Mangalore, July 22: Mayor Mahabala Marla, in a meeting held to discuss measures to check malaria, stated that an action plan to check malaria will be finalised shortly and measures will be taken to implement the action plan effectively.
On July 21, addressing the meet, the Mr. Marla said a committee has been formed, which includes Mayor, deputy mayor, standing committee president, chief whip, opposition leader in the council, health officers, four corporators and four physicians to finalise the action plan.
“Buildings under construction may face action and cancellation of license if they fail to take measures to check breeding of mosquitoes on the construction sites,” he added.
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. Medical colleges should be entrusted with the responsibility to visit the construction sites and collect blood samples of the labourers to test for malaria, he said.
DHO Dr. Shivakumar said that 19 malaria cases were reported in 1990. However, it has increased to 4,260 in 2014. About 51 per cent of total malaria cases in the State are reported in undivided Dakshina Kannada district.
Corporator Roopa D Bangera, District Malaria Control Officer Dr. Arun Kumar, Social worker Suresh Shetty, Dr. Shantharam Baliga and others contributed some suggestions.
