Stay off roadside sherbets, says BMC……….Pandurang Mhaske
Mumbai: If slurping on ice-golas and sherbets from the roadside hawker on a hot, summer day is a regular for you, then you should think again.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to the Mumbaikars to stay away from the local roadside cold treats and sherbets since they are a major cause for the spread of diseases like jaundice and gastroenteritis. To prevent these diseases, the BMC has taken action against 52 vendors selling cold drinks on the roads and seized 7869 litres of sherbet in the city. Colaba and Kalbadevi had the highest vendors.
Official numbers show that cases of jaundice, gastroenteritis and fever are on a rise this season.
“The sherbets are made from contaminated water and may cause various diseases, hence the health department has decided to take action against them. The action will continue till monsoon as during the monsoon public health is at high risk,” said Dr G T Ambe, executive health officer of the BMC.
“Considering the rise in number of the patients the BMC has started door-to-door check ups. The programme was implemented on April 7 and will continue till monsoon,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.
“The BMC has formed five mobile teams. Each team has one doctor from the civic hospital, 5 medical interns and a doctor of the local health post. The team will check patients, prescribe medicines if required andsuggest further treatment,” Mhaiskar said.