Saddled with construction activity, most primary health centres (PHC) in villages find it difficult to keep track of malaria cases in their areas.
MAPUSA
Mapusa Urban Health Centre Health Officer Dr Anant Palekar expressed helplessness in tackling defaulting contractors involved in construction activity.
“Even if we withdraw licence to a construction project that fails to observe sanitation rules, the construction goes on,” Dr Palekar said.
Dr Palekar was speaking at a block meeting to combat vector borne diseases held at the Deputy Collector’s office on Thursday. Nodal officer, Dr Kalpana Mahatme, medical officers from Bardez PHCs, Anil Rane Sardessai, joint mamlatdar, GOACN coordinator, Roland Martins, Mapusa power department Assistant Engineer, Norman Athaide and others were present.
Anjuna and Assagao coming under Siolim PHC reported maximum number of construction projects at 79.
Candolim PHC reported 34 construction sites while Aldona and Colvale PHCs reported 31 and 9 construction sites respectively.
“Candolim being a tourist centre, a lot of constructions were going on in the area. Many outstation workers from Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa are found at these construction sites,” Dr Brenda Pinto, medical officer of Candolim PHC said.
Martins said, “We need to introduce school programme, engage students to sensitize the public,” Martins said.
In an attempt to identify malarial hotspots in Mapusa, Dr Palekar said that he was yet to get the map of 20 wards from the Mapusa Municipal Council.
“We badly need the map. Despite several appeals to the Mapusa Municipal Council, we have not received the
map of the 20 wards,” Dr Palekar said.
