Health dept issues advisory to prevent diseases at docks

Panaji: To control vector-borne diseases at jetties and docks harbouring boats, trawlers, canoes, water sport boats, barges, and vessels, the directorate of health services (DHS) has issued an advisory to the Captain of Ports, directorate of fisheries and boat and trawler associations to screen workers for malaria on the day of arrival through the nearest health centre.

The DHS’s National Vector Borne Disease Prevention Control Cell has issued an SOP focusing on worker screening, timely reporting, sanitation, mosquito control, and personal protection at jetties and docks. Boat owners, contractors, and managers must contact the nearest health centre to test for dengue or malaria if workers have a fever. It is also their responsibility to provide clean drinking water, sanitation, and proper hygiene to workers to prevent the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases, the DHS has stated.

Potential breeding sites, such as grinding stones, plastic trays, boxes, nets, plastic sheets, canisters, buckets, and containers, must be emptied weekly and regularly cleaned. Tyres placed as guards on boats and vessels should be punctured or drilled to prevent water stagnation.

The department has also advised covering open tanks, drums, and barrels with airtight covers or turning them upside down when not in use. Cargo holds of barges and trawlers should be drained weekly or covered with tarpaulin sheets to prevent mosquito breeding. Abandoned boats and vessels at jetties should be removed as they collect water, especially during the monsoons.

Boat owners, contractors, and managers have been asked to coordinate with the local health authorities to create awareness amongst workers about malaria, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases and to display SOPs on jetties/docks and worker dwellings.