Anti malaria campaign begins in Surat

Surat, June 2 (UNI) The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has undertaken an anti-malaria campaign in order to check the spread of the water-borne disease, which creates scare during the monsoon months.

The campaign, which began yesterday with a rally, was inaugurated by SMC Mayor Kanu Mavani. It will continue for a month with a number of activities.

''Our campaign against malaria will have constant disease surveillance mechanism to find out any malaria infection and providing consequent medical treatments to help the citizens,'' said Dr H K Sondharwa, an SMC officer.

''Malaria is spread by mosquitoes which grow in impure water, public should take care to avoid water clogging in their surroundings during the rainy season,'' he added.

He told UNI today that 240 permanant and 150 temporary field staff were working to collect blood samples from the citizens and the samples would be examnined in the SMC laboratary and actions would be taken accordingly.

He also said that 25 lab technicians were working in the SMC laboratary and the services of 28 urban health centres were also being utilised.

According to Mr Sondharwa, last year 7000 malaria cases were reported in SMC area.

''This year till April, 1358 malaria cases were reported. And the number of malaria cases increases in the rainy months, that is from June to October,'' he said.

He also said that as part of the awareness campaign 14 street plays and 28 puppet shows would be organised by professionals to make the public aware of the disease.

''SMC has already started anti-larva activities by spraying insecticides in open waterbodies and growing guppy fish in the permanent waterbodies to destroy the mosquitoes,'' said Mr Sondharwa.

Corporation Medical Officer Dr Hemant Desai said that the water tanks in the schools and offices will be examined constantly during the rainy season.

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