Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service & circulated by Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOA CAN)<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ph:2252660 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Health dept to clamp down on unhygienic restaurants ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Viral Hepatitis (jaundice) continues to play havoc as the number of its victims went up to 113 in Panjim even as the health authorities decided to clamp down on restaurants running in unhygienic conditions.
By Tuesday afternoon, the Directorate of Health Services had confirmed that the viral hepatitis victims had gone up from 107 to 113. DHS officials lament that private hospitals do not intimate the office of the epidemiologist about the communicable disease. In the instant case too, many may not have come on record. A team of doctors however, has been instructed to visit the city-based private hospitals to get the correct picture of the viral hepatitis, officials said.
The Director of Health Services, Dr A V Salelkar said that there is no need for panic as the situation was well under control and that the government was taking all necessary measures. He maintained that yesterday the number of victims was 107 (as reported by the Herald) and not 160.
The DHS is awaiting the report from the National Institute of Virology (NIV),
Pune, where serum samples have been sent two days ago. The report will
confirm whether the viral Hepatitis is Hepatitis A or Hepatitis E.Worried about
the situation, the government has decided to create awareness about the
disease. As part of this exercise, a programme will be telecast on Goa
Doordarshan between 6-7 pm most probably on August 20.
It may be recalled that contamination of potable water with sewage water (due to a corroded pipeline three weeks ago), has been tentatively proved to be the main cause for the spread of viral hepatitis in the city as several restaurants in the heart of the city had been supplied the same water.
INSPECTION: The Corporation of City of Panjim (CCP) has issued notices to 30 hotels for clearance of illegal constructions and extensions carried out by several hotels and restaurants today. As per the notice, hotels have to remedy the situation within the period of 28 days from the date of issue of the notices, informed the sources in the Corporation. Following the complaints from the people of unhygienic conditions and improper sanitation, Corporation decided to check the status of the eateries in the State.
In the first round, the inspection team found that hotels and restaurants not only operate in unhygienic conditions and improper sanitation, but 85 per cent of them have illegal extensions. The Corporation intends to take strong action against all those hotels that would not comply with the notice.
From Monday, the CCP commenced the second round of hotel and restaurants
inspection with PWD's sewerage and Water Supply Divisions and health services.
Besides the restaurants, complaints have been received against the road-side
eateries running with 'hand-cart' licences. Until the spurt in jaundice cases was
reported, the authorities concerned, according to sources, had hardly checked
the water, restaurants and road-side eateries are supplied with.
----------------------------
HERALD 20/8/03
----------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################
