The health scare which surfaced at the famed Cutbona fishing jetty last week not only highlights the persistent challenges faced by the fishing industry but also brings into focus once again how critical it is to maintain hygiene and safeguard public health. Although authorities, including Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro, have announced measures and reassurances that all is under control, the ground realities tell a different story, one marked by neglect and grey areas that leave scope for health issues that have haunted the area over the last couple of years.
Last week, six migrant workers at Cutbona exhibited symptoms of diarrhoea, with one shifted to the GMC with his condition worsening. This incident brings the horror of 2024 back to life and echoes a pattern of recurring health crises, largely attributed to poor sanitation, stagnant water, and insufficient hygiene facilities at the jetties. The question here is, if all is under control, how did the diarrhoea trigger yet again, especially after the claim that hygiene is in place?
The Department’s efforts, including installation of a 50-seater toilet block, sanitation facilities and mandatory health screenings for workers, are steps in the right direction. However, the efficacy of these measures is questionable when enforcement remains inconsistent. The recent incident suggests that health screenings, while ongoing, are not foolproof, and the overall hygiene standards on the ground are still compromised. Despite directives under the Merchant Shipping Act requiring toilets aboard vessels with over 15 crew members, compliance remains weak. Many vessels continue to operate without basic sanitation facilities, and portable toilets, permitted as a compromise, are often not utilised effectively. This lax attitude, coupled with insufficient inspections, defeats the very objective.
Moreover, the assurance of strict hygiene protocols does not align with the ground realities observed at Cutbona or other jetties, such as Karewaddo in Vasco. Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz’s observations about the unhygienic conditions at Mobor, coupled with the absence of effective screening and sanitation, highlight that the problem is systemic and widespread. These developments will not only spread fear among locals in that area, but will also not bode well for a tourist hub like Goa, which is trying to woo international tourists.
The diarrhoea scare is a stark reminder that hygiene cannot be relegated to mere infrastructure projects or policy statements. It demands a comprehensive, enforced approach that includes regular inspections, strict compliance monitoring, and engagement of all stakeholders. The department must go beyond superficial measures and address the root causes -- poor waste disposal, stagnant water, inadequate sanitation, and lack of awareness among workers.
Lest we forget, last year, the fisheries and health departments came under fire for failing to put measures in place. Subsequently, departments began pushing the blame on the Goa State Pollution Control Board, prompting the Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira to intervene and eventually resolve the issue. The health department’s role is crucial in establishing a robust screening and monitoring regime across all fishing jetties, including Mobor. The failure to enforce sanitation norms and health protocols will only perpetuate a cycle of outbreaks, risking not just health but economic stability.
It is imperative that departments adopt a zero-tolerance stance towards hygiene lapses, enforce regulations rigorously, and ensure that infrastructure improvements translate into real, on-ground health safeguards. The time for finding excuses has long passed; it’s time for decisive action.
