MARGAO
Residents of Fatorda on Tuesday claimed a spurt in the suspected dengue cases in many areas of the constituency, saying that a pregnant woman from Chandrawado is convalescing in a hospital with suspected dengue.
Margao Urban Health Officer Dr Anju Kharangate, however, said that sporadic cases of dengue have been reported from the city, adding that health officials and workers have been working on the ground to check the spread of vector-borne diseases.
Briefing the media, Camilo Barretto said that dengue has raised its ugly head at Borda, Agalli, Gogol, Chandrawaddo and other places in recent times, affecting many people.
He pointed out that a pregnant woman from Chandrawado is being diagnosed for dengue, even as he demanded action against the illegal scrapyards which have become the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “Some years ago, a youth from Fatorda had died of dengue. We have come to the media to warn the authorities of the rising number of dengue cases in Fatorda. We don’t want any person to fall victim to dengue,” he said.
Saying that he had raised the issue of the illegal scrapyards some years ago, Camilo lamented that none of the these have been shifted out of the city despite promises by the powers that be. “I request the authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council and the Urban Health Centre to take a look at the conditions in the scrapyards so that they do not pose problems for the people staying around their vicinity,” he added.
Meanwhile, when The Goan called up Margao Urban Health Centre, Dr Anju Kharangate, to shed light on the claims made by Camilo Barretto on the dengue scare, she said the city has reported sporadic cases of dengue in recent times. She, however, hastened to add that health officials and workers have rushed to the areas where the cases are reported to take up preventive measures.
“What we have received are not confirmed cases of dengue. But, when we receive the cases from the private hospitals and from Hospicio,
our staff goes to the site to take up laid down measures,” she added.
