VASAI, PALGHAR: Several parts of Vasai taluka as well as the neigbouring areas of Naigaon and Nallasopara are likely to experience flooding this year as well, opine environmentalists, local activists and greens who complain that the administration has failed to take adequate and effective measures in several parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Incessant rain for three continuous days had led to a massive flood-like situation in the entire Vasai-Virar stretch in July 2018. Vasaikars blamed illegal constructions, land-filling and half-constructed bridges in the creek area and natural flood water outlets for the water-logging. The flood water did not abate for several days and in some low-lying areas, residents had to leave their homes and flats and seek refuge elsewhere.

In July 2018, the flood water levels remained high for almost a week, with the electricity supply disrupted for over 40 hours and drinking water supply unavailable for four days. Residents had to wade through waist-deep water to leave their houses for even medicines and supplies.

Over the years, since 2018, not much has changed and promises by the administration to find a solution for the flooding problem have remained just pep-talk. Last year several parts of Vasai and Naigaon experienced floods during the monsoon. And this year too, local social activists and environmentalists fear the same miserable situation which was experienced over the last four to five years. “Nothing has changed,” says Ashley Pereira of Manickpur, adding that only superficial measures have been undertaken, which will fall flat when the skies open up this monsoon as well.

VASAI, PALGHAR: According to several complaints by the residents of the city of Vasai, particularly the Vasai West region and the adjoining areas of Nallasopara seem to be in the grip of a mosquito menace that has suddenly spiralled as the monsoons draw near.

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) is blind to the flying menace and several calls to the concerned departments went unanswered. No health department official was willing to speak on the issue and the answer was ‘no comments please’ when this reporter approached various officials.

A senior VVMC official who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, admitted that certain spots were facing an increasing mosquito menace due to the changes in the weather and the approach of the monsoon season, but denied that the problem had reached alarming proportions.

However Vasaikars are not amused and took to social media platforms to complain about the menace. There were several posts by local activists regarding the mosquito problems both in Vasai West as well as in Nallasopara.

The problem is caused by the Culex strain of mosquito, which breeds rapidly in stagnant water in wells, drying ponds, nullahs and in accumulating sewage waste and even in small patches of water like gardening pots, plant pots and similar implements.

Residents have complained that this summer, the mosquitoes are resilient to common pest control measures and are not controlled by several easily available mosquito repellents. According to an estate agent Dominic Pereira of Papdy, his young kids are unable to sleep as the mosquito repellents are not working.

Actor Pearl Angel D’souza whose family lives in the Giriz locality of Vasai West has a similar complaint – she was brutally bitten by mosquitoes who were not at all affected by popular home pest control or mosquito repellents during the few days she spent in Giriz.

Yet another Vasaikar – housewife Sunita Ingale of Holi said she has to use at least three different mosquito repellents to enable her kids to get sleep. “There is load-shedding and there are power outages in the area. It is impossible to get sleep at night due to the mosquitoes and the problem is greatly increased when the power goes off,” Ingale said.

VASAI, PALGHAR: The city of Vasai particularly the Vasai West region and the adjoining area of Naigaon seems to be in the grip of a mosquito menace that has suddenly spiralled.

The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) is blind to the menace and several calls to the concerned departments went unanswered. No health department official was willing to speak on the issue and the answer was ‘no comments please’.

A senior VVMC official who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, admitted that certain spots were facing an increasing mosquito menace due to the changes in the weather, but denied that the problem had reached alarming proportions.

However Vasaikars are not amused and took to social media platforms to complain about the menace.

The problem is caused by the Culex mosquito which breeds rapidly in stagnant water in wells, drying ponds, nullahs and in accumulating sewage waste.

Residents have complained that this summer, the mosquitoes are resilient to common pest control measures and are not controlled by several easily available mosquito repellents. According to an estate agent Dominic Pereira of Papdy, his young kids are unable to sleep as the mosquito repellents are not working.

Actor Pearl Angel D’souza whose family lives in the Giriz locality of Vasai West has a similar complaint – she was brutally bitten by mosquitoes who were not at all affected by popular home pest control or mosquito repellents during the few days she spent in Giriz.

Yet another Vasaikar – housewife Sunita Ingale of Holi said she has to use at least three different mosquito repellents to enable her kids to get sleep. “There is load-shedding and there are power outages in the area. It is impossible to get sleep at night due to the mosquitoes and the problem is greatly increased when the power goes off,” Ingale said.

PALGHAR, VASAI: A private hospital at Parnaka near Zenda Bazar in Vasai city – the St. Mary Advance Care Hospital, conducted tests for diabetes, hypertension and depression among about 800 youth and after analysing and data mining the results, found that about 25-30 percent of the youth tested were either already diabetic or were pre-diabetic or suffering from either depression or hypertension.

