DC holds MCC officials responsible for malaria spread in Mangaluru
11:46AM Sat 30 Jan, 2016
MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada District Administration warned Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) to be alert and monitor strictly all construction sites in the city to control the rising number of malaria cases.
Citing the failure on part of the city corporation in reducing the mosquito source and controlling spread of malaria, deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim directed the MCC authorities to identify construction sites, which are major mosquito breeding places.
t was disclosed during a meeting on Friday that the city with 60 wards has recorded 10,864 cases of malaria in 2015 and more than 50% of the cases were reported between September and December. In December 2015, the city recorded 199 more cases of malaria compared the statistics of 2014. In December 2015, the total number of malaria cases reported in the city was 1,302, whereas it was 1,103 in December 2014.
Experts including physician Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya, pediatrician Dr Shantharam Baliga and social activist Suresh Shetty blamed MCC for not taking measures to control spread of malaria. Dr Baliga pointed out that major input like source of mosquito in construction sites is missing in the data accumulated by the MCC through Malaria Control Software System. "The software has incomplete data related to malaria sources in construction sites. There is no proper mechanism to visit construction sites and take action to reduce malaria sources though the MCC has been issuing an average of 250 building license per month. The software also does not mention properly the actual number of open wells in the city," he said.
Suresh Shetty said that the MCC has not taken stringent action against builders who did not take measures to destroy mosquito breeding spots in construction sites. "Construction sites have become major source of mosquito breeding in the city. Builders are not bothered about mosquito breeding in their construction sites.
DC Ibrahim said that MCC officials should own responsibility for the sudden increase in malaria cases in the city. The DC directed MCC officials to hire an entomologist to take up malaria control programme effectively. "Identify all mosquito breeding spots in construction sites; not only the high rises buildings, but also those single site constructions. MCC officials should immediately hold a meeting and chalk out plans to reduce mosquito sources especially in construction sites," Ibrahim said and added that a review meet will be held again after 15 days.
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