Health workers involved in anti-malaria work found signs of mosquito breeding at a construction site near Urwa Stores, a few minutes after labourers attended a malaria awareness programme at the site on Friday.
This comes a few days after experts revealed that incidence of malaria was on the rise and that chemicals not recommended for spray were being used, and after the builders promised to work with the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) to prevent the spread of the disease. Mangalore and Udupi, it was revealed recently, contribute 80 per cent of all malaria cases reported in the State.
A team of officials from the corporation’s Health Department gave a pep talk about the safety measures at the site of Canopy apartments being constructed near Urwa Stores. Apart from measures to prevent mosquito breeding, the officials spoke about proper attention for labourers who get infected with malaria.
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Just as the officials left the site, a team of health workers and Master of Social Work students came to the site for a check of mosquito breeding spots.
“We found signs of mosquito breeding at a few corners on the fifth and sixth floors of the building. We have instructed the builder to clear the stagnant water,” said Radhakrishna, the Supervisor of the health workers team. Immediately, action was taken clear the mosquito breeding spots in the building.
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Srinivas Nayar, the Safety Coordinator of D3 constructions, said the firm was taking actions to prevent the spread of malaria.
Every week anti-larval spray was being sprayed at water stagnant places where mosquito larva was found breeding. Fogging was being done every evening, he said.
As many as 100 labourers were working at the construction site and they have all been checked for malaria. None of the labourers has been infected, he said.
Every labourer has been provided with mosquito nets coated with chemical that sends away mosquito, he said.