Malaria on the increase

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 January 1999, 19:46 GMT]
An employee of Akkarayankulam hospital died due to Malaria, said sources in the Vanni today. Ramanathan Nagalingam, the acting Supervisor of the hospital, who went on leave to Madhu on January 12, had been suffering from malaria and died on January 24, his relatives told the hospital authorities.

Malaria is spreading due to the recent monsoon rains and present climatic conditions officials at the Department of Health said.

They added that due to the shortage of malathion in the area, spraying of the chemical to prevent malaria was not done in November and December.

Although medical supplies for the fourth quarter of 1998 was received at the later part of the period, hospitals in the Vanni region are experiencing difficulties in treating the increased number of malaria patients who flock to the Out Patients Department and the wards, without sufficient stocks of anti-malaria drugs.

Sources at the Department of Health said that due to shortage of staff in the health sector, officials are further unable to take preventive measures to eradicate malaria and cholera in the Vanni.