The Hindu : Karnataka / Mangalore News : People's apathy aiding spread of malaria: expert

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 04, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mangalore

People's apathy aiding spread of malaria: expert

By Our Staff Correspondent

MANGALORE, JULY 3. Apathy among people and the officials concerned is primarily responsible for the rise in the number of malaria cases in Dakshina Kannada in general and Mangalore in particular. Failure to accept this fact by those concerned is also aiding the spread of the disease, experts from the Malaria Control Action Committee have opined.

Participating in an interactive meeting on malaria organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Saturday, B. Shantaram Baliga, a member of the committee, said the city had to contend with a rise in the number of malaria cases.

While 2,609 cases of malaria were recorded between January and June 2003 in the city, the number rose to 5,440 during the corresponding period this year, he said. The number of malaria cases reported in June alone was 1,858.

He said the main problem encountered by the committee was the reluctance of the people and those in the construction industry to follow preventive measures. While people were averse to using mosquito nets, those in the construction industry, hotels, and apartments did not bother to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings.

The people had a tendency to blame civic authorities for the spurt in the number of malaria cases without discharging their duty, he said. However, the Malaria Control Cell of the Mangalore City Corporation set up the previous year had stepped up efforts to tackle the vector-borne disease, he added.

The cell had surveyed 16,654 houses in the city, released guppy fish in 1,699 wells, and persuaded people in 90 per cent of the houses to cover the overhead tanks, he said. Under the Active Surveillance Programme, the cell had tested 7,896 people for the disease. Of them, 174 people had been found to be carrying a malaria-causing agent, he added.

Referring to "malaria mapping" being carried out by the cell, he said instances of malaria was high in Urva, Bejai, Car Street, Kodialbail, Falnir, and Kankanady. He admitted that active surveillance had suffered because of lack of qualified personnel. While there should be a malaria clinic for every 50,000 people, Mangalore with a population of 6 lakh had only three, he noted.

Dr. Baliga said that the Justice K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte, and M.V. Shetty Trust had come forward to set up one malaria clinic each. He urged the KCCI and its constituents to supplement official efforts in this regard. The Health Department had decided to utilise the services of 100 personnel exclusively for malaria eradication work from Monday.

B. Srinivas Kakkilaya, a member of the committee, said it had been proven world over that there was a direct correlation between a spurt in construction activities and an increase in the number of malaria cases. He said malaria came back to haunt any developing city once every 10 to 15 years when construction activity witnessed a boom.

Noting that malaria could be cured if detected in the early stages, Dr. Kakkilaya said help from the construction and hotel industry as well the managements of apartments, hostels, and ashrams was very much needed to control the spread of the disease.

The KCCI honoured Purandaradasa Kuloor, Mayor, and his deputy, Sujatha Ahalya.

Earlier, G.G. Mohandas Prabhu, president of the Old Bunder Kirana and Allied Merchants Association, delivered the introductory remarks. R.D. Kini, president of the KCCI, welcomed the gathering.

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