Initiative to ward off vector diseases during monsoon
PANAJI
Ahead of the monsoon, the Captain of Ports has directed barge owners, watersports boat owners, docks, ship repairers and manufacturing yards, canoe owners and all other boat owners to undertake the preventive measures in a bid to prevent the occurrence of vector diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya.
This includes ensuring that no rainwater is accumulated in the cargo hold of the barges and the water so collected should be drained out regularly from the barges.
The owners/masters of the barges and other inland vessels should ensure that there is no stagnation of water in the tyres used as fenders. The simplest way could be drilling a hole at the bottom of the tyres so that the water from the tyres is drained out.
“The owners of the other small vessels/crafts/canoes/watersports boats should properly cover their vessels with tarpaulin during monsoon and/or they should keep their vessels/boats upside down during monsoon season when not in use, so that no rainwater is accumulated in the vessel. Water accumulated in the vessel should be removed/drained out regularly,” reads a statement issued by the Department of Information & Publicity.
The CoP has also asked these vessel owners to screen their respective workers/ labourers on board the trawlers/vessels or at the jetties for malaria and that they should obtain health cards for them from the Directorate of Health Services.
"Similarly, in the case of labourers engaged in workshops/docks. The owners/in charge of docks, ship manufacturers, repair yards must ensure that no rain water is accumulated in the yards/docks area,” it further said, warning that any violation of the directives will be viewed seriously.