Dr Pranav Kabra along with his team at the St Mary Advance Care Hospital located at Hathi Mohalla in Vasai West who conducted the tests said most of the youth tested were in the age group of 24 to 30 years and there were an almost equal number of males and females in the random test group across Vasai city.

According to the findings of the survey and tests conducted over the last one week, more and more youth even in smaller cities or towns are susceptible to diabetes, hypertension and depression.

“We found 2-3 youth as young as 20-21 years of age who were pre-diabetic or prone to hypertension. Each individual was subjected to several medical tests like HbA1c, Random Blood Sugar, CBC and others before concluding that they were either diabetic or pre-diabetic,” said Dr Kabra.

The individuals tested were from Tam Talao, Papdy, Holi, Giriz, Manickpur and other localities of Vasai, the hospital said.

The incidence of pre-diabetes in youngsters in very high and is not restricted to only places like Mumbai and Delhi. Residents of smaller town and cities are also recording incidence of pre-diabetes at alarmingly younger ages.

The St Mary Advance Care Hospital has announced free medical camps in the city to encourage youth and senior citizens alike to come forward and get tested for various lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity and hypertension.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in several references has stated that India is the diabetes capital of the world, after overtaking China and has a staggering number of pre-diabetic patients.

The St Mary Advance Care hospital is offering residents of Vasai, over 100 medical, diagnostic and pathological tests completely FREE, during a special medical awareness camp over this weekend and the next weekend.

St Mary Advance Care Hospital situated at Parnaka, Hathi Mohalla, Vasai West, in a media note, said they are conducting a mega FREE medical check-up camp within the hospital premises, on Saturday and Sunday, 13th and 14th May as well as the next weekend and will be offering over 100 different diagnostic and pathological tests free for Vasaikars or residents of Vasai on the two days. The aim is to identify lifestyle diseases in youth as well as senior citizens.

One needs to pre-book a test slot or time to avoid overcrowding and chaos. In addition to advanced tests like LFT (Liver Function Test) or CBC, basic tests for blood pressure (BP), RBS (random blood sugar), BMI, etc., will be done for all attending the weekend camp over the next two weeks. Preference is given to senior citizens and youth, Dr Kabra said.

According to a media statement issued by the hospital, the free testing service is being offered to all residents of Vasai to study the incidence of diabetes, hypertension and depression among youth between the age group of 21 to 30 years. Everyone is encouraged to avail of the free testing facility to find out if they are pre-diabetic or have any diabetes-related possibilities. “With our advance testing models, we can predict if a 25-year-old youth has any existent issues or symptoms that could lead to diabetes say after 10 or 20 years, when he is 40 or 45 years old, said Dr Kabra, adding that it is a social service for the benefit of the residents of Vasai.

VASAI: In what could be an attempt for the first time in Vasai, a hospital is offering residents of the city, over 100 medical, diagnostic and pathological tests completely FREE, during a special medical camp over this weekend.

St Mary Advance Care Hospital situated at Parnaka, Hathi Mohalla, Vasai West in a media note, said they are conducting a mega FREE medical check-up camp within the hospital premises, on Saturday and Sunday, 13th and 14th May and will be offering over 100 different diagnostic and pathological tests free for Vasaikars or residents of Vasai on the two days. One needs to pre-book a test slot or time to avoid overcrowding and chaos. In addition to advanced tests, basic tests for blood pressure (BP), RBS (random blood sugar), BMI, etc., will be done for all attending the weekend camp.

The recently-relaunched St Mary Advance Care hospital is now under the management and supervision of Dr Pranav Kabra – an MD Physician from Mumbai, who also runs three more hospitals in the Mumbai Metropolitan region, including one at Mira Road.

According to Dr Pranav Kabra, the aim of the FREE health camp is to enable Vasaikars to avail of the best diagnostic and pathological tests, without having to worry about exorbitant bills.

“We have relaunched the St Mary Advance Care Hospital with a completely new team of doctors and medical and nursing staff. We are equipped with a state-of-the-art lab for testing and our team of doctors are at par (in terms of expertise and experience) with the best in other well-known and reputed hospitals in Mumbai or for that matter Delhi. When it comes to Vasai, we will be able to offer the best medical care to patients at very reasonable budgets,” a spokesperson for the hospital said.

“We are doing advanced tests like Liver Function Test (LFT), HbA1c, Uric Acid Test, ECG, Creatinine test, as well as testing basic parameters like blood pressure, SpO2 (oxygen concentration in the blood), random blood sugar, BMI, etc.,” the hospital said in a statement, adding that patients can WhatsApp their name, contact number, age and address to 8169903571 to book a test slot, specifying the test they wish to avail off. “We have limited test slots, so of course, it is on first-come-first-served basis,” the press note said.

The St Mary Advance Care Hospital also intends to test residents for lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression, as well as for cardiac, gastro, liver, kidney and other ailments and diseases. We want a healthy and happy Vasai, says Dr Kabra who believes in the old saying – health is wealth.