Like the Western Railways Jagjivan Ram hospital,the Central Railways two hospitals at Kalyan and Byculla have been witnessing a heavy influx of malaria patients. Between Kalyan and Byculla Hospitals,the larger share of patient load is on the 366-bed Byculla Railway Hospital. At the Byculla Hospital,only 15 cases were reported in June.The June-July figure jumped to 384. In August,23 cases have been detected so far,taking the total to 407 from June. At the 120-bed Kalyan Railway Hospital,140 cases have been detected between July 15 and July 30 and in August,the number went up by another 47,taking the total since June to 187. JP Gupta,Chief Medical Superintendent,Kalyan Hospital,said,Today,eight more patients were detected with malaria. But in our area,the situation is under control. Most of patients are from other areas and not from the railway colonies. Patients detected with malaria are not only from Kalyan but also from CST to Igatpuri. Madhu Malhotra,Chief Medical Director,CR,said,Suddenly,there has been a 90 to 95 per cent rise in malaria cases. Earlier,regular monitoring was done weekly,now it is being done daily. Regular check-ups are being carried out and the malaria cases being admitted to hospitals. Also,spraying is being done on the railway campus and the railway colonies. I hope that in one or two weeks,we will be able to reduce the number of malaria cases. Fight IS ON at ground zeroA week after the National Vector Control Team inspected select construction sites in the city,the BMC has started work on the plan of action the team has recommended. The civic body is fogging open drains,treating breeding sites to prevent larvae growth and installing mosquito nets for workers at construction sites. BMC executive health officer Dr GT Ambe said that by next week,all construction sites would have undergone recommended procedures. We will take blood samples of workers to test them for malaria every two weeks. This has already started, he said adding that efforts would also be made to post doctors at every construction site. Our photographer Mahendra Parikh brings you how the city and its people are fighting the spread of malaria
