Public awareness vital to curb spread of malaria

Public awareness vital to curb spread of malaria
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: If you thought that only migrant labourers are responsible for the spread of malaria in the state, then its time to do some rethinking. Even as the level of knowledge about malaria, its symptoms, mode of transmission and breeding sites is quite high in Goa, the practices adopted for prevention and control of malaria is unsatisfactory. This despite the fact that the awareness regarding prevention and control of malaria was found satisfactory by majority of people, reveals a latest study.
The study, “Evaluation of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) During Anti-Malaria month in Goa, 2006” was conducted by the Goa Medical College’s department of Preventive and Social Medicine and submitted to the Directorate of Health Service in December 2007.
Explaining the purpose of the study, the report states, “BCC is an integrated process that involves linkage of advocacy, social mobilization through inter-sectoral convergence and communication efforts for enhancement of knowledge, beliefs, values and attitudes resulting in suitable practices at individual, family and societal levels.
This year the malaria menance has been huge and government has declared it is just short of terming it an epidemic. In 2008, six persons are detected with falcipharum malaria every day. In 2007, the
number of falcipharum cases was only four cases per day. Surprisingly, even the cases of people detected with vivax malaria has almost doubled this year. From January to June 2007, about 2883 cases of vivax malaria was detected, in 2008 already 4025 cases of vivax malaria have been detected. There has already been seven malaria related death.
A cross sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge, attitude, practises of the beneficiaries of government’s Anti Malaria Month (AMM) campaign as regards to prevention and control of malaria in the state. Six villages and two wards were selected for the study. AMM was launched in Goa in the months of June and August 2006.
It has been recommended that more emphasis should be laid on intensive spraying of insecticides, wide use of larvivorous fish and insecticide treated bed nets.
“The most effective strategy to control malaria would be one based on personal protective measures, to be adopted on a mass scale. This calls for people’s active participation against malaria and its vector, which in turn would be dependent on empowering people with good working knowledge of the essentials of epidemiology of malaria,” the report states.
The report added, “The thinking still prevalent in the local community is that it (malaria) can spread through modes other than mosquito bites. Therefore, the first step would need to be an effective public awareness campaign and enable local bodies to run their own micro programmes for malaria control.”

2008 Jul 23 Times Of India Goa