Plans and serious action with private agency all set to fight malaria in city - Mayor

Plans and serious action with private agency all set to fight malaria in city - Mayor

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 22, 2014 : Chairing a meeting to discuss measures to check malaria on July 21, Mayor Mahabala Marla stated that an action plan to check malaria will be finalised shortly and measures will be taken to implement the action plan effectively. 

The mayor said a committee has been formed with Mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee president, chief whip, opposition leader in the council, health officers, four corporators and four physicians to finalise the action plan. Mumbai and Chennai city corporations use mosquito larvicidal oil to control malaria in its jurisdiction. It is said to be effective against Anopheles stephensi mosquito causing malaria. Larvicidal oil is marketed by the Bharath Petroleum.

Buildings under construction may face action and cancellation of license if they fail to take measures to check breeding of mosquitoes on the construction sites.  Physician Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya said that vector-borne diseases control unit should be headed by senior retired medical officer. The routine process of handing over anti-malaria drive to an agency should be stopped. Though the Mangalore City Corporation is paying Rs 5.5 lakh to the malaria control unit every month, the MCC do not have any information on the unit. The MCC should take measures to check spread of malaria in bus stand and Railway Stations.

He said that medical colleges should be entrusted with the responsibility to visit the construction sites and collect blood samples of the labourers to test for malaria. Physician Dr Shantharam Baliga said that guidelines should be framed with the help of medical colleges to take up anti-malaria drive.

The Mayor said that antimalaria drive has been entrusted to an agency following the government order. If the agency fails to take up the work effectively, then action will be initiated within the framework of the law.  Social worker Suresh Shetty said that health inspectors should be entrusted with the responsibility in controlling malaria. The health inspectors and Malaria control unit should convene a meeting once a week.

Corporator Roopa D Bangera said that there is a need to check breeding of mosquitoes in vacant land. A campaign should be started to create awareness among general public on the measures to be taken to check malaria.  District Malaria Control Officer Dr Arun Kumar said that software is being developed to get statistics of patients tested positive through SMS from laboratories and hospitals. DHO Dr Shivakumar said that 19 malaria cases were reported in 1990. However, it has increased to 4,260 in 2014. About 51 per cent of total malaria cases in the State are reported in undivided Dakshina Kannada district. Plans are rife to initiate better measures.