'Malaria cases drop in Margao, Fatorda'

MARGAO: Intensive drives conducted by the Margao urban health centre (UHC) over the past five years to combat malaria are finally showing results, if recent drop in cases in Margao and Fatorda are anything to go by.
According to figures obtained by TOI from the UHC, the year 2010 recorded only 291 cases of malaria-the lowest since 2006.
In 2009, some 458 cases were reported in the twin towns while in 2008, 1,107 were diagnosed with malaria.2007 recorded 1,291 cases and in 2006, 935 were found to have been afflicted with the disease.
Health officer Dr Geeta Kakodkar told TOI that statistics from 2005 and 2006 were obtained from cases reported at the UHC alone. However, she said that after she introduced a new system of collecting test samples from private labs and Hospicio since 2007, the UHC was able to get a fair picture on the prevalence of malaria in Margao and Fatorda.
The UHC has urged some 26 private laboratories operating within its jurisdiction to report cases to the centre. "We started this procedure from July 2007. Since the private sector has a 60%-70% stake in public health, their cooperation has been vital," said Kakodkar.
Though statistics showed a steady decline in the cases of the deadly plasmodium falciparum last year, the UHC has continued to take intensive measures to bring down the figures further this year.
Health officials attribute the prevalence of malaria to the unmonitored influx of migrant laborers from malaria-prone areas.
The city, which has an influx of 600 (according to UHC figures) migrant labourers and over 173 construction sites (24 major), has been battling the disease for the past several years.
While the Fatorda, KTC, Mungul, Maddel, Borda and Comba areas face high risk of plasmodium falciparum, some areas of Khareband, Gogol, Housing Board, Malbhat and Aquem are sensitive to the less harmful vivax malaria, officials informed.
In January, 3,912 slides were examined out of which 17 cases of vivax malaria and three cases of falciparum laria were reported. Some 443 new health cards were issued to migrants and 197 cards were renewed.
In February, 9 cases were reported of which 8 were vivax cases while only one was falciparum. Some 318 new health cards were issued and 96 have been renewed.