PANAJI
The Captain of Ports has issued a health advisory ahead of the monsoon season to prevent the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chikungunya.
In a circular issued today, the CoP has outlined crucial preventative measures for the barge owners, watersports boat owners, docks, shop repairers and manufacturing yards, canoe owners and other boat owners.
These being:
- Ensure regular drainage of rainwater from cargo holds to prevent accumulation.
- Avoid water stagnation in fenders made of tyres by drilling drainage holes in them.
- Properly cover vessels with tarpaulin during the monsoon season when not in use.
- Store vessels upside down to prevent rainwater accumulation.
- Regularly remove any accumulated water from vessels.
- Owners must ensure labourers working on vessels or at jetties are screened for malaria.
- Obtain health cards for them from the Directorate of Health Services.
- Owners or in-charges of docks, ship manufacturing, and repair yards must prevent rainwater accumulation in yard/dock areas.
