on the broom in hand for the Swachch Bharat campaign. Dengue season is back, screams a news headline in Delhi, with reports of 75 cases till 27 September. “Dengue peaks in Delhi-NCR in September and October; so this is the time to use protection against mosquitoes and use repellent creams and patches,” says Dr Anupam Sibal of Apollo Houspitals. And it’s not just a Delhi problem. Eighteen other states, including Maharashtra and Kerala are also prone to it, while precaution is needed in the rest of the country too. “Over-prescription of antibiotics is a reality (in India) and we must act to check it. I welcome IMA’s move,” said Dr anoop Misra, chairman of the Fortes centre of Excellence for Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Diseases and Endocrinology. He urged the government to set up a mechanism to audit prescription of antibiotics, especially of the second and third generation variety, in all hospitals and nursing homes. The basic problem, of course, is lack of public hygiene and spread of infection in all its variety. Recently one Delhi hospital had to completely shut its eye operations for weeks due to an infection which couldn’t be identified. The surroundings of several hospitals, including Apollo, Max Healthcare and Saket City to name only a few, in the capital are an open source of infection spreading out of the dhabas or eateries and other rubbish in the immediate neighbourhood. Similar is the picture nationwide too. Perhaps the richer hospitals can spend a few rupees on keeping their surroundings clean. Peter Martensson, a Swedish expert, hit the nail on the head at the launch of a healthcare ‘Platform’ at the Swedish Embassy in Delhi last month. Citing personal advice given to him by his father, he told this writer in a side chat, that he avoided any use of antibiotics under all circumstances , and, touchwood, he was a picture of perfect health. Stop the infection and cut down antibiotics is the key to good personal and public health, according to Martensson who heads the India, Middle east and African operations of the Swedish company Bactiguard, a world leader in the protection of infection. Clinically named Bactiguard, the company specialises in reducing the number of hospital acquired infection benefiting over 130 million patients worldwide, thereby contributing to the reduction of the use of antibiotics. Surprise, surprise, a few days later (September-end), the Indian Medical Association launched its nationwide awareness campaign against the excessive use of antibiotics which has resulted in the emergence of new strains of drug-resistant organisms. “In the past two decades almost no new antibiotic has been discovered (worldwide) while bacteria have learnt to overcome existent ones. If we don’t conserve the existing antibiotics (by using them sparingly) ‘ a day will come when simple infections will become life threatening,” warns Dr Narendra Saini, secretary general of the IMA. The association hopes to spread its message of caution across the country through two and a half lakh member doctors who are on its rolls. All hands to the deck . Amen. Let us hope the Prime Minister’s initiative is implemented in full strength on a permanent footing, and not become just a temporary photo-opportunity for ministers and bureaucrats. .....................................................................................................................................................................