Migrants more dangerous than malarial mosquitoes?

BMC chief Subodh Kumar says migrants, who carry malaria into the city with them, are responsible for the civic body not being able to fully contain the disease

Migrants more dangerous than malarial mosquitoes?

BMC chief Subodh Kumar says migrants, who carry malaria into the city with them, are responsible for the civic body not being able to fully contain the disease

IN a public statement that is sure to ruffle quite a few feathers, Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar blamed migrants for the malaria menace in the city.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Kumar said the menace would never be completely controlled, thanks, in large part, to migrant workers coming into the city from regions where malaria is endemic and carrying the disease with them.

Migrants are one of the factors behind the increase in malaria cases in the city as most of the construction labourers come from regions where the disease is endemic

It may be recalled that MNS Chief Raj Thackeray had come in for widespread criticism after making a similar statement in August last year.

u00a0"Workers who come to Mumbai looking for job opportunities carry malaria with them and are one of the factors behind the spread of the disease, which makes it difficult to control," Kumar said.

He added that the BMC would carry out extensive measures, which will be implemented early this year, to control the spread of the disease, but said it could not guarantee 100 per cent eradication.

The measures will be implemented from April 11 itself, owing to the city registering a record 20,000 reported cases and 117 deaths from the disease last year.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Health), Manisha Mhaiskar said, "The commissioner said that migrants are one of the factors behind the increase in malaria cases in the city as most of the construction labourers come from regions where the disease is endemic.

For the same reason, we had taken preventive measures last year at construction sites by giving health cards to nearly 1.5 lakh labourers. New labourers will be given the card this year."

She added that the corporation has drawn up a five-point programme to check the disease's spread (see box).
"Most of the city's land comes under public authorities like the airport, railways, port trust, etc, where stagnant water leads to the breeding of larvae.

The commissioner will be meeting these authorities on Monday to give them guidelines regarding the measures they can take at their level," said Mhaiskar.

"The mosquito larvicidal oil will be brought in soon and net treatment, which proved helpful last year, will be carried out this year as well. Citizens also need to be proactive for these measures to work," she added.

Measures
1. Stagnant water needs to be treated with different insecticides based on the location
2. Ward officers will carry out surveillance along with medical officers and in-charge officers and a report will have to be submitted within 24 hours
3. Micro mapping will be done in the areas where positive cases are found
4. Radical treatment measures will be undertaken
5. Circulars will be issued to all building construction sites and developers to follow BMC guidelines on water stagnation and treatment along with health cards and check-ups
for labourers