Action plan to check malaria in Mangalore soon: Mayor

Mayor Mahabala Marla has said that an action plan to check malaria will be finalised shortly. All measures will be taken to implement the action plan effectively.

Chairing a meeting to discuss on measures to check malaria here on Monday, he said a committee has been formed with Mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee president, chief whip, opposition leader in the council, health officers, four corprators and four physicians to finalise the action plan.

Mumbai and Chennai city corporations use mosquito larvicidal oil to control malaria in its jurisdiction.

It is said to be effective against Anopheles stephensi mosquito causing malaria. Larvicidal oil  is prepared by the Bharath Petroleum.

Buildings under construction may face action in the form of cancellation of license if they fail to take measures to check breeding of mosquitoes in the construction sites.

Physician Dr Srinivas Kakkilaya said that vector-borne diseases control unit should be headed by senior retired medical officer.

The routine process of handing over anti-malaria drive to an agency should be stopped. Though the Mangalore City Corporation is paying Rs 5.5 lakh to the malaria control unit every month, the MCC do not have any information on the unit.

The MCC should take measures to check spread of malaria in bus stand and Railway Stations.

He said that medical colleges should be entrusted with the responsibility to visit the construction sites and collect blood samples of the labourers to test for malaria.

Physician Dr Shantharam Baliga said that guidelines should be framed with the help of medical colleges to take up anti-malaria drive.

The Mayor said that anti-malaria drive has been entrusted to an agency following the government order. If the agency fails to take up the work effectively, then action will be initiated within the framework of the law.

Social worker Suresh Shetty said that health inspectors should be entrusted with the responsibility in controlling malaria.

The health inspectors and Malaria control unit should convene a meeting atleast once in a week. The volunteers should visit the construction sites and collect the blood samples of construction workers to test for malaria.

Corporator Roopa D Bangera said that there is a need to check breeding of mosquitoes in vacant land. A campaign should be started to create awareness among general public on the measures to be taken to check malaria.

District Malaria Control Officer Dr Arun Kumar said that a software is being developed to get statistics of patients tested positive through SMS from laboratories and hospitals. 

DHO Dr Shivakumar said that 19 malaria cases were reported in 1990. However, it has increased to 4,260 in 2014 till date.

About 51 per cent of total malaria cases in the State are reported in undivided Dakshina Kannada district.