Malaria Eradication campaign inaugurated

Mangalore, July 3: A month-long Malaraia and Dengue Eradication Campaign under the auspices of Dakshina Kannada district administration, Mangalore City Corporation and District Health and Family Welfare Department was inaugurated in Mangalore on Tuesday.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, N Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly, said that cases of malaria reported in the district had increased over the last one year. There is a need to identify specific mosquito breeding places such as construction sites in the city, he said. Methods such as fogging can also be used if necessary, he observed.

Stating that there is a need to create awareness among the masses about malaria, Mr. Bhat suggested that NSS students from different colleges be used for the purpose in addition to the Corporation's 'clean city' campaign.

Mangalore Mayor Gulzar Banu in her address said that health is more valuable than wealth and assured that the Corporation would take all necessary steps to make Mangalore malaria-free.

Following the formal inauguration, Dr. Arun Kumar, District Vector Borne Disease Control Officer, briefed about the month-long campaign.

The House to House campaign would focus on activities such as fever surveillance, blood smear collection, source reduction and eradication by interpersonal communication. Field workers would include 30 junior health assistants from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, 10 junior HIFs from Urban Health Centres, 30 sponsored from Mangalore City Corporation, 30 BSW and MSW student volunteers, he said. Special emphasis would be given to construction sites. Two teams with 2 MPW and 2 sprayers each with the support of two vehicles would be used for this activity.

Senior Health Inspectors from Urban and Rural DK health centres would supervise the campaign. A total of 10 lab technicians would be made available in public health laboratories to examine blood smears collected during the campaign.

Each worker will be allotted 1000 houses. Workers are required to complete visiting their allotted houses within a month. They are required to collect smears of people suffering from fever after conducting a fever survey. They will also interact with people and create awareness about source reduction of mosquito breeding.

Krishna J Palemar, MLA, Amitha Kala, Deputy Mayor, MCC, Harish Kumar, Commissioner, MCC, Jayaram Poojary, Senior Malaria Inspector, District Malaria office, DK, were present among others.