MARGAO: Against the backdrop of the number of dengue cases in Sao Jose De Areal alone rising to 52 confirmed cases along with 72 suspected cases, a health camp was organised in the village on Monday.  

Sarpanch Julio Monteiro submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Fransisco D’Souza and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva who had attended the function and the same was forwarded to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s office as well. 

Simultaneously, at the South Goa District Collectorate, a review meeting was held with the aim of attending to the victims and preventing further outbreak that was chaired by Salcete Deputy Collector Ajit Panchwadkar

At Sao Jose De Areal, the camp was organised by Curtorim Primary Health Centre. At the function, Goa Carbon Limited chairman Srinivas Dempo gifted the Village Panchayat Ambulance cum Hearse Van as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In the memorandum, the sarpanch called for the immediate closure and removal of all the illegal scrap yards, closure of the illegal industrial unit responsible for the outbreak and compensation for the affected families with financial assistance. The panchayat also appealed that the village be provided with a full-fledged Health Centre. 

“The Health Officials have confirmed that major mosquito breeding grounds are scrap yards and the Industrial Units. The Panchayat along with health officials and Velim MLA, MIDC Field Manager are working hand-in-hand in order to control the disease, which till date is not under control,” said sarpanch Monteiro.

Curtorim Primary Health Centre (PHC) medical officer Dr Rajendra Borkar said the IDC area is the epicentre and the scrap-yards, the major breeding sites and if these scrap yards are removed then 90% of the problem is taken care of.