With the pressure on municipal hospitals “increasing alarmingly”, the BMC commissioned 120 new beds at the Dharavi Urban Health Centre to cater exclusively to malaria patients. “BMC hospitals are running short of beds. The more private hospitals share the load, the better we can deal with this crisis,”said Dr Sanjay Oak, the BMC’s director for medical education and research.

He said talks have progressed with the Metropolis Group and private hospitals have been approached in wards with a high number of cases. “Sushruta Hospital in G-North ward has assured its full support,”said the IMA’s Mumbai branch president Dr Shivkumar Utture.

All ward offices will start OPDs from 5.30 to 8.30 pm daily for monsoon-related diseases. “The BMC will also start a massive Mumbai clean-up this week with strong fogging (operations) and treat as many new breeding spots as possible,” executive health officer Dr GT Ambe said. Health officers will be sent to construction sites every 15 days to test workers for malaria.

The BMC and the IMA discussed the disease’s increased virulence and new symptoms. The traditional chloroquine course has been proving inadequate this season. “According to WHO guidelines, chloroquine should still be the first drug for uncomplicated malaria. However, if a patient reports after 4-5 days of fever, it is advisable to avoid risks and start multi-drug treatment,”said Dr Oak. 

Doctors were advised to immediately admit children and senior citizens with falciparum malaria. They agreed they would not rely on classic symptoms like fever with chills. “Even if patients complain of weakness,or say they feel uneasy with the fan on, malaria tests are advisable,”said Dr Oak.

Health experts discussed prophylaxis, or immunity induced by a weekly dose of chloroquine, but were wary about the possibility of the virus developing chloroquine resistance.

BATTLE STRATEGY
Reaching out: 120 exclusive beds at the Dharavi Urban Health Centre; talks with Metropolis Group; help assured by Sushruta Hospital; evening OPDs at ward offices

Prevention: Clean-up this week with fogging operations

Construction sites: Visit every 15 days to give health cards and test workers for malaria (over 3 lakh workers in 2,500 sites)

Treatment: Multi-drug treatment if a patient reports after 4-5 days of fever; immediate admission for children and senior citizens with falciparum malaria; eye on symptoms beyond classic ones

Blame game
THE CHIEF Minister and the NCP take on cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray for blaming migrants for malaria in Mumbai. Uddhav had blamed migrants in construction sites and directed Sainiks to take “action”; then Raj too targeted migrants on Sunday.

THE NCP’s Mumbai president, Narendra Verma, says it is not the state but the Sena-run BMC that should be blamed. “In the rest of the state, cases of malaria have come down, and it is only in Mumbai that more people are dying and cases are increasing. Holding others responsible and not fulfilling its responsibility is the Sena’s tradition. Tomorrow they will blame migrants for Mumbai’s potholes too.” 

CM ASHOK Chavan, who was in Delhi, says it was wrong of Raj to blame migrants. “It is not just North Indians in slums. It is the responsibility of the local body to tackle the issue,” he said.

CORPORATORS TOO criticise the administration for failing to control the spread. Sena’s Rawindra Waikar says, “The administration is not doing the needful,” Congress corporator Rajhans Singh says BMC hospitals are not adequately stocked, and Sena leader Sunil Prabhu says over 1,500 posts are vacant in BMC hospitals.