Awareness to combat diseases mark the World Health Day

Principal Correspondent
Kohima, April 8

Nagaland on April 7 observed World Health Day on the theme “Vector Borne Diseases “Small Creatures: Big Threat” at Health Care Laboratory & Research Centre Conference Hall, NHAK.
Addressing the gathering as the chief invitee, Director Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Takonuksung Lemtor said: “Vectors are living organism that can transmit infectious diseases between humans and from animals to humans,” adding that many of these vectors are bloodsucking insects that ingest disease – producing micro-organisms during a blood meal from the infected host human or animal and later inject them into a new host during their next blood meal. He said Mosquitoes are the best known disease vector while others include certain species of tick, sand flies, fleas, bugs and fresh water snails.
He said the types of vector borne disease are malaria, dengue, chikungunya, japans encephalitis, filariasis, kalaazar, scrub typhus, yellow fever, leishmaniasis, onchocerciasis (river blindness), Crimean-congo haemorrhagic fever, lyme diseases, tick borne disease, schistosomiasis, chagas disease etc.
He also maintained that National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme in India covers six diseases – malaria, dengue, chikungunya, japans encephalitis, filariasis and kalaazar, but not scrub typhus which is prevalent in Nagaland.Maintaining that everyone should be concerned about these diseases, Dr. Lemtor said vector borne diseases are illness caused by pathogens and parasites in human populations. “Every year more than one billion people are infected and more than one million people die from vector borne diseases while 1/6th of illness and disability suffered worldwide is due to vector borne diseases.
“More than half of the world population is at risk due to vector borne diseases,” he said, adding that the poorest segment of the society and least developed countries are most affected.
In Nagaland context, he said 35 deaths were reported in 2009 due to Malaria, while 14 deaths in 2010, 5 death in 2011 and 1 death 2012. One person died due to Japanese Encephalitis in 2009, 6 in 2010, 6 in 2011 and 2 in 2012.
Expressing concern that Scrub typhus had claimed more lives as 19 died in 2011, 9 in 2012 and 13 in 2013, he regretted that the NVBDCP does not include the disease even as it is prevalent in Nagaland.
He maintained that it is important to diagnose the disease, treatment and prevention while also sensitizing stake holders like – government departments, schools, local bodies and families.
Vector borne diseases are one of the greatest contributors of mortality and morbidity in tropical settings and beyond, he said while maintained that all the stake holders needs contribution and behavioural change is needed to achieve the required effect.
Additional Director H&FW, Dr. Nandira Changkija, delivering the keynote address, called upon the Health and Family Welfare Department to be a daily messenger of healthcare delivery system and not only on World Health Day. She said imparting good health is not just about taking medicines and getting blood tested but it about taking care of the environment around us.
She also said that doctors and nurses should not only think of performing the professional duty but also spread the message of good health to people around us and the community. She stressed on the need to maintain proper sanitation and clean environment as equally important to achieve good health.
Joint Director and SPO NVBDCP, Dr. P Tia Jamir, chaired the programme while nursing students entertained the gathering with special number. Deputy Director NVBDCP, Dr. Vethihulu, tendered the vote of thanks.
In a similar programme, Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) under its phase-II Intensified Malaria Control Project and Peren district NVBDCP commemorated the World Health Day on April 7 at Jalukie town with the participation of nine schools in painting competition held at St Xavier Higher Secondary School.
The event was organised by DAN with support by Caritas India, St Xavier Hr Sc School and Daily Bread. Over 400 students and teachers from the participating schools witnessed the painting competition on topics (i) Invest in the future (ii) Treatment and diagnosis of malaria (iii) Community towards free malaria.
The programme began with an invocation offered by Fr. Dominic, Assistant parish priest, followed by welcome address by Kishor Dass, District Project Officer (Ad Hoc) IMCP-II DAN, and special number with a message to control malaria was presented by Namkamlak, Field supervisor (IMCP II).
District Programme Officer NVBDCP, Peren, Dr. Lanutula Ao, had dwelled on awareness, symptoms and diagnosis of Malaria to the gathering.
Winners of the painting competition are Ms Alphonsa of St Xavier School, Anambe of Barail Valley School, Namsulung of JNV Peren, Membhanu of Barail Valley School and Ipiegwangbe of Government High School respectively.
In yet another programme World Health Day was observed in Meluri on April 7, organized by Development Association of Nagaland (DAN) in collaboration with “Caritas India,” National Vector Borne Disease Central Programme (NVBDCP) Nagaland, and Pochury Mother’s Association.
James, DPO (DAN), as the resource person of the day highlighted on “Vector Borne Disease.” The DPO said that the main purpose of the programme was to let people know about the symptoms of malaria, how Malaria breeds and is spread. He also highlighted on Malaria and its prevention.
The programme was chaired by Athrong, field Supervisor (DAN), in which around 60 women representing various churches of Meluri town attended the programme.