MAPUSA
Amid the rising incidence of dengue cases, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Bardez has issued a directive to secretaries of five panchayats in the Calangute constituency, mandating the initiation of a weekly anti-container and source reduction drive to combat the spread of the disease.
BDO Prathamesh Shankardas, in a memorandum, instructed the panchayat secretaries of Calangute, Candolim, Nerul, Reis Magos, and Arpora-Nagoa to conduct these drives on a ward-wise basis until the end of the dengue transmission season in September.
The memorandum specifies that each panchayat must hire two labourers per ward to carry out the weekly drives effectively.
The directive emphasises adherence to the relevant sections of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, ensuring that the efforts are legally grounded and systematic.
The initiation of this action follows a request from Dr Roshan Nazareth, the Health Officer at Candolim Primary Health Centre (PHC). Dr Nazareth highlighted the urgent need for these drives due to a staff shortage at the PHC and the rising trend of dengue cases, coupled with the emergence of multiple breeding sites in various wards.
He stressed that proactive measures in these five panchayats are crucial to preventing the transmission of dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
Candolim, in particular, has been identified as a high-risk area for dengue, being one of the ten villages in Goa with such a designation. This increased risk has necessitated more stringent and regular measures to control the mosquito population and reduce breeding sites.
In response to the severity of the situation, Dr Nazareth has recently issued at least 50 notices to Candolim residents who failed to cooperate with health officials during previous source reduction drives.
This lack of cooperation has hindered efforts to eliminate potential breeding sites, exacerbating the risk of dengue transmission in the village.
The BDO's directive aims to mobilise community resources and foster greater cooperation among residents to tackle the dengue threat more effectively.
By ensuring regular and thorough inspection and elimination of potential mosquito breeding containers, the authorities hope to curb the spread of dengue and safeguard public health.
The weekly drives, as mandated, will play a critical role in identifying and destroying containers that collect stagnant water, which are prime breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquitoes responsible for transmitting dengue.
The BDO's proactive approach underscores the importance of community involvement and sustained action in combating vector-borne diseases.
