MARGAO
As dengue raises its ugly head in the state, around 25 scrapyards in the villages of Sao Jose de Areal and Rumdamol, where suspected dengue has claimed the life of a young boy, have come under the scanner of the health authorities.
Sadly, even as the Curtorim Health Centre has served show cause notices on the scrapyards in the two villages to cover the yards or face action, questions are raised over the manpower crunch at the Primary Health Centre, which has around 40,000-plus population in its jurisdiction.
Sources further informed that education and awareness on dengue and other vector-borne diseases seemed lacking in the rural areas, especially in the Rumdamol housing board area, located on the outskirts of Margao.
Health officials informed that notices have been issued to the scrap yards to cover their units with plastic sheets to prevent the accumulation of rainwater. “Around seven scrapyards located in the Nessai Industrial estate and another 12 yards located outside the estate have been issued the show cause notice to cover the yards or face disconnection of power and water,” informed a health official. He said the health centre had in the recent past disconnected the power and water connection of a couple of scrap yards after they failed to abate the nuisance in their units.
Meanwhile, even as the Core Committee on Vector Borne Diseases is expected to visit Rumdamol and Sao Jose de Areal village on Thursday to take stock of the situation, health officials have stressed on the need to equip the rural health centres with manpower.
“The Margao Urban Health Centre is equipped with a dedicated team of health personnel working on the ground in the battle against dengue and Malaria. The rural health centres have no such dedicated teams at their disposal. After the death of the boy at Rumdamol due to suspected dengue, the Curtorim primary health centre had to rope in the team from Margao,” remarked a health official, while underscoring the need to equip the primary health centres with adequate manpower in the battle against dengue.
