CALANGUTE: After two cases of dengue came to light in Calangute around three weeks ago the Candolim primary health center (PHC) along with the Calangute panchayat has launched a door-to-door anti-larval drive to prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases which normally surface in the rainy season near stagnant water.
“There was no spread after those two cases were found three weeks ago because we took preventive measures,” Candolim PHC medical officer Dr Roshan Nazareth said.
These measures covered identifying containers in which water could accumulate, anti-larval spraying, fogging and fever surveillance.
“We managed to stop it from spreading,” he said.
Besides Calangute and Candolim, the anti-larval drive was also carried out in surrounding villages which fall under the Candolim PHC jurisdiction like, Arpora, Saligao, Sangolda, Nerul and Reis Magos through the sub-health centres.
The drives are being done along with the village panchayats.
“We cover one ward per day and we go door-to-door with the panchayat ward member.
This year we also asked the panchayats to bring a garbage collector to take away the discarded plastic bottles and other waste.
We identify the areas where water can get accumulated and also abandoned containers in which water gets filled.
These can be breeding sites for mosquitoes,” Dr Nazareth said.
He said the team has also covered most of the wards while the Calangute panchayat has asked for the drive to be repeated as a precautionary measure.