Minister Rai stresses on green clean to halt malaria

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 14,3,2017: DK  District In-charge and forest Minister B Ramanath Rai said at town hall on May12, Friday, that if people wish, they can eliminate Malaria completely in the district by maintaining cleanliness.

"Can eliminate Malaria in the way we have eliminated filaria and polio," he said, launching the ’State Malaria Elimination Framework 2016-2025 - Strategy and Policy Guidelines’.

Mangaluru was chosen for the launch of the guidelines as it is one among the cities with highest Malaria cases. In fact, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts account for 70% of Malaria cases in the state. Therefore, there is an urgent need to take preventive measures to stop the spread of Malaria. Citizens have a larger role to play in this regard. They have to destroy mosquito breeding sites by keeping the house premises clean and free from water stagnation, Rai said.

Government’s chief whip in the Legislative Council MLC Ivan D’Souza said that sewage is passing through open drains at several places. This also results in water stagnation which in turn multiplies the number of mosquitoes. Therefore, the underground drainage system should be given more urgency, he said.

Health and Family Welfare and Ayush Services Commissioner Subodh Yadav said six million Malaria cases were reported in 1976 in the state. The number of cases has decreased to 10,630 in 2016. But, there is a long way to go. Even though the Union government has set a target to eliminate Malaria by 2030, the state government, in its plan, has aimed to achieve zero Malaria cases by 2022, he added.

Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo, Mayor Kavitha Sanil, MCC Health, Education and Social Justice Standing Committee chairman Nagaveni, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme deputy director Dr Prakash Kumar, joint director Dr S N Sharma and Government Health and Family Welfare regional director Dr K Ravikumar, Deputy Commissioner Dr K G Jagadeesha, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao, District Surgeon Dr H R Rajeshwari Devi and Government Lady Goschen Hospital Superintendent Dr Saroja and public attended.