THANE: Despite urging people to keep their societies clean and a year-on-year nullah clean-up drive, there has been just a marginal drop in the number of malaria cases in areas within the jurisdiction of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).
In 2011, the TMC recorded the 3,219 malaria cases, which dropped by 364 to 2,855 in 2012 and then by 36 more cases to 2,482 in 2013.
Dr R T Kendre, TMC's medical officer, said, "Malaria is no longer associated just with monsoon. Due to rising construction activities and poor sanitary conditions, cases are reported throughout the year in Thane. Though the death count might be few, the disease is afflicting many people."
According to TMC officials, a number of events have been organized in the past and many more are in the pipeline to spread awareness on the disease and its prevention.
"An amount of Rs 15 crore has been allocated to make the city malaria and dengue free. The civic body has put up posters at many places across the city asking people not to spit everywhere, to keep their neighbourhoods clean, not allow stagnant water to stand and ensure that water-filled containers are covered. We have also planned a drive soon where 120 TMC employees will carry out door-to-door survey and get blood samples from households where instances of malaria or dengue have been reported," said a TMC official.
Residents, however, said that the TMC does not pay attention towards fogging, which results in outbreak of malaria cases every year.
But TMC officials refute this saying that they have allocated 300 spray pumps. "We have mainly targeted slum pockets in Vartak Nagar and Kalwa from where we get the most number of malaria cases. Kalwa hospital is also going to be fumigated to make it free of breeding spots," the officer added.
Officials said that the rise in the number of cases is also due to the large number of construction projects being undertaken throughout the metropolis.
Migrants who come to the city every year work as labourers at these construction sites and are at risk of contracting the disease.
Officials said that compared to 2012, the number of cases had come down last year because the corporation roped in health workers and representatives from primary health centres, local dispensaries, peripheral and tertiary hospitals and officials from the ward offices and building proposal department.
"Notices were issued to builders warning them that they would be issued stop-work notices if they did not ensure that there was no water stagnation at construction sites," the official said.
At the state level, health authorities are making efforts to spread awareness among people affected with malaria to complete their treatment.
