I do not understand as to how wise is the decision of the Malaria research
Centre, Goa to tackle the resistance problem in Mosquitoes through the
introduction of newer, stronger drugs. Have these drugs been tested for
their impact on humans before introducing? Have Dr. Aswini Kumar read Rachel
Carson's 'Silent Spring'? It would be good if he reads it.
And it is shocking to note the expression "tiny terrorist mosquitoes" in the
interview of Dr. Ashwini Kumar. Malaria in Goa has been a part of package of
wider developmental projects that were implemented carelessly. Some of them
has been identifies by MRC chief in this interview. MRC and health
authorities are running after the mosquitoes after they are on their
mission. But at the planning stage licences are liberally given, some with
exchange of graft other come up through manufactured consensus of the policy
makers in authority still other care a hoot for all the procedures of
planning. Can these chains then be labelled as 'mighty terrorist'?
I may ask Dr. Ashwini Kumar as to why Malaria is so common in Coastal Goa
that is frequented by tourists? Why Candolim and Calangute are Malaria
prone? I am sure none of the tourism promoters would like this, yet it is a
reality? Why? What has been an input of MRC in planning stages of
development in Coastal Goa that led to this catastrophe? The fact remains
that tourists visits Goa importantly to enjoy its natural surrounding. But
trend are to transform coastal Goa into concrete jungle and Mosquitoes are
its consequential inhabitants. This trend needs to be changed if Malaria in
Coastal Goa to be ended. This would mean major ruptures in the current
political economy of the coastal Goa. I am sure Dr. Ashwini Kumar can give
a though to these views of mine.
Sebastian Rodrigues
From: "prashanti ajgaonkar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: prashanti ajgaonkar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [Urbanstudy] Interview with Dr Ashwani Kumar
Date: 27 Aug 2005 10:40:46 -0000
Interview with Dr Ashwani Kumar
By Prashanti Ajgaonkar
Goa University.
Sarai- CSDS students stipendship for research on city 2004-2005
Following is the Interview of Senior Research Officer and in charge officer
of Malaria Research Centre, Dr Ashwani Kumar. In Goa under his guidance
team has conducted applied research on various aspect of malaria and came
up with bio-environmental control of malaria.
He has presented several research papers as well as contributed number of
articles in journals of national and international repute. His work
"ELEMENTARY MALARIOLOGY" is considered as major work in spreading awareness
among the school children and society. With active support of Goa branch of
the Indian red cross society and the Goa Board of Secondary and higher
secondary education, the course was introduced.
1. What is the key role of Malaria Research Centre? Is there a
difference in the nature of work from that of the Directorate of Health
Service?
The mandate of MRC is basic, applied and operational research on malaria,
whereas, the role of the Health Services is to control malaria in Goa
2. Malaria Research Centre is a part of the National/ International
Programme. Please explain its coordination and functioning.
Malaria Research Centre is an institute of the Indian Council of Medical
Research, which is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Government of India. Its role is to support the
National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in containment of malaria
through research input. Towards that aim, MRC handles research projects
funded by both, National (DBT, DST, Min of Env) and international bodies
(WHO, USAID, NIH, etc
)
3. MRC functions independently in their drive to combat malaria. Can
you mention some of the experiments undertaken by MRC which proved to be
very effective?
First of all, I would like to clarify that MRC functions in
coordination with local Health Services and conducts field trials in
consultation with the Health Services. Some of the successful projects of
MRC in Goa have been
· Bio-environmental control project in Panjim from 1989-92.
· Malaria control using larvivorous fish and biolarvicides in
Candolim PHC in 1994 and 1995.
· Educational programme in 227 schools in Goa in collaboration with
Indian Red Cross Society from 1992 to 2000.
· Susceptibility status of disease vectors in Goa.
· Biting behaviour of disease vectors in Goa.
· Field trials with biolarvicides for malaria control in Panjim in
1993.
· Mosquito containment programme using biolarvicides in Vasco city.
· Distribution and feeding efficacy of indigenous larvivorous fishes of
Goa.
· Breeding behaviour of malaria vector A. stephensi in Goa.
· Malaria related to construction activities in Goa.
· Mosquito containment programme and Technology transfer at MPT in
Vasco da Gama.
