Dimapur, April 25 (MExN): To commemorate World Malaria Day which is celebrated on April 25, inter-ward cleanliness competitions were held in Mokokchung and Dimapur (urban) with the theme ‘Think. Plan. Create. A Malaria free Environment’.
Dr. S. Marina Yaden, District Vector Borne Officer (NVBDCP), Mokokchung in a press release informed that in Mokokchung district, majority of malaria cases are reported from areas bordering Assam such as Mangkolemba and Tuli through cross transmission from non-local tea workers and coal mine workers to local people. Malaria patients are also reported from neighbouring districts such as Longleng, Tuensang and Zunheboto.
Malaria is an acute parasitic illness caused by Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax through the bite of infected female Anophelus Mosquitoes, Dr. Marina said. The main clinical presentation is fever with chills; however, nausea and headache can also occur. The diagnosis is confirmed by microscopic examination of a blood smear and Rapid diagnostics test (RDT). Majority of the patients recover from the acute episode within a week with proper and timely treatment, the release added.
The strategies of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCB), she said, are early diagnosis and complete treatment, integrated vector control including promotion of LLIN (Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets) which has been distributed to every village having high malaria cases and jhum cultivators under Mokokchung district during March and April 2016. Intensive IEC and capacity building and training of the health workers, ASHAS has also been carried out.
The prize distribution ceremony for the inter-ward cleanliness competition organized by the NVBDCP Mokokchung in collaboration with Mokokchung District Swachh Bharat Mission was held at IDSP Hall, IMDH Mokokchung with Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel as chief guest.
Chief Medical Officer of Mokokchung, Dr. SS Akaba Longchar in his keynote address highlighted the objective of observing WMD and the measures adopted to control and eradicate malaria and other vector borne diseases. He also informed that the month of June will be observed further as Malaria Month and sought the cooperation and support of all stakeholders.
Chairman of All Wards Union Mokokchung lauded the district SBM and the DVBO (NVBDCP) for organizing the cleanliness competition which he said was perhaps a first of its kind. Saying that cleanliness is the most important step in controlling malaria, he added the cleanliness drive has impacted much awareness on the minds of the people about cleanliness. While suggesting that the cleanliness drive be made an annual affair, he said it need not be competitive but that all the wards be rather awarded incentives to undertake the cleanliness drive.
Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar appreciated all the 18 wards under Mokokchung Town for proactively and enthusiastically participating in the competition and said “everybody deserves prizes” and that “participation is more important than winning.” He also expressed admiration of the people of Mokokchung for showing much awareness on importance of cleanliness and congratulated the people for keeping Mokokchung Town clean.
SDO(C) Sachin Jaiswal, who was the chief judge of the competition, said he has never seen “people coming forward in such a mass scale to clean their town without any incentive” and added there was “no loser in this case as society as a whole benefits.”
Sungkomen Ward was adjudged the winner of the competition followed by Yimyu and Marepkong wards in the second and third places respectively. The winners were awarded Rs.30,000/-, Rs.10,000/- and Rs.5000/- respectively, along with certificates. All the remaining wards were also awarded certificates of appreciation.
The World Malaria Day event in Dimapur was organized by the Urban Vector Borne Disease Control Scheme (UVBDCS) under the Department of Health & Family Welfare. An inter-ward sanitation drive competition was held to create awareness to the public in Dimapur urban area, where Ward 9, Ward 10, and Ward 4 emerged first, second, and third winner respectively. They will receive Rs. 20000/-, Rs 15000/-, Rs 10000/- respectively as prize money. A press release from UVBDCS Assistant Director, Kikolul Khieya has asked the winning wards’ councils, GBs and youth wings to collect the prize during office hour.
