Man vs mosquitoes: Kozhikode all prepared for the battle

KOZHIKODE: Taking cue from ice bucket challenge, district vector control unit has launched a ‘vector challenge’ to eliminate mosquito breeding spots. The programme was launched as part of the ‘nalla sheelam’ (good habit) project of the unit which completed its 1,000th health awareness programmes here on Wednesday. A total of 60 officials of public health staff have been deployed to execute ‘Nalla sheelam’ project
The ‘vector challenge’ was launched in the wake of Japanese encephalitis case reported last year.
As part of the programme people were asked to the take up the challenge to take steps to eliminate mosquitoes in their neighbourhood and house. The project being was implemented with the active participation of students and public.
The major highlight of the programme is that the health awareness programmes are conducted by engaging the students and public in field-level work. Vector control unit organized health awareness programme after conducting mosquito index survey. The programme adhered to green protocol. It also distributed 2,500 cloth bags.
Vector control unit officials, said, they gave live demonstrations to a total of 42,266 persons including students, NSS unit members, SPC members, scouts and guides, residents’ associations, Kudumbashree units, government offices, shops and Anganwadis in the district.
Of this, 15,216 participants were students, 5,106 people residing in the limits of 69 residential associations and 5,384 participants were members of 93 Kudumbashree units. The scheme also encouraged organic cultivation in schools. It also conducted mosquito eradication drive in 68,318 locations across the district. The drive was launched in January, 2018.
C M Vinodan, health inspector of vector control unit and district coordinator of Nalla Sheelam project said,
“We have already succeeded in bringing down indigenous malaria cases. Density of the larvae of indigenous malaria which were found in highest numbers at Puthiyappa, Vellayil, Koyilandy, Vadakara, Edacheri in 2017 has reduced tremendously. No new case of indigenous malaria has been reported from these areas this year,’’ he said.
Earlier, mayor Thottathil Raveendran inaugurated the completion of 1,000th awareness programme at a function held at Chakorathukulam Thapoval open auditorium here on Wednesday. Corporation health standing committee chairman K V Baburaj and staff of district vector control unit attended the programme.