Malaria knocks at city’s door

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 17

With the onset of summer season, cases of malaria and diarrhoea have started surfacing in the densely populated areas of the city.

While the city has witnessed its first malaria case in Mani Majra, there is a spurt in diarrhoea cases in Sanjay Labour colony.

Rani was busy drying clothes at Sanjay Labour colony. When asked about the source of water, she indicated towards a pit. People have punctured the water pipe. Similar holes have been created in the government pipes supplying portable water in Colony No. 4.

“This pipe is the only source of water for hundreds of residents living in the colony. We drink, take bath and wash our clothes here,” said Rani. Due to these punctures, sewerage water is getting mixed with portable water and leading to rise in diarrhoea cases.

“A majority of the people in our area are down with diarrhoea. Visit the dispensary and you will find residents complaining of stomach ache and loss of appetite,” said Sunita, a resident of Sanjay colony.

Several residents were complaining about rise in mosquito-bite cases.

“There are flies and mosquitoes all around here. During daytime, flies make our life miserable and during the night mosquitoes do not let us sleep,” said Shanker Tiwari, a resident of Colony No. 4.

State Anti-Malaria officer Upiunderjit Singh said necessary action would be taken in the matter.

First malaria case

In the meantime, first malaria patient has been identified as Malkhan (42) from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. According to the Health Department, the patient sleeps on the pavement and ventures between Panchkula and Mani Majra.

State Anti-Malaria officer Upiunderjit Singh stated that the patient had approached the health department on April 3 and following tests he was diagnosed to be suffering from malaria.

He said the patient had visited UP in March where he might have suffered from malaria. He was undergoing treatment from a private doctor for nearly a month.

The Health Department is also contemplating to take action against the doctor for not sharing the report with the department.

Manpower shortage

Sources in the Health Department said the department was facing manpower shortage after nearly 200 contractual employees were thrown out of the job. These employees were hired to maintain cleanliness and fumigation in dengue-prone areas. The city had witnessed over 1,000 dengue cases last year, due to which the Health Department had received a lot of brickbats. The sources said the process of hiring new employee was initiated on Tuesday.