Fogging operations undertaken by the Curtorim health officials at Rumdamol hosing board.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
A five-year-old boy fell victim to dengue in the Rumdamol Housing Board area on the outskirts of Margao. The boy breathed his last at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim in the wee hours of Friday.
Officials of the Curtorim Primary Health Centre informed that the kindergarten student was first admitted at the South Goa district hospital. He was later shifted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim after his condition turned critical when his platelet count went down drastically.
Curtorim Health Officer Dr Vallabh Nadkarni confirmed that the five-year-old died of suspected dengue. “We have information that the boy had a fever for around five days before he was tested for dengue,” he said while making a fervent plea to the people to go for blood testing immediately if they were suffering from fever.
The health officer said the Curtorim Primary Health Centre in association with a team from the Margao Urban Health Centre had held an awareness programme in Rumdamol village on Saturday to spread awareness among the people of dengue and vector-borne diseases.
“We again visited the house of the deceased and took blood samples of the family members. The tests have come back negative for dengue. We went to AIM School at Rumdamol as breeding spots were seen outside the school. We have received good cooperation from the school Principal Urfan Mulla,” he said.
Special anti-larvae and fogging operations were conducted in several areas of the village, which is inhabited by a floating migrant population. “Today, our team visited the AIM School and held an awareness programme for the benefit of the students and the staff. Similar programmes will be held in the village from time to time,” he added.
PHC officials get cracking on ground, alarmed by situation
After the death of a five-year-old boy of suspected dengue, an inspection of the Rumdamol housing board area by the health authorities showed that all is not well in the village, which plays host to a huge migrant and floating population.
When teams of the Curtorim Primary Health Centre descended on the Housing Board on Saturday, they came across waste, abandoned vehicles, and unattended garbage, besides mosquito breeding sites in the village.
Given the situation, the health authorities have mulled knocking on the doors of the district authorities, seeking intervention to direct the authorities in question to put things in order.
Curtorim Primary Health Officer Dr Vallabh Nadkarni along with sanitary inspector Eusebio Silva found to their shock and surprise vehicles abandoned in the housing board, which could be potential mosquito breeding sites. In fact, the team had a meeting with locals with a plea to convey to the vehicle owners to clear the abandoned vehicles.
The health team also conducted anti-larvae operations around the abandoned vehicles as a precautionary measure.
Dr Nadkarni further informed that the boy, who fell victim to suspected dengue, was putting up metres away from a garbage spot. “We have impressed upon the local authorities to rid the village of the garbage black spots to eliminate the mosquito breeding sites,” he said.
Sanitary Inspector, E Silva said the team have come across migrant labour force taking shelter in rented rooms in the village. “We have been told that around 6-7 persons are staying in a single room in many areas of the village. We will ask the local authorities to take necessary action,” he said.
During the inspection, the team came across breeding grounds on building terraces, indicating that the building tops could further spread dengue in the village unless the residents were educated to drain the stagnant water.
“We are keeping a close eye on Rumdamol village. Our teams will again visit the village to take stock of the situation,” Dr Vallabh said. He added: “We have told the panchayat to get rid of the garbage black spots. A majority of the houses are given on rent with a floating population. There are many abandoned vehicles with stagnant water in them. The team also came across scrapyards in unhygienic conditions acting as breeding grounds for vector-borne diseases.”
