The Rameswaram fishermen, who have been facing several uncertainties while fishing in the seas, are battling another major challenge — malaria — which experts say needs immediate attention.
It has become an endemic hotspot for malaria with ‘mosquito breeding dynamics’ having completely changed in the pilgrim centre and the coastal areas surrounding it.
The issue was discussed at the 26th scientific advisory committee meeting of the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology (CRME), which is a premier laboratory of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) focused on vector-borne diseases.
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In view of the intensity of the problem, the committee recently authorised the CRME to scientifically study the ‘prevailing vector dynamics’ along the coastal areas in Rameswaram under the theme ‘screening of drug resistance of malaria parasite.’
S. Elango, former Director of Public Health and member of the advisory committee, told The Hindu that Ramanathapuram district is highly endemic to malaria fever and the mosquito habitat has been constantly changing.
“Malaria-causing anopheles mosquito is highly active and fishermen do not take full dose of medicine. They take the medicines for one or two days and venture into the sea. Drug resistance is more in that area,” he said.
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According to him, the Directorate of Public Health, through its field station, conducted clinical, epidemiological and entomological study only to find that the full course of treatment for malaria is missing in Rameswaram and the surrounding fishing hamlets, even as mosquitoes became resistant to drugs.
Dr. Elango suggested that the talks with the Sri Lankan government should be focused on malaria among fishermen too and a joint action plan should be devised for the health of the fishermen in both the countries.
“Rameswaram is an important pilgrim and tourist spot and should not be a malaria hotspot. It is time a National Centre for Malaria Research is established there,” he said.
Stating that Sri Lankan borders too are endemic to malaria, Dr. Elango pointed out that Rameswaram fishermen need constant screening and the public health teams have to step up indoor residual spray to attack the mosquito habitats. Mosquito breeding in Rameswaram is happening more in water wells and not in human dwellings, Dr. Elango said.
S. Bhavani, Deputy Director of Health Services, Ramanathapuram district, said that pits along the coastal area are the breeding sources of mosquitoes. This year, the district had 1,400 malaria positive cases while the number was 1,900 last year.