14 people die of malaria in West garo Hills alone

Shillong, Jun 5 (UNI) At least 14 people have died in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district during the past three months due to malaria, Deputy Commissioner P Sampath Kumar today said.

However, the casualty might go much higher according to unoffical reports. Certain places in Garo Hills and some bordering neighbouring Assam every year put the government on toe with outbreak of the disease.

Alarmed at the malaria related casualties this year, the government pulled up socks to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

Mr Kumar said malaria has claimed 14 lives in Purakhasia, Dalu, Dadengiri during March, April and May.

Talking UNI over phone from Tura, district headquarters of West Garo Hills, he said many cases had also been registered in known endemic areas such as Phulbari, Ampati, Salmanpara and other adjoining bordering areas of Goalpara district in Assam.

The Deputy Commissioner said this year malaria-related cases surpassed last year's figure in the district.

In May alone, Mr Kumar said the district recorded eight deaths at Mission Hospital, five deaths at Holy Cross Hospital and two deaths at Tura government-run Civil Hospital.

'' This year, Malaria is more susceptible to children especially infants between 1-5 years and women, '' he said.

Mr Kumar said the government has also taken precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of Malaria.

'' We have already sprayed DTT in known endemic Malaria zone and organidsed special medical camps to enlightened the people on Malaria, '' he said.

Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister Sayeedulah Nongrum said the government has declared from June 12 to 17 as Anti-Malaria Week in West Garo Hills.

'' The State government is putting all efforts to prevent the outbreak of this diseases in the district, '' Nongrum said adding the Health department had even gone one step ahead by purchasing medicines, which the Centre failed to sanction to Meghalaya.

UNI RRK-PRS SJC VA RN1216