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Government to distribute mosquito nets to the poor

Staff Reporter

Anti-malaria campaign launched in Union Territory

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

FIGURING OUT: Students peer into a microscope to view malarial larvae.

PUDUCHERRY: The Government plans to procure nets impregnated with deltametrin, an insecticide, and distribute to the poor. “The nets with the insecticide are in accordance with World Health Organisation specifications, and the Centre is also encouraging State Governments to procure such nets ,” N. Nilamani, Assistant Director (malaria and filaria), Department of Health told The Hindu.

“The Centre wants to bring down by half the number of deaths caused by malaria by the year 2010. As these nets are not available in India, we can have cotton nets that are impregnated with the insecticide, and once in three months, the nets have to be washed and impregnated with the medicine. Since the net costs Rs.375 a piece, the financial aspect has to be worked out,” added D. Nilamani.

Various programmes including essay, painting competitions, pattimandrams, live demos of how mosquitoes and larvae look like and slide shows have been organised throughout the Union Territory. The anti-malaria campaign is being organised in the month that precedes monsoon every year.

The target audience includes self-help groups, schoolchildren and general public. A slide show and awareness programme was organised at Kathirgamam Government School on Friday.

Students were taught about the steps to prevent female mosquitoes from laying eggs in water. The Hhealth Department staff explained that overhead tanks need should be closed properly, water stagnation in small vessels or even in coconut shells and tyres needed to be prevented.

“Those with fever and shivering must visit the doctor and if need be take a blood smear test. Last year, there were around 40-50 cases of malaria in Puducherry. When a case of malaria is detected in a particular area, the Health Department tests about 500 other people in that area. ’ DDT is sprayed inside the houses so that mosquitoes will die,” added Dr. Nilamani.

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