Dr Raul visits civic hospital to take stock of situation

Mumbai, July 9 (UNI) Mumbai mayor Dr Shubha Raul today visited the civic Kasturba Hospital to get first hand information on the prevalence of rain-related diseases.

She was informed that 120 patients, suspected to be suffering from malaria, have been admitted to the hospital since July 1.

Speaking to reporters later, Dr Raul said three patients, suffering from Falciparum malaria, had died in the Kasturba Hospital.

''Malaria cases are found in and around slum areas and especially at big construction sites where water logging takes place,'' Dr Raul said adding that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased fogging activity and was carrying out other preventive actions.

''The BMC has asked private hospitals to provide details about malaria and lepto cases, and 88 out of the 1200 hospitals have responded to the appeal so far,'' additional municipal commissioner Kishore Gajbeye said. He said the BMC will take action against the hospitals which do not provide the details.

Dr Raul said the civic body is removing abandoned tyres from various areas and ''guppy'' fishes are being released wherever water is stored.

The BMC has targetted various construction sites in the city as water gets accumulated at these sites, and 124 construction companies have deposited money with the BMC for cleaning up the places, said Gajbeye.

UNI