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Taking malaria prevention to the masses

— Photo : T. Singaravelou

Useful tips: Assistant Director of Malaria and Filaria N. Nilamani speaking at the awareness programme in Puducherry on Thursday.

PUDUCHERRY: If you are suffering from fever and symptoms of shivering, sweating, then it is time to test for malaria. Timely blood tests and appropriate treatment would come a long way in preventing complications.

With June being observed as the National Malaria Control month, the Urban Health Centre of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) conducted an awareness programme and exhibition for public and students on Thursday.

Addressing the gathering, Assistant Director of Malaria and Filaria N. Nilamani highlighted the importance of testing for malaria and strategies to control mosquito breeding.

“Urbanisation is one of the reasons for mosquito breeding. There are two types of malaria — that caused by plasmodium vivax and plasmodium falciparum,” he said.

Of this, plasmodium falciparum was dangerous and could lead to death if treatment was not provided within 48 hours, he said and added that the species was found in places such as Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

“Plasmodium falciparum is not found in Puducherry but visitors from other States could bring the species here. Several persons from Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa are involved in construction activities in Puducherry,” Dr. Nilamani said.

He elaborated on the places of mosquito breeding, identification of mosquitoes through its sitting postures, preventive measures and treatment.

“Mosquitoes, which cause malaria, breed in clean water such as in sumps, over head tanks and vessels. It is important to close the sumps and tanks properly to prevent breeding and use the water collected in vessels within seven days,” he emphasised.

Doctors from JIPMER enacted a short play on mosquito-borne diseases and ways to prevent them. This was followed by the screening of a short film on prevention and control measures, symptoms and treatment for malaria, filaria, dengue and chikungunya. The exhibition consisted of posters on breeding sources of culex, aedes and anopheles mosquitoes and strategies for control. Use of insecticide treated mosquito nets and avoiding water stagnation in and around houses was also conveyed through posters. Chief Medical Officer of the centre K. Jegadheeswaran and Gautam Rai of the Department of Preventive Medicine, JIPMER spoke.

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