Sunday, June 23, 2019

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation prepares to beat Malaria, inspects wards, raise awareness

DNA: Mumbai: Sunday, June 23, 2019.
Malaria cases have witnessed a steep rise in the city, as per BMC data. Around 968 malaria cases were reported by the public health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) this year from January to May. While the majority of the malaria cases were reported in May with 284 cases, as per the Right to Information (RTI) data given by the BMC. The data reveals that wards like Dadar, Mahim, Parel, Charni Road, Girgaon, Byculla have reported the highest number of malaria cases.
This year till May, wards such as E-ward Byculla, G-south ward Dadar, Mahim and F-south ward Parel, Wadala, Naigaon, Dadar has reported highest number of malaria cases in comparison to other wards across the city.
Last year too these wards had highest number of malaria cases. The data further reveals that from July 2018 till May 2019, around 4,326 malaria cases were reported in Mumbai across the wards of which major cases were reported during monsoon.
Mumbai has an average annual parasite incidence (API) of 0.4 cases per 1,000 population, which is less than one case per 1,000 population. While in other wards it is around 0.3-0.4 cases per 1,000 population, the API is 0.8-0.9 cases per 1,000 population in F-south, G-south, and E-ward.
Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of BMC, said, "The number of mosquito breeding spots are more in these three wards – F-south, G-south and E-ward because of mills, chawl system and railway car sheds. Since few years, these wards have been identified as high risk area. Compared to other wards, the number of cases in these wards are more."
As a precautionary measures before monsoon, the BMC has started inspecting mosquito breeding spots in the city. Awareness campaign and information materials are distributed across wards. Dr Keskar, added, "As the area develops, the number of cases will reduce. More staff is deployed these wards to take preventive measures."
Highlights
  • This year till May, wards such as E-ward Byculla, G-south ward Dadar, Mahim and F-south ward Parel, Wadala, Naigaon, Dadar has reported highest number of malaria cases in comparison to other wards across the city.
  • As a precautionary measures before monsoon, the BMC has started inspecting mosquito breeding spots in the city. Awareness campaign & information materials are distributed.