the goan I network
MAPUSA
Lack of cooperation from the lone local civic body and 33 panchayats in Bardez has remained the main source of concern for health officials in raising awareness and controlling dengue fever even as the taluka has reported 71 cases of dengue in the last 10 months.
The highest number of dengue cases were reported in Mapusa Urban Health Centre with a count of 30, while coastal villages of Candolim (including Calangute) and Siolim reported eight and 10 cases respectively. Colvale reported eight dengue cases and migrant dominated Porvorim reported 11 cases. Aldona reported just four cases so far.
“Compared to other places in the State, Bardez has done well to keep dengue menace under control. No increase in cases has been reported from any areas in the taluka. With limited resources the health officials have performed well,” said Sudhir Kerkar, Deputy Collector Bardez.
The deputy collector held a joint meeting along with health officials of all health centres in Bardez “ Mapusa UHC, Siolim PHC, Colvale PHC, Porvorim PHC, Candolim PHC and Aldona PHC on Wednesday.
Kerkar informed that all the cases that were reported so far were suspected cases and there were no signs of dengue outbreak in any part of the taluka.
The only concern if any was the lack of cooperation from the elected representatives of Mapusa Municipal Council and the panchayats in Bardez.
“We are planning to have a workshop/meeting in the Mapusa Municipal Council to create awareness among the elected ward representatives. The health officer of Mapusa will brief them at the meeting,” the deputy collector said.
He also said that he will be holding a meeting with the two Block Development Officers of Bardez in an attempt to bring all the sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas for a meeting to disseminate information about dengue fever.
Dr Roshan Nazareth, Health Officer of Candolim PHC, said, “Ward-wise committees are important as these have worked to bring down the incidents of vector-borne disease at least in the coastal belt of Candolim and Calangute.”
Health Minister, Vishwajit Rane, recently called for better inter-departmental coordination to rein in the mosquito-borne viral infection.
He had also said that the health department’s responsibility was to treat patients but the onus of clearing stagnant water and fogging was the responsibility of municipalities and panchayats.
The State has seen a spurt in dengue cases in the last few months. The maximum number of cases has been reported from Salcete, Tiswadi and Mormugao talukas.
