Mangaluru: How many times that State Health Minister UT Khadar, MLA J R Lobo, other state ministers, concerned district authorities have visited Wenlock Hospital or the Wenlock mortuary? Did they ever bother to notice the pathetic and disgusting condition that exists right in the surrounding areas of the hospital? I guess not! So this report is for the kind attention/perusal of all these leaders and also a kind request for them to take action quickly and eradicate the health related hazardous conditions that has been haunting those people visiting the hospital and also those who walk by the hospital. Why go far, Malaria and Dengue can spread right from the backyard of this Hospital, if the present conditions are not addressed soon.
We all know that Dengue/Malaria spreads unabated in parts of India, and for that matter even in Mangaluru, where hundreds of Dengue/Malaria cases have been reported over the years/months- but still not much precautions have been taken by the Health department nor the MCC to prevent these diseases spread by mosquitoes due to growing garbage and stagnant water. The large areas of stagnant water and rotten garbage encourage mosquito breeding- and the stagnant water near the Sewage Water Treatment plant adjacent to the mortuary and the garbage that is piled up very close to the mortuary could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Patients come to hospitals for treatment. They should not contract diseases there. Hence the concerned authorities or hospital management should see that the the hospital surroundings are kept clean and hazard free- but that has not been the case here at Wenlock Hospital. Since the Sewage Water Treatment Plant has not been managed well or neglected, has resulted in stagnant water filled with breeding mosquitoes. I was at this spot for just couple of minutes to click few pictures, during which I was swarmed by mosquitoes. One of the hospital staff asked me why don’t I check the garbage that is scattered near that area- and I did, and was surprised to see such a disgusting scene right in the hospital premises. There were dogs feasting on the garbage, unbearable stink, used gloves/medicine containers/cotton etc thrown on the ground openly (see the pics in the report). How could any one allow such a disgusting/pathetic state to exist right in a hospital premises?
Since mosquitoes are found breeding in the Wenlock hospital premises, the authorities should have examined them to identify such spots and assess the requirement for land-filling or cleaning them out- but it seems like no one has bothered about it. Malaria-prone pockets can be seen here, and there are many reasons for the areas becoming hotbeds for the deadly disease like Dengue and Malaria. If the premises of Wenlock Hospital was rid of mosquito-breeding water deposits, it would help curtail not only malaria but also dengue and other similar diseases. But unfortunately it’s not happening here!
While the health department officials advice us to keep our home surroundings clean from garbage, stagnant water, etc etc-they themselves don’t practice what they preach. Since Malaria/Dengue are the most important public health problems here, care should be taken by the concerned authorities to see that these diseases don’t grow. Malaria is particularly dangerous for young children and for pregnant women and their unborn children, and allowing hazardous conditions to exist in a hospital premises is serious issue, which needs to be addressed soon.Although, Malaria is a curable and preventable disease, but it still kills many people. Effective treatment and disease management strategies exist, which if effectively employed can reduce the burden of disease significantly. But if we see that no garbage/stagnant water exists, we don’t have to worry about these diseases affecting people.
Yes, Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The main manifestation of malaria is fever, usually with shaking chills followed by profuse sweating. Garbage and stagnant water give scope for the mosquitoes to breed and spread the disease. The malaria parasite is transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. The authorities should make efforts to identify the breeding sites so as to destroy larvae and thus prevent spread of dengue/malaria cases in around the hospital.
Even though the officials say that there is no cause for worries as the situation is under control, but at the same time their drive against the dreaded disease should continue and they should take action against those responsible creating breeding grounds for mosquito larvae. I only hope the concerned authorities will read this report and do the needful in cleaning the stagnant water near the Sewage Water Treatment Plant, and the garbage in Wenlock Hospital premises-thereby prevent the spread of Dengue, Malaria and other diseases. Thank You!
