VASCO, MAY 21
The Vasco Urban Health Centre (UHC) has detected three cases of malaria (vivax), even as seven teams of 35 UHC workers are keeping a tab on the thousands of migrant works in Mormugao taluka.
“Yes, we have detected three cases of malaria (vivax) at a construction site, where a large number of migrant workers are engaged in construction activities,” said Vasco UHC Dr Vikas Kuvelkar and added that all three patients were cured of the illness.
“We have directed the builders to procure pumps to regularly pump out water from the storage tanks as these are potential breeding grounds for misquotes,” said Dr Kuvelkar.
He informed that nearly 38 construction sites in his jurisdiction are under observation as they have a large number migrant labour from Orissa, Jharkhand, Karnatak and UP.
Seven teams of 35 workers have been on their toes undertaking various steps to control malaria, including anti-larva measures and fogging, at Chicalim, Dabolim, Baina, Sada and Kharewaddo.
In the last one month, the UHC teams have taken 100 slides per day and have issued nearly 320 health cards.
At a recent meeting in the municipal council, Dr Kuvelkar urged authorities take the corrective measures before the onset of the monsoon.
Dr Kuvelkar has expressed concern over a paddy field at Maimollem that has turned into a sewage dump for surrounding residential houses and commercial structures. “We have written to the deputy collector to de-silt the Mamollem paddy field,” added Dr Kuvelkar.
