

Malaria continues to be a
major public health challenge in India. About 95% population in the
country resides in malaria endemic areas. Though Malaria ceases to be a
major Public Health challenge in Delhi but rising number of drug
resistance cases and vector also developing insecticide resistance there
is more need to stress on Prevention and control of Malaria. To cherish
this objective World Malaria Day was observed in Delhi by Society for
Advocacy and Promotion of Public Health in collaboration with IMA East
Delhi Branch and Public Health Department MCD. Programme was organized
at IMA East Delhi Branch office.
Theme of World Malaria
Day 2012 was "Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria". Community
Participation was realized as one of the key strategies to combat the
problem of Malaria hence RWAS and NGOs were invited to participate in
the programme. The Programme was attended by approx 50 different
RWAs/NGOs. The key expert speakers were Dr KN Tewari, former MHO, MCD Dr
NK Yadav, MHO, MCD, Mr Chetan Chauhan, former cricketer and MP, Dr VK
Monga, Chairman MRPH Committee, MCD and Chairman Society for Advocacy
and Promotion of Public Health and Dr Ashwani Goel, President IMA East
Delhi Branch. The entire activity was conceived and coordinated by Dr NR
Tuli, Dy Health Officer MCD.
Dr Ashwani Goel welcomed
all the participants and assured support of IMA East Delhi Branch in
spreading the message on preventive measures. Dr Tuli requested Dr
Goel to issue guidelines to all Private practitioners to notify all
Malaria cases to Municipal Health authorities to strengthen the
surveillance.


Dr NK Yadav informed
about burden of disease, signs and symptoms of Malaria. He stressed for
Microscopic examination of slides for lab diagnosis of Malaria and
advised to take complete treatment for P vivax malaria for 14 days
failing which the patient may develop relapse. He also described about
common breeding sites of mosquito and various preventive measures. He
further highlighted that prevention of mosquito breeding is ideal and
killing of adult mosquitoe by fogging/spray is not ideal because of
pollution, cost factor and resistance associated with it.
Dr KN Tewari stressed on
role of Community and society in prevention and of mosquito breeding.
He also stressed the need for involvement of school children. He
reiterated the concept of giving people’s Health in their hands. He said
Delhi is the only city in the world where facility of domestic Breeding
Checking is provided by the Govt sector. In other countries it’s the
responsibility of the citizens to ensure there is no mosquito breeding
or mosquitogenic conditions in and around their premises. He also
highlighted the problem of scanty intersectoral coordination as
responsible for ineffective control measures
Mr Chetan Chauhan
expressed his appreciation for the organizers and highlighted that such
campaigns should be a continuous efforts and not one time activity. He
stressed the need for having area specific strategies for prevention and
control of Malaria.

Dr VK Monga, informed
all regarding dawn of a new concept of formulation of a society i.e.
Society for Advocacy and Promotion of Public Health to spread community
awareness for their effective participation to accomplish the Millennium
Health goals. He advised that Department must adopt a social community
based model to seek their active participation. He felt this collective
model would succeed and not a punishable model. Messages will work only
if they reach the community and in this RWAs can play an important role.
He also felt that other related Intersectoral departments also need to
extend their support to fight the menace of Vector Borne Diseases as the
mosquito breeding results in deeds and misdeeds by virtue of their own
departmental activities. He asked the participants to extend positive
support to Domestic Breeding Checkers to prevent occurrence of any
breeding ground in their premises. He added its responsibility of all
the community members to prevent the spread of disease in Delhi.
Programme ended with vote of thanks from Mr B S Vohra, President East Delhi RWAs Joint Front ( A Federation of RWAs ).



