JAMMU: World Malaria day was observed today across Jammu division by organising series of IEC activities.

The awareness campaign was held under the overall supervision of Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah. Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Rakesh Magotra, with teamwork of all the staff working under the administrative control of Dr. D. J Raina, State Malariologist, J&K Jammu, immensely contributed in organisation of various programmes.

The activities included participation in web conference of National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control in collaboration with WHO.

At the National level, the Nodal Officer of the Provincial Hospital Gandhinagar Jammu participated in a one day technical workshop on elimination of Malaria targeted by 2027.

The IEC activities included publishing of IEC material in leading UT and local newspapers. The information was also spread through TV interviews on Doordarshan Jammu and local channel(s).

The awareness on Malaria was also spread through an interview and day long broadcast of audio -spot on Akashwani Jammu and FM radio channels, educating the people about various aspects of prevention and control of malaria.

The State Malariologist addressed an assembly of around 1500 students in Army School, Nagrota as a part of Civil Army collaboration for percolation of the message in the community at large through school children. The IEC material was distributed among the students and students were requested to carry message to their homes.

The IEC activity on World Malaria Day was also held at Provincial Govt. Hospital Gandhi Nagar in which a gathering of AMT students, Malaria workers, staff of the hospital among others were addressed by the State Malariologist, Deputy Director Health Services, Jammu and Medical Superintendent, Government Hospital, Gandhinagar, Jammu.

Similar IEC activities were also held at several District and Block headquarters by taking out rallies with participation of schools to bolster the Malaria elimination by 2027.

World Malaria Day was also observed by the healthcare Institutes in the urban healthcare setup by organising rallies and educational programmes in schools and spreading awareness in the community by undertaking house to house visits.

Using the Social Media platform, the IEC campaign was also carried out through the WhatsApp groups, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

The banner display containing the IEC material was held at different prominent points for general awareness of the public.

The RBSK teams and School Health teams were also part of the World Malaria Day awareness campaign.