Kerala - Malappuram   

Students step in to combat vector-borne diseases

Students' initiative:A college student answering questions on vector control during a session at a school in Ponnani on Wednesday.

MALAPPURAM: Students of the MES College, Ponnani, launched an intensive awareness campaign against monsoon epidemics on Wednesday.

Their aim is not only to create awareness among the people of Ponnani municipality but also to collect complete data of the area about the nature and intensity of vector-borne diseases. The campaign is being done in association with the health authorities.

As many as 548 trained student volunteers surveyed 2,500-odd households of Ponnani on Wednesday morning and collected data on various aspects of mosquito breeding and diseases caused by mosquitoes. The student volunteers visited 28 schools in the area and offered classes to more than 20,000 school students in 478 divisions.

Leaflets distributed

As many as 20,000 leaflets were distributed. The school students were given training in identifying symptoms of vector-borne diseases.

They were also given training in vector control as well as prevention of mosquito-borne epidemics.

The school students will now survey their homes and neighbourhood as part of gathering data on the intensity of mosquitoes causing epidemics.

Teachers of the college supported the students in the drive.

T.Y. Aravindakshan coordinated the campaign with the help of the health and civic authorities as well as the teachers of the schools.

Novel experience

“The survey provided them with an experience that they never got before. They could see the reality of the environment,” said S. Suresh Kumar from the Department of Aquaculture and Fishery Microbiology, MES College.

Dr. Suresh, who guided the students, said they had become aware of vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya and their symptoms and prevention methods.

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