No breather from malaria

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-09-11
PANAJI- The latest figures released by the directorate of health services inform that though the number of cases of malaria in the state have decreased as compared to last year, the number of deaths resulting from malarial infection have not.
The DHS statistics inform that the period from June to August 2008 recorded a total of 3,281 cases of malaria, including 871 cases in the falciparum category.
The break-up of figures states that June registered 941 cases of malaria including 252 cases of falciparum, while in July, altogether 1,189 cases of malaria were recorded including 328 cases of falciparum.
The month of August 2008 witnessed 1,151 cases of malaria around the state, with 291 of them in the falciparum category, as compared to August 2007 when 1,343 malaria positive patients were detected in Goa including 499 of them suffering from falciparum.
Sources at the National Vector-Borne Diseases Control Programme of the DHS told this daily that out of the 1,151 cases of malaria registered last month, 927 patients belonged to the floating population, mainly construction site labourers, while 224 patients were locals.
Furthermore, the figures for August 2008 inform that Candolim has recorded highest number of malaria cases in the month -- 335, in both falciparum and vivax category, followed by Panaji (216), Margao (129) and Mapusa (68).
As regards the malaria casualties, the year 2006 witnessed seven deaths in Goa resulting from malaria, while 11 malaria patients died in the year 2007. This year has recorded 11 malaria deaths between January and August, with the month of August registering a lone death resulting from the malarial infection.
The NVBDCP sources stated that though the state population has a threat of being infected by malaria all round the year, the months between June and October witness rise in such cases, mainly due to a number of breeding sites.
In order to curb malaria, we are now targetting the construction sites, which are the main causes of malaria, the NVBDCP sources stated, adding that nearly 85 to 90 per cent of malaria cases have these sites as their root cause.
In order to curb the menace of malaria as envisaged under the Goa Public Health Act, it is ensured that all labourers are screened for malaria at the nearest health centres by issuing them a health card, with a photograph mentioning their status of malaria.
Further, the Act also ensures that no contractor or builder engages any labour without a valid health card and necessary anti-larval/ anti-vector measures are taken at the construction sites.
As per the information provided by the DHS authorities, during the year 2007, in all 35,550 health cards were issued to the labourers and a fine of Rs 5,19,900 was collected from the contractors for employing labourers without the required health cards.