Advice for the typical Naga: Don’t use mosquito nets for fishing!

EMN
Dimapur, February 25

As humorous as it is, only in Nagaland would such an advice have to go to the typical, meat-minded Naga: Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets are not to be used for fishing, except to be used as protection from mosquitoes if you want to run from malaria, dengue or Japanese encephalitis.
The advice was given during a recent program in Dimapur that was conducted to mark the distribution of the newly-introduced LLNs.
Following the launching of the Long lasting Insecticidal Net’s (LLINs) for Nagaland state on February 15 at District Hospital Dimapur, the Urban Malaria Vector Borne Disease Scheme also launched the LLINs for Dimapur’s urban areas with Chief Medical Officer of Dimapur Dr. MA Wati giving away the nets at East Police Colony on February 18.
Speaking during the occasion, Dr MA Wati called upon the public to use the nets throughout the year. He also said that the menace of malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis and other vector-borne diseases can be ‘simultaneously controlled with the help of public.’ He also advised the public to keep their surrounding and drainages clean.
Assistant Director of Urban Vector Borne Disease Scheme Kikolul Khieya informed that the scheme will be covering more than 100 colonies in Dimapur urban areas in phases. He called upon the council and the GBs to “positively co-operate with the department.” He said that the LLINs have insecticides incorporated in the fibre. The insecticide kills mosquitoes and insects, he said. The net will be effective for 5 years without needing a wash.
The public are asked to wash the nets with clean plain water and dry in a shaded area as and when required. He also advised the public not to use the nets for fishing or other purposes other than personal or family protection from mosquitoes. The nets are safe even for babies and pregnant women, he added.