With malaria continuing unabated in Mangalore, a new strategy has been evolved to try and tackle the menace.
Alarmed by the recent rise in malaria cases in Mangalore [See],
senior officials of the Karnataka Government Sri Madan Gopal, Principal
Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Sri Subhaschandra, Secretary of Urban
Development and others visited Mangalore and interacted with the local officials
and stakeholders on 23rd of February, 2008. All necessary support from the state
government was assured during the meeting.
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Malaria
Surveillance Drive Launched In Mangalore on Mar 11, 2008 |
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As per the new
programme, 479 teams have been formed comprising of Anganwadi workers, student
volunteers and sanitary workers, supervised by health inspectors. The teams will
visit every household in the 60 wards of Mangalore city on March 12, 13 and 14th
to collect data on the incidence of malaria, breeding areas etc. and will also
collect blood smears from febrile cases. Arrangements have been made to study
the smears and take necessary action. |
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See
Udayavani |
Daiji World |
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The authorities
of Mangalore City Corporation have also been instructed to crack the whip on
those who are aiding mosquito breeding by allowing water stagnation in their
premises. The offenders will now be slapped a fine of Rs. 5000 or above. The bye
laws in this regard were enacted almost 10 years ago, but it is only now that
the authorities are acting firm.
The malaria control efforts in Mangalore are co-ordinated by the Malaria
Control Action Committee (MCAC) that was formed in the year 1995 following a
voluntary initiative for malaria control by private medical practitioners in association
with the local medical college, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and District
Administration. The MCAC comprises of private medical practitioners, representatives of
various government agencies, medical colleges and NGOs. [See Members List]
The MCAC has drawn up a comprehensive
strategy for control of malaria in Mangalore and the uniqueness of the programme lies in the close co-ordination and
co-operation between the various government departments, NGOs, private practitioners,
medical colleges, public and private enterprises - all joining hands to control a public
health menace.
The malaria control initiative has got a big boost
with the city based Corporation Bank coming forward to help the programme. In June 2003 a Malaria
Cell was created with the financial support provided by Corporation Bank. The
Malaria Cell has a co-ordinator, a computer operator and more than 30 field staff,
including supervisors, ANMs, spray workers and Guppy distributors divided into six teams.
Vehicles, insecticides, drugs and other logistical support are provided by the Mangalore
City Corporation and the District Health Officer. These teams are carrying out active
surveillance with special emphasis on migrant workers, construction workers,
hotel workers and inmates of orphanages and administer presumptive as well as radical
treatment. The teams also carry out door-to-door surveys, IEC activities, source
reduction, anti larval and anti adult spray operations, fogging, distribution of Guppy
fish. One of the teams has been exclusively assigned for falciparum containment
programme. The programme planning, supervision and review are done by the MCAC. With this,
a long felt need for having an exclusive malaria control unit for Mangalore City has come
to fruition.
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Active
Surveillance by Malaria Cell |
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Active
Surveillance by Malaria Cell |
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Active
Surveillance by Malaria Cell |
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Site
Inspection by Malaria Cell and City Corporation Commissioner |
Malaria Control Programme In
Mangalore
In the past 10 years, MCAC has tried hard
to give a shape and streamline the malaria control activities in Mmangalore. With
relentless efforts, Passive Surveillance has been strengthened and since one year,
almost all hospitals and private laboratories are reporting cases on a weekly basis;
whereas until 1995, only Govt. District Hospital and Primary Health Centres were reporting
cases to the District Health Officer (DHO). A Hot Line (Call 5277968) has been established at the Malaria
Cell for reporting cases and complaints. Computerization of data has helped in analysis
and monitoring. [See below]
See Incidence of Malaria In
Mangalore 2003-2007
MCAC has also helped in improving inter-departmental
co-ordination. Better understanding between health dept. and the town planning dept.
in the city Corporation has ensured that data on construction sites are readily available,
a malaria clause is added in all licences for construction and that co-ordinated action is
taken against the offenders. Improved co-ordination between the MCC and DHO has resulted
in clear demarcation of responsibilities and areas of operation, better co-ordination in
supply of drugs and insecticides, and in deputing staff (ANMs, Lab technicians) etc.
Various other departments have also been brought to use: Fisheries College for Guppy
breeding; Horticulture Dept for Guppy breeding tanks; Education Dept., NSS, Scouts and
Guides for survey and IEC activities etc.
Eleven Fever Treatment Depots (FTDs)
cum labs have been established in the city. These provide for free - blood smear
examination and treatment of malaria, with one lab open during the evening hours (5pm-8pm)
to cater to labourers.
