Mangaluru : The Zilla Panchayat, Mangaluru City Corporation, and Department of Health and Family Welfare along with KMC Hospital organised the Anti-malaria Month campaign at  K.M.C Hospital, Ambedkar Circle, on Monday.

The District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao flagged off  the rally of Anti-malaria Month campaign.

In order to create awareness on malaria, students from M V Shetty College of Nursing and KMC marched towards the deputy commissioner’s office with posters and slogans.

“The treatment isn’t just controlling malaria. The most important factor in this case is its prevention. Even, hospitals alone cannot be held responsible for the controlling of this disease. Henceforth, the awareness about the malaria among the common people helps to eradicate it from the root source”  said physician Dr Chakrapani.

Dr Rao said, “Malaria cases have declined drastically in the last five years, especially in MCC limits. Last year, around 2,800 cases were registered, while five years ago, more than 5,000 cases were recorded per year.”

He added that the 108 reporting units in the city report cases in real-time through a software. “Prompt reporting is extremely important to prevent malaria. Doctors and healthcare practitioners must upload all case data to the software immediately to help map out preventive measures and stop the transmission of the parasite,” he explained.

“There are around 60 multi-purpose workers in the MCC. The MCC area contributes to 90-95% malaria cases in the district and 30% in the state. It is of utmost importance that stagnation of water is checked to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. Sullia taluk is now malaria-free. The target is to make India malaria-free by 2025,” the DHO stated.

The authorities are targeting malaria prevention in Mangaluru through four Comprehensive Malaria Elimination Teams (CMET), house-to-house surveillance activities carried out by MPWs, 24×7 diagnosis and treatment by mobile vehicle within the city, said the DHO.