Times of India
12 August 2010
By Manthan K Mehta
Mumbai, India

With the city hit hard by the malaria menace, residents’ associations and Advanced Locality Managements (ALMs) have now taken the lead in helping the civic body curb the spread of mosquitoes and sensitizing people.

Residents’ groups from Khar and neighbouring areas interacted with civic health officials in a meeting organized on Wednesday to create awareness about malaria and what citizens can do to check the growth of the larvae its vector.

Meanwhile, the BMC on its part, too, has started conducting meetings with private medical practitioners to explain to them the exact procedure to be followed by them to cure patients suffering from this ailment.

The public health department of the BMC has formed five teams that have been conducting meetings with general practitioners in the city.

"Over the past one week, the team has conducted eight to 10 meetings a day in various wards. So far, nearly 30 such meetings have been conducted across Mumbai,’’ Dr Kamakshi Bhate, associate professor, KEM Hospital said.

Bharati Kakkad, secretary, Union Park Residents’ Association (UPRA), Khar, said, "Many people are still not aware of the dos and don’ts for curbing the malaria menace. We took the lead in spreading awareness about the disease. We hope that residents will gain insights from Wednesday’s meeting and help spread the message in their neighbourhoods.’’

Pest control officer from the BMC, Chetan Chaubal, who has prepared a presentation on malaria for citizens, said, "Such initiatives are welcome as most people do not know that malaria can spread from their homes or even housing societies. Not many are aware that discarded coconut shells and even tyres can provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.’’

Dr V M Sangole, joint secretary, Pestom Sagar Citizens’ Forum, said, "A group of residents from our locality visit construction sites. After inspection, a list of the sites that have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes is provided to the BMC so that they can take appropriate measures.’’

Some residents’ associations are also tying up with pest control firms. Anil Joseph of the Khar Residents’ Association (KRA), said, "Our association, along with a pest control firm, will survey the neighbourhood for two weeks to identify the mosquito breeding grounds. We will inform the BMC about the affected sites so that it can implement its anti–malaria programme more effectively.’’ .

Seema Redkar, BMC’s officer on special duty (ALMs), said, "Some residents’ groups have started inspecting their own backyards. Some are also working with the Dattak Vasti Yojanas to help the BMC spread awareness about the issue.’’

August death toll touches 15
A25–year–old resident of Saki Naka died of malaria on Tuesday, taking the toll of malaria deaths to 15 and that of deaths due to monsoonrelated ailments to 21 this month. Since the beginning of August, 104 people have tested positive for H1N1 in the city. Three persons have died due to swine flu this month.