Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)

Mangalore, Jul 20:  An intensive campaign was launched against malaria in Bengre Island which has over 1,000 houses, by the health department of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) here on Thursday, 18 July. The MCC team made up of medical personnel, health inspectors, medico-social workers and sanitary workers, well equipped with fogging machines, sprayers and mobile blood testing unit started the drive.

Fishmeal and dry fish production is the major occupation of the people of Bengre. There is large scale breeding of mosquitoes found here particularly during the rainy season. For production purpose the fishermen in the village need large concrete tanks to store fresh water. There is no production of dry fish during rainy season as a result the empty tanks are filled with rain water, which then becomes convenient breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The villagers were informed by the health authorities about how the mosquitoes breed in fresh water and why the breeding should be stopped immediately as this can cause malaria.

Also in several places in the village where there is acute scarcity of water, people have to save and store water for three to four days. Most of the drinking water tanks are not covered. The officials instructed the villagers to cover the water tanks, as this would then prevent the entry of mosquitoes into them.

Padmanabha, the health officer of MCC opined that heavy mosquito breeding had been found all over the village. As many as 25 malaria positive cases had been reported in the village. All such people had been administered anti-malaria drugs, he added.

As per Maheshwara Rao, the DC of Dakshina Kannada district and administrator of MCC several changes have been made with regard to their approach to malaria control. The MCC would now follow a step-by-step procedure for tackling the malaria-endemic areas in the city. 

With this in view the city would be divided into zones, and steps such as destruction of breeding centres, blood sampling, drug administration to malaria-positive people and awareness and education programme would be taken up in the affected areas, stated Mr. Rao. This system though laborious and time consuming was definitely effective, he added.

Further the administration of temples, mosques and churches had been advised by health authorities to announce the corporation’s anti-malaria drive and request people to follow the directions of the MCC in destroying the breeding areas. Moreover handbills containing relevant information on prevention of malaria were also distributed, in the village. The health officials stated that the second round of intensive campaign would also be carried out soon.