Anti-Malaria Month kicks off in Sadar Hills
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, August 25 2014: As part of the nationwide observance, Anti-Malaria Month in Sadar Hills kicked off with an inauguration function held at District Council Hall, Kangpokpi here today.

DK.

Thangboi, MCS, Addl.

DC Kangpokpi and Dr.Jangkholun Touthang, Sr.

Medical Officer i/c, CHC, Kangpokpi graced the inaugural function as Chief Guest and President respectively, while Haokholun Chongloi, Secretary, Kangpokpi Town Committee attended as Guest of Honour.

Apart from leaders of various CSOs, ASHAs, students and public who attended the programme, Dr.Len Kamkhosat Khongsai, District Malaria Officer, Kangpokpi and other department officers were also on the dais.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Thangboi said, "We don't need to depend on others while we have enough skills and proficient doctors in the state", and adding that dependence on others can be avoided when the people are aware of the importance of consulting doctors on time.

Elucidating his statement, the Addl.

DC continued that most people in the state particularly those living in the hill districts consult doctors or approach hospitals only when the patient's health deteriorates.

This renders the doctors a limited time to save or cure the patient, he added.

He further said that another bad habit of the people is to take medicines without consulting doctors.

The Addl.

DC, who is also the Chairman of the District Vector Borne Disease Control Society, Kangpokpi stated that Malaria is one of the serious public health problems in India.

He pointed out that at the time of Independence, Malaria contributed 75 million cases with 0.8 million deaths every year prior to the launching of National Malaria Control Programme in 1953 .

He also said that a countrywide comprehensive programme to control malaria was recommended in 1946 by the Bhore committee report that was endorsed by the Planning Commission in 1951 .

Since then the national programme against malaria has a long history, he added.

"Don't work with an intention of earning acclaim from others, rather work sincerely, honestly and faithfully so that everybody will honour and praise you", advised Dr.Jamkholun Touthang, Sr.

MO i/c, CHC, Kangpokpi to all medical personnel while speaking at the function.

The Guest of Honour Haokholun Chongloi, Secretary of Kangpokpi Town Committee while lauding the organizers said it is a privilege for the people of Sadar Hills to have such important programme for the welfare of the people.

Dr.Len Kamkhosat Khongsai, District Malaria Officer, Kangpokpi said that it is the aim of the District Vector Borne Disease Control Society, Kangpokpi to bring enhanced awareness about the disease and encourage community participation in the control programme.

The Malaria Officer pointed out that it is especially dangerous for pregnant women since it can lead to low birth weight eventually leading to its death.

Emphasizing the necessity of community participation in the programme, the Malaria Officer stressed the need to reduce Malaria by taking fever cases to health care personnel and recommended the people to keep their surrounding clean while using mosquito net and remove stagnant water from their surrounding as mosquito breeds in water.

The District Malaria Officer further pointed out that in 2013 four positive cases of Malaria had been detected in Sadar Hills alone while 3 of them were Pv+ve and the other one Pf+ve and among the four cases three were founded to be imported case.

Recently two cases of Malaria were detected from in the district.

One from Phainom village and other from Dolang Khunou in March and July respectively this year, continued the MO while adding that both the patients were infected from the forest area.

Fortunately, there are no reported deaths from Malaria in the district for the past 9 years while the District Vector Borne Disease Control Society continues surveillance activities to keep the disease in control.

He also said that in continuation of Anti Malaria Moth observance, the District Vector Borne Disease Control Society, Kangpokpi is going to conduct District Level Inter-Sectoral Sensitization Meeting with different departments of the district and also organized awareness programmes in schools and communities.

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