· Prevention of Mosquitogenic potential of Konkan Railway project in
Goa.
· Asymptomatic malaria in the labour population in Goa.
· Efficacy trials with immunochromatic malaria diagnostic kits.
· Monitoring of malaria control programme implementation activities in
Goa.
· Therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine in uncomplicated P. falciparum
malaria.
· Isolation and characterization of mosquitopathogenic bacilli and
fungi from Goa .
· Field-testing of pirmiphos methyl against A. stephensi in Goa.
4. Which are the areas you have selected for your study or campaign?
What was the reason for selecting these areas?
Obviously, malaria affected areas of Goa namely, Panjim, Margao, Vasco,
Candolim, Calangute where maximum activities were focused although the
surveys have been carried out in entire Goa.
5. According to you which are the main reasons for the spread of
malaria? Who are responsible for it?
Malaria is a complex disease and there are multiple factors for its
transmission. For example, ambient weather conditions, ample opportunities
for vector to breed, source or reservoir of infection. Main reasons in Goa
besides suitable weather for almost perennial transmission of malaria have
been rampant construction activities. These construction sites have many
water stagnations where the vector breeding takes place. Besides, due to
lack of indigenous labour, migrant construction workers come from
neighbouring and distant states in India which are endemic to malaria. They
live in poor condition exposed to vector bites in the construction sites
and some of them being carrier of malaria parasites helps in the
transmission of malaria once the cycle set in them both migrants and local
people become part of the transmission cycle. There has also been
development of residence in plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites to
commonly used Chloroquine drug, which might have contributed to the spead
of drug resistant falciparum malaria. This problem is now being tackled
with second line therapy.
6. Rules and regulation for constructors are mentioned in the Public
Heath Act. Are there violations of these rules?
There are both good and bad examples. First the good ones! Some
builder/Contractors are obeying the rules by spraying their sites with
recommended insecticide weekly and they have obtained the health cards for
their workers. However, there are many more who neither obey the rules nor
comply with the regulations of public health act. They are imposed fines by
the appropriate authorities of the Health Services.
7. Did issuing the Health Cards help in the reduction of instances of
malaria?
Although it is difficult to quantify how much health cards have helped but
definitely when a few cases are detected from among the health cardholders
during routine checks, they must be making some impact.
8. What is the Funding pattern of government for research?
You mean to say for malaria control or research. Well for malaria control
there is 50:50 contributions by the states and the Central Govt. Research
grants are received from the Central Govt. and other funding agencies and
there is no monitory help received from the State Government.
9. Are there any NGOs coordinates with MRC in spreading awareness on
malaria?
Yes. First and foremost Indian Red Cross Society Goa branch had been a
partner of MRC in the school educational programme on malaria as mentioned
earlier Recently Voluntary Health Association of Goa and MRC together
issued and pasted educational posters in buses to spread awareness for the
prevention of malaria.
10. How valid is the threat of malaria to the Goan tourism industry?
The threat is real and ominous. The Foreign tourists are really scared of
malaria. Unfortunately, most of the places that are tourist's attraction
have malaria problem in Goa.
11. Are you satisfied with the role played by DHS, civic authorities
and the Government?
There is continues fight against malaria. One can not be satisfied unless
malaria is no longer a health problem. Till then all the agencies including
MRC,DHS and all other civic and government, agencies must wage a common
battle against the tiny terrorist mosquitoes.
12. Have the programmes formulated by MRC been updated and Strategies
changed because at times one observes new ways of resistance in mosquitoes
and parasites.
Yes, very much Infact Malaria Research Centre studied in detail the
restance problem in both and even conducted feasibity trials with
biolarvicides for mosquito control which is an alternative. Recently MRC
and DHS conducted joint trials on effective of chloroquine drug and found
that in Panaji the P.Falciparum parasite acquired 85% resistance and
immediately another drug (Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine) was introduced which
has proved very effective.
_______________________________________________
Urbanstudygroup mailing list
Urban Study Group: Reading the South Asian City
To subscribe or browse the Urban Study Group archives, please visit
https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/urbanstudygroup
_________________________________________________________________
NRI Account!
http://creative.mediaturf.net/creatives/citibankrca/rca_msntagofline.htm
Special FREEDOM OFFER from Citibank! Grab it now!
