Malaria rises with building activity

Malaria rises with building activity
On An Average There Are About 300 Cases Of Malaria Reported Every Month
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: Does increase in construction activity have a direct link with the spread of malaria? Yes, say health officials, who believe that the scourge of malaria is likely to increase and not decrease in the coming years.
With construction sites being perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes and migrants considered transmitters of malaria, the disease is here to stay, allege health officials. On an average there are about 300 cases of malaria every month and the disease touches a peak during the monsoons. In the first three months of 2008, about 1931 persons were detected with malaria. In 2007, on an average about 1000 cases of malaria were detected every month between July and November.
“Earlier, the incidents of malaria were high during the monsoons, but now the prevalence of malaria is a year round feature. We have seen that wherever there is construction activity, the prevalence of malaria is high and once the construction is over, the number of cases of malaria come down drastically,” said directorate of health services deputy director Dr Deepak Kabadi.
“Our whole action is to control malaria amongst the migrant labourers working at the construction sites. We screen them regularly and treat them to keep a check on the spread of malaria,” Dr Kabadi said.
To substantiate the link between malaria and migrant labourers, who work at construction sites, health officials throw figures from the last two years, when construction activity had touched a peak. While in 2006, 4110 labourers were found to be suffering from malaria, only 892 were locals. The situation was no different in 2007. There were 8042 migrants treated for
malaria, while the locals were only 1600. From January to March 2008, 1931 cases were detected with malaria, of which 272 are locals and the rest migrants.
Majority of health officials believe that the parasitic infection has been brought into the state by the migrant labourers, who have migrated to Goa for work from malaria endemic areas. Therefore, the migrants are monitored regularly to check the spread of disease and most of the government’s intervention and control methods focus on labourers. Even the state government by amending the Goa Public Health Act in March 1996 had declared malaria as a notifiable disease.
The health authorities have also introduced ‘health cards’, which are essentially to be carried by all migrant construction labourers. This card has to be obtained by all migrant construction labourers from the nearest primary health centre and the testing of malaria has to be done every three months. However, critics say that the efficiency in controlling malaria by issuing health cards fails on several counts, especially since the burden of vector control is now on the migrant labourer, and not on the construction companies.
Even World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises malaria as a killer disease. It is a problem that to a very great extent is man-made. Still worse, even though man is aware of the problem, they are still not deeply concerned about its eradication.
“Pits all over the roads in Goa, construction sites, plastics littered in stormwater drains, several open spaces used by the public as urinals and toilets, water logging in monsoons and garbage scattered everywhere, to name a few are frequent mosquito breeding sites,” said a city based doctor.
HISTORY
Malaria by no account is new to Goa. There are several historical accounts of malaria epidemics in the state. The incidence was highest in the rural areas of Sanguem, Sattari, Canacona and Quepem talukas. Regulation to prevent and control malaria epidemic was initiated in 1913 and by 1950s malaria was almost under control. But in 1986, there was a sudden upturn in malaria cases in Panaji. This was the first time that an urban area had been affected by malaria. The health officials explained that this was due to the construction works that were being carried out at Miramar area. With the construction activity increasing in the state, malaria is here to stay, said health officials.
MOST DANGEROUS MOSQUITOES
ANOPHELINE CULISIFACIES:
The most dangerous malaria carrier, it mostly breeds in swamps, which have been formed by floods and rain water accumulation and feeds on human as well as bovine blood.
ANOPHELINE FLUVIATIS:
It breeds in clear water, seepages and wells, edges of ponds, paddy fields etc. It feeds on human blood and cattle blood, especially around midnight.
ANOPHELINE STEPHENSI:
This species is said to be a vector in the coastal areas of Pernem and Arpora in Bardez and mostly breeds in salt pans during the months of September and October.

2008 May 27 Times Of India Goa