The health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn up an ambitious plan to combat emergencies during the monsoon. Setting up a control room in Kasturba Hospital at Chinchpokli for uniform diagnosis, investigation and treatment of ailments. The civic body has also called for extra provision of drugs, said Shubhada Gudekar, chairperson of the Public Health Committee. Drugs worth Rs 1.5 crore and investigation kits worth Rs 50 lakh are being procured exclusively to tackle monsoon related diseases. Lists of vulnerable areas where extra attention is required and a stand-alone health post to discharge outpatient services have been kept ready. Sensitisation training programmes and co-ordination meetings are being arranged for NGO's, representatives of IMA and other associations. A detailed action plan for extensive pest control has been worked out. The civic body is also ensuring that there is adequate supply of pesticides. A consolidated action plan for disease control by the Insecticide Branch of BMC has also been formulated. These include malaria, dengue, chinkungunya and leptospirosis control. Under the malaria control plan high-risk areas have been selected for the preparation of crusade and residual spraying schedule and introduction of larvivorous fish at sources of mosquito generation. In the dengue and chikungunya control plan too the identification of high risk areas has been done. Notices have been issued to premises having odd articles such as tyres, tins, scrap materials, drums etc. Rodent control activities in areas prone to flooding by burrow fumigation and poison baiting, list of garbage dumps and garbage collection locations and strengthning of antifly activity at markets and some other locations have also been taken up. Also, 17 motorised sprayers of special capacity have been acquired. According to Dr Hozie D Kapadia, president of the General Practitioner's Association and ex-president of the Indian Medical Association (Mumbai) there are three groups of diseases that can be a matter of concern during monsoon. The first group of diseases are those which are caused by consumption of unhygienic food or water (Gastrointitis, Cholera, Typhoid and Hepatitis A/E). The second group consists of diseases that are caused due to mosquito bites (Malaria, Filaria and Dengue) and the third group of diseases are those which are caused due to coming in contact with the flooded rainwater (Leptospirosis). Kapadia also said, "It is very important to take precautionary measures from our side. One should avoid eating from outside. If it is a compulsion, one should make sure the food is made under hygienic conditions. Boil the drinking water or at the least filter it through ultra violet filters before consumption.'