Staff Reporter
Margao
The South Goa District Coordination Committee for Vector Borne Disease Control convened a meeting on Thursday to adopt a series of measures aimed at curbing the spread of vector-borne diseases during the upcoming monsoon season.
Additional Collector II Uday Prabhudesai, who chaired the meeting, outlined that health centres would collaborate with local bodies and relevant departments to control the spread of these diseases.
He added that extensive discussions were held regarding strategies for disease management in the coming monsoon, including reactivating health, sanitation, and garbage committees at the municipal and panchayat level. Additionally, local authorities have been tasked with collecting data on rented rooms and their occupants to aid in disease control.
Health centres and Fire and Emergency Services officials were also given the responsibility of gathering data on scrapyards within the district.
A separate meeting will be held with scrapyard owners to discuss preventive measures against vector-borne diseases.
Participants said waste source reduction was key and suggested issuing notices to panchayats failing to manage waste under the Public Health Act.
GOACAN convener Roland Martins urged improved coordination and focus on construction sites, as well as enhanced data collection on workers, to tackle vector-borne diseases more effectively. He also recommended that minutes from meetings held at the Cutbona jetty area be presented to the district-level coordination committee for further improvements.
During the 80-minute meeting, participants flagged the lack of urgency from some officials.
Doctors said there is need for increased support from local bodies, adding that the vast areas covered by PHCs sometimes hinder their ability to attend to disease control activities beyond patient care.
The meeting, held at the Collectorate building, was attended by Deputy Collectors, health officers from Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Urban Health Centres (UHCs), along with officials from various departments including Labour, Panchayats, Fisheries, and the GOACAN convener.
