Malaria continues to be a major public health challenge in India. About 95% population in the country resides in malaria endemic areas. Though Malaria ceases to be a major Public Health challenge in Delhi but rising number of drug resistance cases and vector also developing insecticide resistance there is more need to stress on Prevention and control of Malaria. To cherish this objective World Malaria Day was observed in Delhi by Society for Advocacy and Promotion of Public Health in collaboration with IMA East Delhi Branch and Public Health Department MCD. Programme was organized at IMA East Delhi Branch office.
Theme of World Malaria Day 2012 was "Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria". Community Participation was realized as one of the key strategies to combat the problem of Malaria hence RWAS and NGOs were invited to participate in the programme. The Programme was attended by approx 50 different RWAs/NGOs. The key expert speakers were Dr KN Tewari, former MHO, MCD Dr NK Yadav, MHO, MCD, Mr Chetan Chauhan, former cricketer and MP, Dr VK Monga, Chairman MRPH Committee, MCD and Chairman Society for Advocacy and Promotion of Public Health and Dr Ashwani Goel, President IMA East Delhi Branch. The entire activity was conceived and coordinated by Dr NR Tuli, Dy Health Officer MCD.
Dr Ashwani Goel welcomed all the participants and assured support of IMA East Delhi Branch in spreading the message on preventive measures. Dr Tuli requested Dr Goel to issue guidelines to all Private practitioners to notify all Malaria cases to Municipal Health authorities to strengthen the surveillance.
Dr NK Yadav informed about burden of disease, signs and symptoms of Malaria. He stressed for Microscopic examination of slides for lab diagnosis of Malaria and advised to take complete treatment for P vivax malaria for 14 days failing which the patient may develop relapse. He also described about common breeding sites of mosquito and various preventive measures. He further highlighted that prevention of mosquito breeding is ideal and killing of adult mosquitoe by fogging/spray is not ideal because of pollution, cost factor and resistance associated with it.
Dr KN Tewari stressed on role of Community and society in prevention and of mosquito breeding. He also stressed the need for involvement of school children. He reiterated the concept of giving people’s Health in their hands. He said Delhi is the only city in the world where facility of domestic Breeding Checking is provided by the Govt sector. In other countries it’s the responsibility of the citizens to ensure there is no mosquito breeding or mosquitogenic conditions in and around their premises. He also highlighted the problem of scanty intersectoral coordination as responsible for ineffective control measures
Mr Chetan Chauhan expressed his appreciation for the organizers and highlighted that such campaigns should be a continuous efforts and not one time activity. He stressed the need for having area specific strategies for prevention and control of Malaria.
Dr VK Monga, informed all regarding dawn of a new concept of formulation of a society i.e. Society for Advocacy and Promotion of Public Health to spread community awareness for their effective participation to accomplish the Millennium Health goals. He advised that Department must adopt a social community based model to seek their active participation. He felt this collective model would succeed and not a punishable model. Messages will work only if they reach the community and in this RWAs can play an important role. He also felt that other related Intersectoral departments also need to extend their support to fight the menace of Vector Borne Diseases as the mosquito breeding results in deeds and misdeeds by virtue of their own departmental activities. He asked the participants to extend positive support to Domestic Breeding Checkers to prevent occurrence of any breeding ground in their premises. He added its responsibility of all the community members to prevent the spread of disease in Delhi.
Programme ended with vote of thanks from Mr B S Vohra, President East Delhi RWAs Joint Front ( A Federation of RWAs ).
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