City shows way, tames malaria

Ritika Jha Palial

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

There is good news for the city. The incidence of malaria, a disease that killed thousands of people the world over until 2012, has come down drastically in the past 25 years. From a total of 26,046 cases of malaria reported from Chandigarh in 1991, before malaria was declared a deadly disease by the WHO, the number came down to 114 in 2014.

Besides advanced technologies for diagnosis and free of treatment of malaria at government health centres, awareness among residents has also been included among the causes for the decline in the incidence.

However, experts cautioned that resistance to insecticides and non-compliance with the basic measures in households could still increase the incidence of malaria.

“World Malaria Day is therefore observed sincerely even now since awareness on the disease (both among the public and healthcare experts), its prevention (by residents) and treatment (by healthcare experts) is crucial to keep the incidence low,” said Dr Anil Garg, nodal officer of the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme. 

World Malaria Day was recognised by the WHO in 2007 for raising awareness on the subject. 

300 phulkari workers attend health camp

As many as 300 phulkari women workers attended a free multi-specialty health camp at Nishulk Vidyalaya, Jagatpura village, today.  camp was organised by the Max India Foundation.