Mumbai health authorities gear up to tackle malaria
POSTED May 16, 2009 - 16:28 | POSTED BY Harleen Kaur
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on May 16, 2009 - 19:14
Malaria likely to be more effective this year
It is being feared that the number of malaria affected people is likely to increase this year.
According to a recent report by the civic body - BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), there has been 10 percent increase in the number of people affected by malaria. This is being attributed to an increased construction activity, a perfect breeding place for mosquitoes, in many parts of Mumbai.
According to figures made available by the health officials, nearly 6192 cases of malaria have been reported till date this year, including 611 cases of Falciparum and 5,465 cases of Vivax ,which is more than last year’s figure of 5,272 confirmed cases of malaria.
High risk areas identified
Taking a cue from this, the health authorities have identified nearly 134 new high risk areas in Mumbai, out of which 59 areas fall in eastern suburbs, while 62 areas are in western suburbs. The remaining 13 high risk areas come under the city area.
The high risk areas include Byculla, Parel, Dadar, Sangharsh Nagar (Chandivli), pockets in Marol and parts of Andheri East.
A senior civic official confirmed this. He further said, “We have deployed more staff at these spots. Mosquitoes start breeding once there is waterlogging and we are working to reduce their numbers.”
Moreover, the civic body has named nearly 2,000 mosquito breeding areas among 7,478 construction sites in and around Mumbai.
Additional chief secretary (health) Sharvari Gokhale, said, “The concern is that malaria deaths in the state are basically in and around Mumbai. Though BMC officials said that some of the deaths are from outside Mumbai they are from urban areas.”
Migrant laborers a major factor
According to BMC officials, Mumbai has a large population of migrant laborers and construction workers who can help spread the epidemic of malaria after holidaying at their native places, which happen to be malaria-endemic areas.
Executive health officer, Dr. Jairaj Thanekar said, “It is true that people returning from their native places like Chattisgarh, Uttaranchal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh have been infected and are spreading malaria. Construction sites also continue to be a major problem.”
Blood samples of 2.46 lakh residents of Mumbai, majority of which include migrant labor, have been collected by the civic health officials, out of which nearly 6,192 have tested positive for malaria.
