Awaiting port-mortem reporton Cutbona worker’s death: DHS

Panaji: The directorate of health services is awaiting the post-mortem report of the 50-year-old fishing worker from Odisha who worked at the Cutbona Jetty and was brought dead to the South Goa district hospital on Thursday.He was admitted to the hospital on Aug 29 after he was dehydrated after diarrhea and loose motions, and was discharged on Sep 3 after he was found fit for discharge. “He was not discharged against medical advice and the health department is awaiting his postmortem to ascertain the cause of his death,” said a senior DHS doctor.Since last month, there have been 33 cases of acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) in the area, one of which was a confirmed case of cholera.Last year, there was a serious outbreak of cholera among jetty workers, resulting in five deaths, following which all stakeholders took steps to improve cleanliness at the jetty. The DHS screens migrant workers for malaria and dengue as well as ADD as soon as they arrive in Goa. The department also conducts awareness sessions and distributes educational material in the workers’ own languages and dialects.Although ADD cases are being reported in the Cutbona area this year too, the DHS has said that it is not an outbreak as of now.

Fewer cases are being reported, with some days recording zero or one case.Last month, health minister Vishwajit Rane said the fisheries department, local panchayat, FDA, Sulabh Souchalaya, deputy collector and boat owners’ association are joining hands with the DHS to improve sanitation and safeguard the fishing community. Posters, leaflets, and sessions in Odia and Chhatisgarhi guide workers on hygiene, safe water, and sanitation practices to safeguard the community, he said.