This is a picture of deep anguish. A heart-wrenching moment when the body of a 6-year-old kindergarten student of Regina Mundi school at Chicalim was carried, school bag in tow, for final rites after he succumbed to dreaded dengue.
This tragic incident is a crying shame to those who take pride in talking about the giant strides the State is taking in healthcare, where super-speciality blocks, cancer units and state-of-the-art medical infrastructure are on its way. For, on the ground our health officials paint a picture of apathy grappling to fight even malaria and dengue. The very fact that Mormugao Municipal Council is equipped with a lone fogging machine for 25 wards sums it all. Let us not forget that Vasco is among the most populated cities in Goa.
It’s a pity that the jurisdiction of our health centres takes precedence over any emergency or calamity that strikes. This is why when there was a malaria breakout in a nearby Chicalim Housing society in March this year, the geographically
closer Cortalim Health Centre failed to respond since it came under Vasco Health Centre. And it is here where people were left to fend for themselves.
It’s a pity that our schools have been defenceless over dengue and malaria and all it could do is to advise students to shield themselves from the killer mosquito bite by wearing trousers.
It’s a pity that our administration and the entire system starts moving only when calamities and tragedies strike. In the Chicalim case, we have a clueless and helpless Vasco health officer who relies more on public cooperation and speaks of dengue shock syndrome. But yet, she gives an assurance that she will ensure no more cases will be reported. There is a clear lack of epidemic management or a health management plan. Raising awareness will be of little help if there are no quick response teams to address issues on the ground.
The school management and the principal cannot wash their hands off this tragedy. A sense of urgency did not prevail even when several students were taking ill and it shook their senses only when one of the faculty members was down with a fever. The principal admits that there are malaria-prone spots in the vicinity, then what stopped him from raising an alarm at every possible level? He should have played a pro-active role instead of relying on an email to alert the health services which is located just 3 kms away. It even comes as a shock that none of the school faculty, barring the class teacher, were present to bid a farewell to this innocent child.
The health department must take time from their ‘fish in formalin’ muddle and also focus on the buzz of the killer mosquito in the State.
