In a sudden turn of events, six migrant labourers at Cutbona jetty have been hospitalised due to dengue infection triggering a scare in the locality. The six who were engaged as crew members of the mechanised fishing vessels were admitted to the Balli Primary Health Centre while one of the infected has been discharged.
Fishing jetties are often seen as breeding grounds for the killer mosquitoes because there is the pooling of water accompanied and unhygienic conditions due to a lack of adequate infrastructure make it even worse. This year, there were better expectations because the health officials were on the ground on inspections, plugging possible loose ends and identifying pools of water that are prone to breed mosquitoes. Moreover, health officials have been undertaking regular screening tests and it was reported that around 800 workers were tested in August for malaria.
However, there was no visible change in terms of infrastructure and living conditions at the jetty, despite the fisheries minister's repeated assurances of an upgrade of fishing jetties. It appears that lessons haven’t been learnt from the past. Cutbona has been in the news for the wrong reasons all the time — from unhygienic conditions to being a buzzing centre for vector-borne diseases. And yes, every year, there has been a false sense of comfort that is given by authorities that monitoring will happen and adequate steps will be taken.
However, much to the disappointment, the situation continues to remain grim this year too. While 800 workers have been tested for malaria as a precautionary measure since these labourers come from states like Odisha and Jharkhand, there are other factors that have been completely ignored. A random health test will not help, especially when there is a workforce of around 3,500-4,000 and over 150 boats operational at the jetty, and when there is a mess at the sites.
Tests on labourers could be a precautionary measure for malaria, but what about dengue which breeds in pooled water that is not necessarily dirty or polluted? When the situation at the jetty is precarious year after year, authorities should have put up Standard Operating Procedures in place so that there is accountability at every level. Currently, the living conditions for these labourers are miserable. For example, in the absence of adequate toilet facilities they use the nearby fields to answer nature’s call, and this comes against the backdrop of the State government taking pride in showcasing Goa as open-defecation-free.
While dengue is not contagious, there is a fear that the killer mosquito which breeds at the jetty will spread into the village. The health officials and the fisheries department will have to work in close coordination to ensure there is a seamless integration of protocols. This could be a life-threatening proposition for the labourers who are at sea between 5-7 days at a stretch with medical attention out of bounds.
The fisheries minister must step in to ensure that jetties across Goa are equipped with basic necessities. Without proper infra, jetties will remain scary hubs for vector-borne diseases. There is an urgent need to act, streamline systems, and fix responsibilities.
