The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) meeting on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes, after city councillor Krishna (Daji) Salkar raised the issue of the 5-year-old girl, who is suspected to have died of dengue fever.
Council slammed for failure to check mosquito menace
the goan I network
VASCO
Salkar said he had requested MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik to carry out fogging in all the wards before the monsoon to tackle malaria and dengue. “The council has failed in its duty, due to which there is rise in dengue fever in most of the wards,” alleged Salkar.
Replying to the allegation, Naik said he had procured 24 bottles of chemical to be used in fogging machine to kill the mosquitoes.
“One bottle was used for two wards and fogging was carried out in all the wards before the onset of monsoon,” informed Naik. “We will continue the fogging in the wards and will also direct the health officials to depute their personnel to identify the areas infected with dengue mosquitoes and take necessary steps,” said Naik.
According to sources at Headland Sada, the minor girl was suffering from high fever and was admitted in a private hospital.
The source added that since there was no improvement, the child was shifted to GMC Hospital on Sunday and died on Tuesday morning. The source added that the family suspect their child died of dengue fever, which is on rise in the area.
Efforts to contact the Vasco health office on the mobile phone proved futile, as it was found switched off.
Locals in Ward 10 and 11 also complained to The Goan about the fever and said the council has failed to carry out fogging and a complaint filed with the health officer proved futile. “There are about six cases of suspected dengue, including my child who is undergoing medical treatment,” said S Barretto from Baina.
“We have brought to the notice of the health office about sewerage water left in the open by the residents of a building, but the health officer failed to conduct site inspection and direct the building owners not to let their septic water in the open,” added Barretto.
