MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

DISEASES COMMON TO THE DISTRICT

Malaria, guineaworm, leprosy, tuberculosis and epidemic diseases like small-pox and cholera arc noted to exist in the district. The survey conducted by the Malaria Organisation in the State in 1949-50 revealed that Karjat, Khalapur, Alibag, Pen, Uran, Panvel, Sudhaead, Mangaon, Roha and Murud were the malanous talukas; and they contained more than 77 per cent of the district population. But now the incidence of Malaria is much reduced. Due to Anti-Malaria campaign and measures taken thereby, the number of Malaria cases treated in 12 public dispensaries at Alibag, Khalapur, Karjat, Mahad, Mangaon, Murud, Nagothana, Pen, Revdanda, Roha, Uran and Panvel came down from 31,207 in 1949, i.e., before the commencement of the control operations, to 2,639 in 1958-59. Guineaworm is found to prevail throughout the district. But it has also been brought under control by constantly disinfecting water-supply. To combat Leprosy, a Leprosy subsidiary centre is established at Pen. The object of the centre is to control the spread of Leprosy by extensive treatment with modern sulphone drugs. The activities of the centre are―

(1) A care-finding programme through Leprosy surveys.

(2) Treatment of all cases of Leprosy.

(3) Follow up of healthy contacts with patients.

(4) Publicity and health education regarding Leprosy.

(5) Welfare activities for the patients and their dependents. Cholera and Small-pox are the main epidemic diseases of the district. The following table gives the incidence of Cholera and Small-pox in the district:―

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