Kozhikode Corporation drive to stop rat fever awareness

Thiruvananthapuram: The corporation will organise an awareness drive against various communicable diseases, including leptospirosis, from September 9 to 15. This will be done with the support of ASHA workers, corporation’s health wing staff, sanitation workers, volunteers and residents’ association members.

Awareness is the best preventive medicine, says a health department official. He says it because he has been scanning through cases, and in most cases, not taking the prophylactic medicine was a reason. DMO Dr P.P. Preetha says, “many don’t know that leptospirosis is a fatal disease. It is not unusual for us to come across cases where the patients would take TTE injection, but not doxycycline. So instructions have been given to the mass media wing to reach out to everyone.”

They have decided to put up notices at bus stations. Since panchayat ward members and councillors would be aware of where construction work is happening, with their support, health inspectors or health supervisors have to ensure that NREGS workers take doxycycline. Other target groups include masons, gardeners and vegetable vendors.

In addition, those with fever, people who have supported post-flood cleaning operations or with a travel history to flood-affected areas are advised to have 200 mg doxycycline every week for 6 weeks. Since a few children fishing in canals were diagnosed with leptospirosis, the health department is also conducting awareness programmes in schools. Youth clubs are also targeted, as young people may have been playing football in muddy grounds.

According to a press release from the mayor’s office, prophylactic medicines will be regularly administered to sanitation workers, especially those who need to deal with polluted water. On September 8, rat poison cakes, which have already been supplied to various health circles, will be used in wards on September 8. The dead rats will be removed immediately according to the release.