Awareness Campaigns Held Across Locations

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha : Under the directions of Civil Surgeon Hoshiarpur Dr. Mandeep Kamal and Senior Medical Officer Dr. Manpreet Singh Bains, the Health Department launched a special awareness campaign today, April 25, on World Malaria Day to educate people about malaria. During this, health teams organized awareness programs in various villages and schools, informing people that malaria’s main symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and vomiting. If such symptoms appear, one should immediately visit the nearest health centre for testing.
Providing more details, Senior Medical Officer Dr. Manpreet Singh said that as temperatures rise, the risk of mosquito proliferation also increases. He noted that mosquitoes can cause several serious diseases, with malaria being a major one. He explained that malaria is a severe type of fever spread by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes, which breed in clean stagnant water (such as in drains, ponds, pits, broken pots on rooftops, tyres, flower pots, etc.). Therefore, it is essential to protect against mosquitoes and maintain special cleanliness around one’s surroundings.
Describing malaria’s symptoms, he said initial signs include chills and shivering with fever, headache, fatigue and weakness after the fever subsides, and sweating. These symptoms typically appear 10-15 days after a mosquito bite. If they occur, get a blood test done immediately at the nearest government hospital or health centre and consult a doctor. Do not take any medicine on your own. Malaria testing and treatment are available free of cost at all government hospitals in the state.
To prevent mosquito bites, wear full-body covering clothes, use mosquito nets while sleeping at night, apply mosquito-repellent creams, and ensure no water accumulates around homes.
The Health Department appeals to people to cooperate in the ongoing campaigns against malaria and maintain a clean environment around them. Malaria can be completely controlled with the right information and precautions.