MALAPPURAM: The two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Kadalundi and Vallikkunnu, are now able to carry out dengue check-ups, thanks to the timely intervention of the National Institute for Research and Development in Defence Shipbuilding (NIRDESH), Chaliyam. Recently, these two panchayats had reported numerous cases of fever, especially along the coastal areas.
According to officials, one to two hundred cases of fever are reported every day at the PHCs here. Some cases of dengue have emerged amongst these cases. Though the first test to be carried out to confirm dengue is done using NS1 antigen strips, both PHCs did not have these strips, forcing the PHCs to refer suspected cases to private laboratories. These laboratories were charging as much as Rs 400 each for the test, imposing a financial burden on the villagers.
NIRDESH has stepped in to ease this burden. After holding discussions with Dr. KP Sreekumar and Dr. NeethaGopal, medical officers in charge of Kadalundi and Vallikkunnu PHCs, it was concluded that about four to five patients show dengue symptoms at each PHC, every day and they need to be tested with NS1 antigen strips to confirm dengue. The doctors requested NIRDESH to supply 100 NS1 antigen test strips to each PHC, to tide over the month of July, when the cases are likely to be high in the coastal areas due to heavy rains.
NIRDESH purchased 200 strips using CSR funds made available by Mazagaon Docks, Mumbai. These are being used by the PHCs from July 1. “We have tested about 20 patients so far and confirmed three cases of dengue. The NS1 antigen strip has made diagnosis much easier and accurate. This has eased panic among the people”, said Dr. Sreekumar, while Dr Neetha said that the financial burden of the people from the coastal area was reduced to a great extent.
