As dengue raised its ugly head in the fishing hub once again, Cutbona locals have cried foul over the indifference of the authorities, including the Directorate of Health Services and Fisheries Department, in tackling the spread of the disease on priority.
Health officials on Thursday carried out fogging operation in the dengue-hit locality, even as residents claimed that some of the inhabitants have started migrating out of the area following the failure of the authorities to rid the menace.
With a total of seven residents, including six children, affected by dengue since November, locals have now called for concerted efforts from both the fisheries and health departments to prevent spread of the disease.
Says Cutbona ward member, Veena Cardozo: “It’s now nearly three years since dengue raised its ugly head in this fishing hub, but the locality is not still free from mosquitoes. I feel that both the department of fisheries and health should launch a coordinated drive not only to spread awareness, but to also tackle the menace head on.”
Veena admitted that some of the local inhabitants have left the area for safer places since authorities have failed to instill confidence in them about their activities.
“The health team comes and carries out fogging operations, but the authorities should find out why dengue keep returning in Cutbona,” she asked.
Balli primary health sanitary inspector, Nitesh Naik, said that there are a couple of potential breeding sites at Cutbona which could prove conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes in the locality.
“So far, we have not come across any breeding sites in the locality. But, we have come across a couple of mosquito breeding sites at Cutbona which need to be looked into on a urgent basis,” Naik said.
Incidentally, Velim sarpanch, Melvyn Sanches, said the panchayat will write to the Director of Fisheries not to allow any fishing vessel to venture out in the sea from Cutbona unless the labourers are screened for malaria and dengue.
“Screening of the migrant labour at Cutbona fishing jetty has not been of much help in the last fishing season. Out of the 5,000-odd migrant labourers working on site, the panchayat has been told that only 150 workers were screened last season. This will not help in tackling malaria and dengue at Cutbona,” Melvyn said.
