TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Three more persons from Sao Jose de Areal were admitted to hospitals after contracting dengue, while five others from Navelim and Telaulim are receiving treatment for malaria.
A dengue outbreak at Sao Jose de Areal on Monday saw 14 persons with dengue symptoms admitted to various hospitals, along with three confirmed cases. The Directorate of Health Services, Panjim rushed to the site for an inspection.
Meanwhile, locals of Navelim and Telaulim submitted a memorandum to the health minister and Curtorim Primary health Centre (CPHC) to inspect a construction site that they believed was the source of malaria. PHC officials inspected the site and stated that they had checked the labourers’ health cards. However, Navelim Civic and Consumer Forum convenor Joseph Vaz criticized the PHC for failing to act in time.
Sao Jose de Areal sarpanch Julio Monteiro appealed to the Health Department and other authorities to protect the village from the spread of vector-borne diseases. He and local Freddy Travasso claimed scrapyards were the source and urged the authorities to take action.
Health officials inspected the scrapyards and issued notices to the owners, and also directed that all unused material like tubs, that had stored rain water over the last few days be emptied at once. They also inspected houses and other establishments in the area and picked up samples of water stored in old vessels, utensils, tires and coconut shells left in the open. They also advised the public on precautionary measures.
Monteiro added that the Balli primary health centre (BPHC) had conducted fogging and spraying exercises in the last few days. He had joined the team of DHS officials led by BPHC health officer Dr Vijaya Halankar.
Confirming that there were three dengue patients, Dr Halankar emphasized that the BPHC was in touch with the hospitals and laboratories in the area for the latest tests. She also stated that they had searched for breeding sources of mosquitoes and that they were monitoring the patients’ health.
Herald visited some of the patients at a private hospital in Quepem and was informed that some had been shifted to Margao. Doctors at the Margao hospital claimed that they had received seven patients suspected to have dengue since May, and that this was not a recent outbreak. However, the staff at the Quepem hospital said that in the last few days the hospital received 11 patients.
Nessai resident John Fernandes, who lives near the scrapyard’s vicinity, was anguished that his family and neighbours were admitted to the Quepem hospital. He criticized the authorities for failing to check the scrapyards and hoped that the outbreak would be curtailed soon.
Navelim resident Joseph pointed out people had been infected with Plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Vivaxm, but when residents informed the CPHC about the first case, the Health Department was casual in their approach and could have prevented the other cases.
“In spite of fogging, another three cases developed in a single house which is next to this mega project. Instead of taking proper measures, your staff is questioning the people as to ‘how come cases are developing in a single house?’ Do they mean that people are inviting malaria to their houses? Is your department monitoring the situation?” asked Vaz
