Anti-malaria/dengue month observed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01 2012:
The anti-malaria and Anti-Dengue Month observance was held at the office premises of Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East.
The observance function organised by Imphal East District Vector Borne was attended by Imphal East CMO Dr Momota Mukherjee and DFWO (IE) Dr Y Meghachandra as the chief guest and president respectively while Dr T Nilakanta, DLO (IE) Dr Somorjit Ningombam and DPM (IE) Binny Waikhom graced the occasion as the guests of honour.
Delivering the key-note address, Dr Kh Indra Singh stated that owing to some departmental inconveniences, the observance had to delayed from the normal period of June-July.
As June and July months are considered to be the period when vector-borne diseases are most widespread the observance used to be held in these months but this time around certain constraints forced belated observance, explained Dr indra, who also conveyed that observance on anti-malaria and anti-dengue month is being clubbed together as both the diseases occur at around the same period.
He also clarified that inspite of preliminary reports suggesting decline in the case of malaria in the hill areas this year the Department can only confirm the development when atleast 10 percent of the hill area populace could be covered under the screening test.
Conveying that only four percent of the population have been covered by the screening exercise till date, Dr Indra also expressed that officials concerned should advise both the department personnel and the general people to continue taking preventive measures.
As chief guest of the observance, Dr Momota emphasised on continuous alertness as one of the effective means to check malaria or dengue diseases.
conceding that timely prevention of malaria/dengue outbreaks cannot be guaranteed as most cases of malaria/dengue are reported belatedly, Dr Momota said sustaining awareness campaigns and regular examination of blood samples from infected areas are some of the measures to effectively check spread of vector-borne diseases.
Informing that rapid response teams are already in place at the district head offices to check malaria/dengue outbreaks from taking epidemic proportion, she urged the people to immediately contact or inform these teams to facilitate initiation of prompt action.