Migrant-inhabited Moti Dongor, Sao Jose de Areal village and the South Goa district hospital under construction have been declared as dengue and malaria vulnerable areas given the presence of migrant population.
To tackle the malaria and dengue threat head on, it has been decided that the multi-purpose health workers will go to the village gram sabhas and explain the status of the vector-borne diseases in Salcete taluka and the preventive measures needed to tackle the menace.
A high-level review meeting chaired by deputy collector, Margao Ajit Panchwadkar and attended by health officials at the South Goa District Collectorate, however, saw the absence of PWD and Margao Municipal officials, besides representatives of the Salcete Block Development Office. Given the situation, the meeting has decided to draw attention of the Chief Secretary to the repeated absence of department officials for the review meeting.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Panchwadkar said around 40 cases of dengue and 140 cases of malaria have been reported in Salcete for the period October-December 2015, with no death being reported anywhere in the taluka during this period. He, however, said the meeting has decided to put an action plan in place to meet the growing requirements.
“We have declared the district hospital under construction as a dengue and malaria vulnerable area given the presence of migrant labour engaged in construction activity. The decision will be reviewed from time to time,” Panchwadkar said, while expressing satisfaction that the situation has declined drastically compared to the corresponding period last year.
On the absence of department officials for the review meeting, the deputy collector said the meeting has recommended stern action against the officials for playing truant at the meeting.
