MCC to spend Rs 12.67 lakh on malaria control

MCC to spend Rs 12.67 lakh on malaria control

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June23: The proposal to spend Rs 12.67 lakh on implementing an action plan to control malaria in the city for the next three months received the MCC’s nod of approval during its monthly meeting on June 22, Tuesday. Of the earmarked amount, Rs. 2.5 lakh will be spent on improving infrastructure, Rs 60,000 on recruiting additional manpower, Rs 27,000 on their fixed travel allowances, Rs. 2.25 lakh on vector control, and Rs. 4.95 lakh on information education and communication campaign.

 

 

 

Explaining the malaria control action plan, Commissioner K. N. Vijayaprakash said that Rs. 1.5 lakh will be spent to monitor and evaluate the action plan. Admitting that the civic body has so far failed to bring malaria under control, the commissioner said that the current plan has been specially drafted to gain successful control over malaria, which claims several lives.  

A large portion of the earmarked funds will be spent on publishing 10,000 information booklets on malaria, treatment charts, registers, and report forms; conducting awareness activities regarding the disease and its prevention; sensitizing physicians and pediatricians; and printing handbills. The civic body will also invest in running radio campaigns and scrolling messages on local cable TV networks.  

The commissioner also welcomed a suggestion from the opposition corporator Appi, who said that the town planning section of the MCC must get involved in malaria control. Since imposing fines of builders is not have the required effects in controlling malaria, Appi said that the town planning officials must monitor major buildings under construction and prevent water logging at the construction sites.  

Manjayya Shetty, the corporation health officer, said in response to a query from former Mayor Shashidhar Hegde that the Corporation Bank has stopped funding the malaria control activities of the civic body last year. Former Mayor Shankar Bhat said that the MRPL has agreed to fund the salaries of 6 members of the malaria control cell last year and that the company will make the required arrangements this year. Shetty said that the MRPL is paying the salaries of six staff members of the malaria control cell.