PORVORIM: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane blamed unplanned and uncontrolled urbanisation as the cause for the spread of vector borne and viral diseases.
The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has identified demographic and societal changes, rapid transportation, and increased population movement as some of the major reasons for the outbreak of dengue cases in the State. This year, so far total 102 people have tested positive.
Rane said “Health, Municipal Administration and Panchayat departments will have to work in coordination to control the spread of vector born diseases by adopting necessary measures like fogging and creating awareness.”
He further said that demographic and societal changes leading to unplanned and uncontrolled urbanisation and concurrent population growth has put severe constrains on civic amenities, particularly water supply and solid waste disposal, thereby increasing the breeding potential of the vector (mosquitoes). He said that improved facilities like transportation have helped the disease to spread in rural areas.
The Minister said “Increased population movement including locals and tourists has resulted in a constant exchange of viruses and significant rise in the use of non-biodegradable plastics, which are potential breeding receptacles, and improper solid waste collection and management, has compounded this breeding.”
The House witnessed a health debate over rising spread of dengue, wherein the MLAs, most particularly from the constituencies in South Goa, raised concerns over frequent outbreaks. They said that local bodies have failed to bring the situation under control and hence Health Department needs to take charge of fogging and other measures.
Legislators Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, Venzy Viegas, Vijai Sardesai, Digambar Kamat and Krishna Daji Salkar raised their concerns.
