World Malaria Day observed in Assam’s Hailakandi

Hailakandi, April 26, 2019:

The scattered cases of malaria being reported from the district has led the health authorities to focus more on creating awareness about the disease and ensure people’s participation in resistance activities.

This year’s World Malaria Day, being observed, has the theme ‘Zero malaria starts with me’. According to Assistant Malaria Officer, Ashish Kumar Paul, malaria cases are being reported in Hailakandi district in the past couple of years. A single positive case has been detected so far this year. The department has put the total number of malaria cases last year at 37. The presence of Anopheles mosquitoes that spread the disease has been confirmed in the district.

World Malaria Day was observed on Thursday in four primary health centres across the district at Katlicherra, Lala, Algapur and Sarojini. An awareness meeting was also held by the medical team and vector borne disease consultant in a school and at village level at Bahadurpur Part II under Ratanpur SC of Algapur BPHC. Fogging operation will be carried out soon in areas falling under this BPHC.

The event was also observed in different educational institutions across the district. It was observed with great enthusiasm by the students of Panchgram Town High School. Assistant Teacher, Motosin Ali and Hindi teacher, MA Laskar spoke on the importance and significance of World Malaria Day and on the ways to contain malaria.

The event was also observed at Sanarei Mitei HS School in a befitting manner.

Said Inspector of Schools, Rajiv Kumar Jha, "World Malaria Day provides health organisations and scientists with an opportunity to communicate information about the disease and about current research efforts to the public. This is accomplished through educational programs in schools and in public places, charity events and other community activities."

The World Health Organisation says that after more than a decade of steady advances in fighting malaria, progress has levelled off. According to the WHO’s latest World Malaria Report, no significant gains were made in reducing malaria cases between 2015 and 2017. The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2017, at 4,35,000, remained virtually unchanged over the previous year. Sporadic fever, shivering, headache, nausea, and vomiting are some of the symptoms of malaria. Treatment is available at the SK Roy Civil Hospital, government hospitals and health centres.