MARGAO
It's now a fortnight since the new fishing season began on August 1, but screening of migrant labourers hailing from the malaria-endemic states is still a far cry at South Goa's largest fishing hub, the Cutbona fishing jetty.
The situation in around the fisheries jetty has also raised concern among health officials as an inspection carried out on Monday by the Primary Health Centre, Balli, has revealed overflowing septic tank and soakpit of the toilets. The health team is also believed to have come across a couple of malaria breeding sites around the jetty. The inspection of the jetty area assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the outbreak of dengue at Cutbona around three years ago, which had resulted in the death of a local resident.
It is estimated that more than 2000 migrants workers have descended on the fishing jetty. However, number of migrant workers screened by the health workers is pegged at a dismal 108 workers.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that while the PHC, Balli, has permanently stationed health workers to facilitate screening of the migrant workers employed on the fishing vessels, they have managed to take slides of only 108 workers till date. "The health center cannot be blamed if the boat owners are not cooperating by sending their workers for the screening. We have deputed out team right at the Cutbona jetty," informed a health official.
Given the situation, the PHC is now contemplating on knocking the doors of the Sub-divisional Magistrate and Deputy Collector Margao Uday Prabhudesai for necessary action. "We will not only draw attention of the SDM to the unusual situation at the jetty, but will also attach a copy of the inspection report, which has spotted a couple of breeding sites at the nearby construction sites," the health official added.
Cutbona Boat Owners' Union President Savio D'Silva had earlier maintained that the boat owners are facing difficulty in bringing the migrant workers for screening since they are out at sea during the day time.
It's now a fortnight since the new fishing season began on August 1, but screening of migrant labourers hailing from the malaria-endemic states is still a far cry at South Goa's largest fishing hub, the Cutbona fishing jetty.
The situation in around the fisheries jetty has also raised concern among health officials as an inspection carried out on Monday by the Primary Health Centre, Balli, has revealed overflowing septic tank and soakpit of the toilets. The health team is also believed to have come across a couple of malaria breeding sites around the jetty. The inspection of the jetty area assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the outbreak of dengue at Cutbona around three years ago, which had resulted in the death of a local resident.
It is estimated that more than 2000 migrants workers have descended on the fishing jetty. However, number of migrant workers screened by the health workers is pegged at a dismal 108 workers.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that while the PHC, Balli, has permanently stationed health workers to facilitate screening of the migrant workers employed on the fishing vessels, they have managed to take slides of only 108 workers till date. "The health center cannot be blamed if the boat owners are not cooperating by sending their workers for the screening. We have deputed out team right at the Cutbona jetty," informed a health official.
Given the situation, the PHC is now contemplating on knocking the doors of the Sub-divisional Magistrate and Deputy Collector Margao Uday Prabhudesai for necessary action. "We will not only draw attention of the SDM to the unusual situation at the jetty, but will also attach a copy of the inspection report, which has spotted a couple of breeding sites at the nearby construction sites," the health official added.
Cutbona Boat Owners' Union President Savio D'Silva had earlier maintained that the boat owners are facing difficulty in bringing the migrant workers for screening since they are out at sea during the day time.
