Kozhikode: Drive on to curb spread of fever

Kozhikode​: The health department has zeroed in on the coastal belt to rein in vector borne diseases. 

Realising that awareness campaign had not brought about the desired result, authorities have launched novel ways to deal with the situation. 

Vellayil, Mukhadar areas of Kozhikode Corporation and Thazhe Angadi under Vadakara Municipality are places where out of the box ideas are being implemented to eradicate mosquitoes. 

School and Anganwadi students had been approached to take home the precautionary measures to escape from the mosquito bite. Student police cadets (SPC) are being used for a door-to-door campaign. 

Despite repeated alerts, many men continue to sleep on the open beach or at harbour easily available for mosquitoes. Though nets were provided to the wells in the area last year, it was removed by this time causing Anopheles mosquitoes to form breeding source in the well. 

Mosque and temple committees were also approached for help.

“Loading and unloading workers had assured support. We approach people who have a sway over the public,” said additional district medical officer Dr Ashadevi. 

Health workers had bitter experiences of people not allowing them to check their premises and destroy mosquito sources. 

So far 69 Malaria cases were reported in the district, eight of them indigenous cases reported from Vellayil, Kakkodi, Maniyoor and Perumanna.

In a rare instance, a 22-year old youth confirmed with Malaria in Vellayil is yet to be traced. 

“There is cold welcome to the health workers in these areas. Adding to the woes is the problem of migrant workers mixing in the area. They keep shifting places and are tough to trace,” said an officer at the district vector control unit.