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Rural mela focusses on preventive health care

PUDUCHERRY: Be it malaria, dengue or HIV/AIDS, preventive health care came to the fore at an exhibition held as part of the three-day Rural Health Mela at Kodathur-Manaveli near Thirukanur.

Aimed at creating awareness among the public, the exhibition which was organised by the Puducherry State Health Mission and Department of Health and Family Welfare Services attempted to throw light on preventive health care with emphasis on mosquito-borne diseases, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, cancer and tuberculosis.

Officials of the Health Department said proper closure of overhead tanks, septic tanks, disposal of tyres and coconut shells at houses would prevent mosquito breeding.

For this, the department had put up simple models of houses and septic tanks.

“Often, the cover of the septic tank is broken. A gap of 1.5 mm in the covers is adequate for mosquito breeding. It is important to close the overhead tanks and septic tanks properly at houses. Malaria is caused by mosquito breeding in overhead tanks,” Senior Filariasis Inspector R. Rajasekhar said. Equipment used for fogging and spraying in mosquito control activities were also displayed at the stall.

A septic tank model which had water locks to prevent the entry of mosquitoes was also kept at the exhibition.

On its part, the Pondicherry AIDS Control Society provided information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and testing facilities available. It had put up posters to promote the use of condoms to prevent HIV transmission. The society also created awareness among the public of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Prevention of Parent-To-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS. Paintings on prevention of HIV were also displayed.

The Directorate of Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, Government of Puducherry exhibited posters on the treatments available in Siddha, Ayurveda and Homeopathy.

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