The Hindu 28.08.2012
Councillors concerned over increasing cases of diseases
Cutting across party lines, councillors of Mangalore City Corporation in its meeting on Monday expressed concern over what they said “increasing cases” of malaria, dengue and other diseases in the city.
The councillors resolved to seek the Government to appoint Manjaiah Shetty, retired Health Officer at the corporation, as special malaria officer at the Malaria Cell at the civic body. Minister for Urban Development, Law, Justice and Human Rights S. Suresh Kumar, had at a press conference here on October 21, 2008 ordered the suspension of Mr. Shetty for failing to maintain cleanliness of the city. Mr. Shetty’s suspension was withdrawn later.
The Karnataka Information Commission through an order on September 5, 2011, had imposed penalty of Rs. 10,000 against Mr. Shetty. The commission had found him guilty of providing incomplete information about the stock inventory of drugs to B. Prakash Bhat, an applicant.
Raising the health issues at the council meeting on Monday, the former Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said that the corporation now did not have a permanent health officer after the retirement of Mr. Shetty. He said that many malaria, dengue and leptospirosis cases had been reported in the city. Beds in many hospitals were full.
Deepak Poojary alleged that the corporation had stopped fogging and spraying (against mosquito vectors) for controlling malaria. The former Mayor M. Shashidhar Hegde said that insecticides should be sprayed on stagnated water.
Replying to it, in-charge Health Officer C.M. Sudarshan said that spraying wouldn’t help as it was raining now. Commissioner Harish Kumar K. said that 62 multipurpose health workers had been visiting homes to create awareness on precautionary steps to be taken to control malaria. In addition, a non-governmental organisation, Nisarga, was creating awareness in schools. The corporation in cooperation with volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) would launch an awareness campaign on all 60 wards on a single day shortly.
He said the corporation had placed orders for 60 more containers for storing and transporting solid waste.The Commissioner said the civic body had cancelled licences of three builders for failing to take malaria control measures.
Many hotels had been inspected and fined. Hotel owners’ association has now its own health inspector to inspect and take corrective steps on cleanliness.
