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---------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN calls for a People's Plan to Roll Back Malaria in Goa on World Malaria Day 25th April. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the occasion of World Malaria Day April 25th, GOACAN has called upon the Directorate of Health Services, Govt. of Goa to prepare a People's Plan to Roll Back Malaria considering the fact that the vector borne disease is spreading in various villages, resulting in the illness of people and even deaths. In a letter to Dr. Rajananda Desai, Director of Health Services GOACAN has drawn attention to the fact that increasingly people see the Prevention of Malaria as essentially a responsibility of the Govt. and the spread of malaria is possible because of the failure of the efforts of the Govt. agencies. Further the spread of malaria in the villages of Goa is sought to be contained by the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) which rely on a plan to be implemented only by the Panchayat of the area. The letter states that in many of the malaria cases it is noticed that migrant labour at construction sites are involved with little or no knowledge of the same due to lack of co-ordination of the Licencing Authority, The Labour Dept. and the labour contractors. The poor sanitation levels in various neighbour- hoods is also a very important reason for increased breeding of mosquitos, however the seriousness of the matter is not well understood by the community. Further people’s lack of proper knowledge of best methods to combat malaria has resulted in a lopsided approach wherein there are more demands for fogging instead of using bed nets. In this context GOACAN has proposed that a People's Plan to Roll Back Malaria in Goa must include a Taluka Level Committee chaired by the Taluka Mamlatdar which would involve the PHC Health Officers, Block Development Officer, Labour Inspector and Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) & NGO's as members to chalk out a Taluka Action Plan. The village level plan prepared by the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) must be compulsorily presented to the forthcoming Gram Sabha in April & July so that the entire village is aware of the Plan’s stated objectives, the responsibilities, the action points and the expected results and members from the Gram Sabha must be selected to assist in the implementation of the Plan. That at the Taluka level a comprehensive data base must be prepared of all construction sites based on the licences and NOC's granted by the Village Panchayats, Municipal Councils, Town & Country Planning Dept and the PWD with details of Health Cards issued and of Site Supervisors. GOACAN has also called for the preparation of an Action Plan on Sanitation & Malaria by involving the (PWD) Public Works Department which has the mandate to implement the objectives of the UN International Year of Sanitation 2008 in Goa and ensure demand driven 100% access and usage of Toilets. A special campaign must be launched to promote Bed nets all over Goa as an important part of the Roll Back Malaria Plan by ensuring consumer demand and availability of supplies through a network of dealers & wholesalers. GOACAN has called for the involvement of the Department of Science, Technology & Environment and the Forest Department to focus on the issues of ecological protection, climate change and the need to Save the Frog as part of a strategy to combat malaria. Besides the DHS must involve the Departments of Education, Higher Education, Technical Education and Goa University to participate in the plan by getting the support of the educational institutions in the first 5 months of the academic year for implementing the Behaviour Change Communication and other such programs. Copies of the letter have been sent to Mr. Digamber Kamat Chief Minister, Mr. Vishwajit Rane Minister for Health, Chief Secretary, Secretary, Health, Govt. of Goa, Collectors and Chairperson of the District Consumer Protection Councils, Labour Commissioner, Director, Dept. of Higher Education, Dept. of Education, Director, Dept. of Science, Technology & Environment, Director, Directorate of Panchayats, Director, Directorate of Municipal Administration, Chief Town Planner, Principal Chief Engineer, Public Works Department (PWD), Chief Conservator of Forest and the Vice Chancellor, Goa University. ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------- __._,_.___
