Folk songs to sensitise people about Malaria and TB

Baripada, Oct 1: A novel strategy to communicate to people how to combat killer diseases like Malaria and TB has been developed by LEPRA Society-sponsored Mayurbhanj Integrated Communty Health Project (MICHP).

The Society has adopted folk songs and dances as 'tools' to convey the message of health to people in remote rural areas, Project Officer Nirod Kumar Bhuyan said here on Wednesday, Oct 1.

Stories depicting available health services in the district to combat Malaria, TB, Leprosy and other diseases are conveyed to the rural people through presentation of 'Daskathia', 'Paala'' and 'Chhau', Mr Bhuyan said.

LEPRA Society that could achieve an effective control on the spread of Leprosy in Mayurbhanj has now embarked upon a new Mayurbhanj Integrated Community Health Project(MICHP) in the district.

Besides, a 'Chitrapata Pustika' (a Flip book) on Malaria narrating the story of the killer disease from how it spreads to how people can effectively combat it, has been reflected through graphics and tell-tale pictures.

This flip book developed by the Lepra Society has proved to be a good tool to create awareness among the people and has been greatly admired by the state Health department. The book was being replicated by the national vector borne diseases control programme authorities in Orissa, said LEPRA Society Communication Officer Nihar Ranjan Patra.

Meanwhile, a two-day PHRC(Panchayat Health Resource Centre) 'mela' was organised on Sunday and Monday at Baripada to dicuss ways and means of strengthening the governemnt's health services and to make it reach the rural communities.

Mr Bhuyan said, ''we have so far formed 1163 Gaon Kalyan Samitis in two hundred Gram Panchayats of the district to achieve this objective.''

UNI