Mangalore: Administration gets pro-active to control epidemics

Mangalore, Jun 6: In wake of controlling diseases like malaria and dengue and as a preventive measure to check mosquito breeding grounds in the district, Sadashiva Prabhu, Mangalore Assistant Commissioner, has urged officials to consider holding back of licences of restaurants, shops and commercial establishments if they are found violating waste management norms.

Speaking at a meeting of officials convened at the Mangalore Taluk Panchayat office, organized jointly by DK Zilla Panchayat, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and Mangalore and Bantwal Taluk Health Offices on steps to tackle malaria and dengue on Thursday, Mr. Prabhu said that officials must be stern while renewing and granting licenses to shops, commercial complexes, multi storey buildings and the like, especially in those rural areas that are now getting urbanized, and which do not maintain proper hygiene standards that result in creation of breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The Assistant Commissioner directed the officials concerned to send notices to wedding halls, 'Kalyana Mantapas', tyre shops, restaurants etc which dump waste around their surroundings and also create awareness among them at a personal level.

In schools

Stressing on the role need to be played by the Education Department, Mr. Prabhu asked the officials concerned from the Department to ensure that malaria awareness and measures to prevent breeding of mosquitoes are discussed in school assemblies and parent meetings in every school, in addition to holding of essay competitions so that a message is passed to students and parents alike with regard to maintaining hygiene and prevention of diseases. The Assistant Commissioner alerted officials of the Department of Social Welfare to ensure that cleanliness is maintained in hostels that come under it.

Health inspectors in municipal bodies of the district have been informed of the steps they need to take and have been directed to check the key sources of mosquito breeding in their vicinity. House to house visits by anganwadi workers and 'Asha' activists to create awareness among people with regard to checking of water storage and cleanliness of surroundings will also be made from June 10-15.

Joint operation

Dr. Arun, District Malaria Officer, spoke on the causes, symptoms, and ways to prevent malaria and dengue. As many as 10 teams have been carrying out inspection at construction sites from the past week and so far only minor breeding grounds have been detected in city limits, he said. Stressing on the need to have greater frequency of visits, Mr. Arun suggested that a joint operation be carried out.