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Mangalore City Corporation Complex,
Lalbagh (9am-5pm)
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City Corporation Dispensary, Bejai-Kapikad
(9am-5pm)
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City Corporation Dispensary, Near
Mangaladevi temple, Jeppu (9am-5pm)
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Unani Dispensery, Bunder - Supported by
Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mangalore (9am-5pm)
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M.V. Shetty Institute of Professional
Sciences, Kavoor-Kuloor Road - Supported by M.V. Shetty Trust (9am-5pm)
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Pentagon Complex, Pumpwell - Supported by
Nitte Education Trust (3pm-8.30pm)
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City Corporation Dispensary, Boloor
(9am-5pm)
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City Corporation Dispensary, Lady Hill
(9am-5pm)
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City Corporation Dispensary, Derebail
(9am-5pm)
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Govt. Wenlock Hospital, Mangalore
(9am-5pm)
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District Lab., Mangalore (9am-5pm)
Mobile FTD
launched: A mobile FTD has been launched with the support of the Builders'
Association to reach out to the construction workers at various construction sites in and
around Mangalore. This unique programme invloves collection of blood smear and
administration of Fever Radical Treatment (Chloroquine + Single dose Primaquine) to
construction workers suffering from malaria. The technician on the mobile unit can be
contacted by mobile telephone (#98803 12410) and immdiately the suffering worker will be
reached.
Entomological surveillance is
regualrly done and anti-larval and anti-adult insecticdal measures are undertaken
regularly. Biolarvicides have been introduced into the wells and permanent water
collections. Eight dedicated tanks for Guppy breeding have been provided. Guppies have
been made available to general public through malaria cell. Already 5084 (~20%) wells have
been covered.
See Entomological Data for 2003-2004
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Site
Inspection by Malaria Cell and City Corporation Commissioner |
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Site
Inspection by Malaria Cell and City Corporation Commissioner |
IEC activities have been conducted
all over the district. A video film on malaria and its control has been prepared with the
help of Corporation Bank. Hoardings, banners, pamphlets, posters, messages on radio,
cinema halls and local cable network and regular press briefings have all been used for
the purpose.
A documentary film
on Malaria Control Programme in Mangalore was released on the
occasion of World Health Day on April 76, 2006. The film is
produced by Malaria Control Action Committee and Mangalore City
Corporation, made by Magnum Intergrafiks and sponsored by
Corporation Bank. Dr. B.S. Kakkilaya, Dr. B.S. Baliga, Dr. B.S.
Sajjan and Dr. Rajeev are the resource persons.
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BD-Godrej
starts using Hologram Stickers: Becton-Dickenson, the makers of QBC Diagnosis for
malaria and Godrej, the distributors, have finally started using holograms on the QBC
Tubes supplied by them. This was suggested by MCAC long ago as a measure to contain the
menace of recycling of QBC Tubes. Every report of blood test on QBC System will now bear
the hologram indicating the genuineness of the QBC Tube. |
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Workshops have been conducted for
medical professionals, lab technicians, school teachers, builders and hoteliers. Hundreds
of lectures and audio-visual presentations have been conducted at schools, colleges and
public places.
Measures to control malaria in construction
sites have been streamlined. Database of active and inactive major constructions
has been prepared and the sites are closely monitored by the teams of the malaria cell on
a weekly basis. A bye-law was enacted in 1998 and provisions have been made for a Malaria
clause in the construction licence. Repeated offenders have been fined up to Rs. 25000.
Malaria Hotlines
The public of Mangalore
can inform about the incidence of malaria cases in their family or neighbourhood or about
mosquito breeding sites to the Malaria Control Cell at these numbers:
| Contact |
Telephone Number |
| City
Corporation Hotline |
105 |
| Malaria
Control Cell Direct |
5277968 |
| City
Corporation, Health Department |
2457968 |
Mobile FTD
Unit
(For Construction Workers) |
98803 12410 |
Future Plans: It is
intended to strengthen the existing malaria control programme. The following are planned:
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Developing another 22 teams, each
with a supervisor, an ANM, two spray workers and a Guppy distributor, to cater to 60 wards
of MCC
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Guppy hatcheries with staff for
maintenance (22 nos.)
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Insecticide Treated Bednets to
inmates of 30 orphanages, old-age homes and hostels for poor students, 1000 inpatients of
the Govt. district hospitals and 20000 members of below poverty line population, including
construction workers.
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Appointment of a full time entomologist
and a quality control supervisor.
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Establishment of ward committees -
Two social workers are to be appointed to interact with youth clubs, self-help
groups and local NGOs. These ward committees will supervise breeding areas in the
locality, and carry out simple measures of source reduction on a weekly basis and
identify, report and ensure treatment of malaria cases.
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Strengthening passive surveillance;
strengthening IEC activities with Video CDs to all schools and colleges and more
hoardings and posters during monsoon.
See Malaria In Mangalore
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