MARGAO
A banner displayed on the Margao Urban Health Centre building on World Dengue Day conveys a message loud and clear “ “Harness partnership to fight Dengue”. As Margao health officials and field workers descend on the ground to spread awareness on vector borne diseases, they seemed earnestly looking forward for the much-needed partnership with the citizens to take the battle against dengue forward and to its logical conclusion.
Huge task for health officials
The task seemed not easy as it appears to be in a city considered the State’s Commercial Capital, inhabited by close to a lakh people, spread across the 25 Municipal wards, dotting with housing boards and migrant colonies, besides housing societies. Making matters worse for the health team is that the dengue mosquito breeds in clean water, right inside the apartments and residential housing societies dotting the city.
Not a day passes without a dengue case reported at the health centre. In fact, three cases are being reported at the health centre on an average, with the number of cases reported at the health centre pegged around 100 a month.
Health officials say the number of dengue cases is less reported at the health centre as compared to the cases reported during the corresponding year last year.
If certain areas of the city, especially along the densely populated Pajifond-Malbhat-Aquem belt witnessed an outbreak of dengue last year, there’s no major outbreak of dengue in a particular locality till date, with sporadic cases raising its ugly head across the city.
Stress on high risk areas
Inquiries with the Margao Urban Health Centre has revealed that though there is no major outbreak of dengue cases in the commercial capital, the field workers have laid more stress on certain areas for close monitoring and surveillance.
The health centre is in receipt of around 10 fever cases a day on an average, out of which 2-3 cases turn out to be suspected dengue cases.
Margao Urban Health Officer, Dr Soccorro Quadros pointed out that the centre has identified high risk areas in the city, including the areas at Agalli, Murida, Borda, Pajifond, Malbhat, Gogol housing board, Dando, Khareband. “These areas are under constant surveillance and monitoring by our field workers. Our field workers carry out field visits to these areas besides others to ensure things do not go out of control,” he said.
He, however, have sounded a word of caution. “Right now, dengue is under control in the jurisdiction of Margao Municipal area. But, there can be no room for complacency. Our field workers are there on the ground almost every day. Even during Ganesh Chaturthi, we drafted a team at the health centre to attend to emergencies.”
Dr Quadros, however, said dengue can be tackled effectively only with the cooperation and coordination of citizens. “Dengue is not restricted to any particular area or social groups. In one instance, we had come across mosquito breeding right inside the residence of a doctor. Breeding sites have been detected in residential housing societies. Hence, we need the cooperation of all sections of society, cutting across social lines to fight the menace,” he added.
On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, the Margao Urban Health Centre had launched a programme to educate the people to empty their water storage tanks before heading to their native places to celebrate Chaturthi. Dr Quadros said Margao has not witnessed any spurt in dengue cases post-Ganesh Chaturthi. “We are closely monitoring the situation. A major part of the battle against dengue can be won if citizens lent a helping hand by ensuring that no accumulation and stagnation of water and breeding takes place right inside their homes,” he said.
