The Deccan Chronicle 11.08.2010
It’s raining diseasesHyderabad, Aug. 10: Almost one person in every 10 families of the state has been affected by one or another infectious disease this monsoon season.
Even as the people grapple with various ailments, civic authorities have not taken adequate steps to contain the menace. Besides swine flu, which has assumed serious propositions, malaria, dengue, chickungunia and diarrhoeal diseases are rampant even in prominent localities in the capital.
The condition of the districts is even worse. Staff shortage in the medical and health department, callousness on part of health and civic officials and lack of infrastructure have added to the problem.
According to the Hyderabad medical and health officer (DMHO), Dr Ch. Jaya Kumari, 12 malaria cases were reported in the city in June, and this went up to 24 in July and eight in the first week of August,
“The number of diarrhoea cases was 259 in June, 231 in July and already 58 cases have been reported this month,” she added. Dr Jaya Kumari said that officials have been visiting affected areas and spraying disinfectants to curb the spread of infection.
“We have also been holding fever clinics and conducting fever survey within five km radius of the affected household, and distributing medicines,” she added.
However, city dwellers paint a different picture. “The GHMC has stopped spraying mosquito repellents even during monsoon,” complained Ms Maya Devi, resident of a posh locality in Hyderguda. “After rains there is water stagnation, which provides an ideal spot to mosquitoes for breeding.”
“With garbage piling up, the situation is becoming even worse whenever it rains,” says Mr Anand Agarwal, a businessman from the Minister Road area. “However, authorities have taken no action.”
Mr Mohammed Asgar, a resident of the Old City, pointed out that his family was suffering from stomach ailments even after consuming home-cooked food. “Probably it is because of the polluted water we drink,” he remarked.
However, officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) term the presence of E.Coli bacteria in drinking water a ‘local problem’ and added that prompt action had been taken to replace faulty pipelines.
The GHMC also claimed to have launched a special awareness drive to control mosquito-borne diseases effectively.
“Last time we concentrated on fogging and spraying but this time we are focusing on anti-larval operations to eliminate mosquitoes,” said the GHMC additional commissioner (health and sanitation), Mr Aleem Basha.
He added that there was no connection between garbage accumulation and vector borne diseases. “If a few people get malaria or diarrhoea in a population of one lakh, it can be said the diseases are under control,” he said. “Water-borne diseases also have more to do with personal hygiene.”
The situation is not better in other districts either. In West Godavari, from January to July, 156 cases of malaria and 1,600 cases of diarrhoea have been reported. In Warangal, the district health machinery swung into action only after diarrhoea, typhoid, jaundice, viral encephalitis, malaria, dengue and chikungunya spread in rural areas and tribal hamlets.
“We are coordinating with officials of rural water supply (RWS) and panchayat raj department to provide medical care and carry out repair work of leaking pipelines,” said Dr V. Subba Rao, district medical and health officer, Warangal.
In East Godavari, where posts of 38 doctors, 78 staff nurses and 23 pharmacists remain unfilled, is also grappling with monsoon diseases. In Nizamabad too, water contamination is the main cause for the spread of diseases but lack of coordination among the various government department officials is adversely affecting repair work.
In Vijayawada also, water stagnation is rampant and 371 malaria cases been reported.
