PANAJI
The area around the Mahalaxmi temple and Boca de Vaca in Panaji have become hotspots of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue, with 13 dengue cases detected in the last few days.
Officials from the Panaji Urban Health Centre (UHC) and Corporation of the City of Panaji have begun a week-long awareness drive in the affected area from Friday.
"Every week, we find around 3-4 cases of vector-borne diseases in these areas since the last three weeks. There have been 13 dengue cases detected in the last few days in this area,” said UHC Medical Officer Dr Alden D’Souza.
The CCP and the UHC have begun creating awareness in the Capital City over malaria and dengue by distributing pamphlets to every house in the Boca de Vaca area. They have requested people not to allow water to stagnate and to keep their vicinity clean.
They have planned a visit to hotels in Panaji to create awareness about dengue and malaria.
"The awareness drive started from Mahalaxmi temple. We intend to cover the entire Panaji within a week,” said Dr D'Souza.
“Prevention is the only way to stop dengue. We will try to eliminate dengue and malaria by the end of this year,” he added.
CCP Deputy Mayor Sanjeev Naik appealed to people not to allow water to stagnate in open areas, in a bid to prevent mosquito breeding sites.
