Malaria threat: JMC only way to deal with problem is thermal fogging campaign

By Tahir Mushtaq 

GNS JAMMU, JULY 02: In absence of any long term plan to deal with the malaria threat, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is dependent on eradication of mosquitoes on only fogging campaign, which the corporation has launched about 20 day back in all the 71 wards of the city. 

The drive has been launched in collaboration with Health Department (State Malariologist), supervised by Anti-Malaria Officer to prevent spread of water borne diseases in the area falling within the municipal limits. 

Though the corporation has been claiming that its campaign has been able to curb the breeding grounds, but in most parts of the city, mosquito menace is still prevent. 

Corporation has appealed the people, especially children and those allergic to smoke to remain in door during fogging and has urged the people to keep their surrounding clean so that mosquitoes don’t get places to breed. “We understand that this drive will not put complete end on the spread of water borne disease, but it creates awareness among the citizens, our target is to fully curb the malaria in the city during the coming months”, said a officer from health wing of JMC. 

When contacted, Commissioner JMC, K.L Khajuria said that this drive of thermal fogging will be carried out to control the density of the mosquitoes and daily three wards will be targeted. “Our awareness campaign against malaria is round the year feature and with onset of summer, special squads are constituted to destroy the places which act as breeding ground for the parasites”, Khajuria said. 

He said that JMC has also decided establish special squads to deal with any threat of Malaria keeping in view the Amarnath yatra, when lakhs of pilgrims visit the state. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the under-construction sites, potholed roads and lanes, pits in and around the localities provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease causing germs, which when passed into the human body through mosquitoes are life threatening. “People should take care that water in the water-coolers are changed periodically, as stagnant water could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Dr. Kapil Sharma. 

He said that flies and mosquito repellents should be used, boiled water, hygienic food and only pasteurized milk should be consumed.