Defence against diseases

It's virtually Defence against diseases and literally action on a war foot. As per a request from the Kerala Government, the central government has deployed its army to assist the ongoing vector control drives and fever surveillance.

As the fever toll soars alarmingly, the military is doing its best service along the rustic stretches that have been bombarded with the Chickun gunya. The very professional and prompt service by the defence doctors has become a big support for the health department of the State that has been panting out of inadequate staff.

Yesterday, the leading paramilitary wing of the country, Central Reserve Police Force personals were doing an admirable cleaning drive. They were virtually rescuing the environs along the main bypass road connecting world renowned tourism spot, Kovalam and the Thiruvananthapuram city. Local residents in turn, very jubilantly offered their share for the jawans. If some houses prepared food for the force, others physically assisted in their work.

Kerala, the only State in India to earn complete literacy is always cursed for its environmental ignorance. Only an outbreak of disease awakens the conscience of the people here to engage in massive cleaning drives. It was only last October-November that Chickun gunya cast a shadow over the shining image of the State, killing several people and turning many others as bedridden due to agonizing joint pain. Last November there was a massive government-led cleaning . But what sustained was perhaps the photographs and videos of political leaders and rulers aiming raised spades over garbage mounts. The spirit didn't. Present decline in Kerala's health sector is speaks in volumes about the catastrophic aftermaths, when our environmental thoughts become ephemeral.

Wherever people have the pastime of keeping environmental vigilance in their actions, waging a war against epidemics should not necessarily incorporate a military intervention. Kerala should also have avoided this, had its citizens showed a sustained eco-friendliness every day, every moment and in every action.

Kerala that has set several admirable models of development. Poor environmental maintenance and consequent hike in morbidilty has become a disgraceful story from the State - an unworthy model that should teach not only Keralites but also others to adopt sustainable care for their environment.
- Prepared by K.P.Sivakumar, based on recent health scenario in Kerala.

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