Though thrown off the track for a time due to the unexpected Nipah outbreak and the ensuing fear, the health wing of the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation has bounced back with preventive steps against rain-borne contagious diseases.
The heavy rain and floods in many parts of the city have resulted in debris accumulating in drains and even wells. “A lot of plastic waste has been washed in, clogging drains and waterbodies. Removing them and cleaning water sources are our major tasks now,” said corporation health officer R.S. Gopakumar. He added that bleaching powder had been distributed to residents to chlorinate wells that had been dirtied in the flood.
The spurt of Jaundice in the nearby Thalakkulathur grama panchayat, reportedly due to the use of adulterated ice in cool drinks, has put the corporation health wing on high alert. “We had banned the use of industrial ice in food and drinks much earlier. Also, the Ice Factory Association had been given specific orders to chlorinate the water used for making ice. But there may have been slip-ups,” he added.
Meanwhile, 10 suspected and six confirmed cases of dengue were reported in the corporation recently, pointing to the need for a serious mosquito eradication drive. One case of malaria has been reported from Puthiyappa harbour, from where 13 cases were reported in 2017.
“We have conducted three cleaning drives at the harbour with an aim to prevent further occurrences of malaria. However, accumulation of water in unused fish baskets poses a threat,” Mr. Gopakumar said.
Cleaning drives are in full swing in all wards, and the corporation has set aside ₹58 lakh for the purpose. The National Health Mission and the State Suchitwa Mission have also allotted ₹10,000 each per ward for cleaning and mosquito eradication activities.
