MARGAO, AUG 12
With H1N1 raising its ugly head in South Goa with the death of a migrant woman and detection of positive cases, the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority has decided to concentrate on slums and schools to contain the spread of the virus.
And, if the Mamlatdar in the district Collectorate, Ashutosh Apte is to be believed, the district disaster authority will not invoke provision of law but will use educational programs to spread awareness in the community.
“Invoking provisions of law will not help in containing the disease from spreading across the district. The only viable solution to take the virus head on is through awareness in the schools and slums”, Apte said, while addressing a workshop on H1N1 organised by city-based NGO Public Cause Foundation here on Thursday.
He said the district disaster authority has geared up to meet the challenge through the doctors and other stake holders such as the private hospitals located in the district.
The workshop sent a clear message to the disaster management authority to gear up to tackle the spread of the virus in the district on a war footing.
Former Hospicio Medical superintendent Dr Lanfred Da Costa told Apte that the disaster management authority should initiate action at the ground level and not confine the Action plan on newspapers.
Saying that many residents of Khareband are down with fever and flu, Dr Da Costa said it is unfortunate that the Disaster Authority is just starting to implement the measures when the virus is fast spreading in the community. “The authorities are advising the people to avoid crowded areas. This raises a pertinent question: Should people avoid going to auditoriums to see Tiatr”, he asked and said the district authority should not remain on mere paper but be active on the field.
Hospicio’s senior physician Dr Edward De Mello called for preventive measures to contain the virus from spreading in the district.He said that preventive measures are important to contain the virus instead of treating the patients on vaccination.
Hospicio doctor, Dr Aira Almeida advised parents and teacher to take a close look if any child suffers from cold, fever, inflammation of the face, sore throat for H1N1.
MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho offered his full support to the authorities to spread awareness in the city on H1N1.
Public Cause Foundation Chairman Adv Jagdish Prabudessai also spoke.
