Media Release
Udupi, June 6: Udupi deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K has directed officials to intensify awareness campaigns among the public regarding the prevention and control of communicable diseases during the monsoon season.
Presiding over the Dengue/Malaria Inter-Departmental Coordination Committee meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Rajathadri, Manipal, on Friday, the deputy commissioner said that the onset of the monsoon increases the risk of diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, filariasis, and other vector-borne infections due to stagnant water and mosquito breeding.
She stressed the need for health department staff, local bodies, and grama panchayats to actively educate the public about preventive measures and involve communities in disease-control initiatives.
Swaroopa T K noted that maintaining a clean environment is essential for good health. She urged citizens to cooperate with local authorities in the scientific disposal of waste, warning that indiscriminate dumping of garbage could contribute to the spread of diseases. Maintaining cleanliness, she said, is the responsibility of every citizen and should not be left solely to the government.
Highlighting common mosquito breeding sites during intermittent rainfall, she pointed out that discarded tyres, coconut shells, and other unused containers often collect water and become breeding grounds for larvae. She instructed authorities to prioritise cleanliness in public places, including hotels, and to take legal action against violators where necessary.
The deputy commissioner observed that dengue, chikungunya, and malaria cases have been reported predominantly in urban areas over the past few years. She directed municipal bodies and local authorities to ensure proper drainage of rainwater during the monsoon.
Teams comprising volunteers, health workers, and ASHA workers should conduct door-to-door visits to identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites while spreading awareness among residents, she said.
She also called for special attention to migrant workers arriving from other districts and states for employment, noting that communicable diseases could spread through population movement. Municipal commissioners were instructed to convene meetings with construction companies and labour contractors to educate them on preventive measures and ensure regular health check-ups for workers.
Swaroopa T K further instructed officials of the fisheries and ports departments to maintain cleanliness in harbour areas. With fishing activities suspended during the monsoon, boats remain docked, and water accumulation in tanks and tyres attached to boats could facilitate mosquito breeding, she warned.
She also emphasised awareness among farmers regarding mosquito breeding in arecanut leaf sheaths, pineapple leaf axils, and rubber collection cups, where rainwater often accumulates.
The deputy commissioner directed authorities to conduct regular awareness programmes in hostels, schools, colleges, Anganwadi centres, and other institutions. Quarry operators were advised to prevent water stagnation, while temporary quarry sites should be treated with larvicides to control mosquito breeding.
She further instructed all grama panchayats to convene village health and sanitation committee meetings and take proactive measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Local bodies were also asked to impose penalties on those violating the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Regulations.
The meeting was attended by municipal commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi, district health and family welfare officer Dr Basavaraj Hubballi, district vector-borne disease control officer Dr Prashanth Bhat, district surveillance officer Dr Nagarathna, and other officials.