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India Today
26-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Prevent mosquito bites, prevent malaria: Government lists simple measures
As seasonal changes and monsoons set in, health authorities are urging citizens to stay vigilant against malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that continues to pose a serious health threat in many parts of India. According to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the best weapon in the fight against malaria is prevention, which starts with simple, everyday has made considerable strides in reducing malaria cases in recent years, but the disease remains endemic in several regions. As per the Ministry's advisory, staying malaria-free is not just about treatment, but about avoiding exposure in the first MOSQUITO NETS WHILE SLEEPINGNighttime is prime time for mosquito bites. Using mosquito nets while sleeping is one of the most effective and affordable methods to reduce contact with mosquitoes that may be carrying the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. Experts recommend insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for enhanced protection. These nets not only form a barrier but also kill mosquitoes that come in contact with the treated FULL-SLEEVE CLOTHESCovering up reduces exposed skin and thus, the risk of mosquito bites. Wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, especially during early mornings and evenings — peak mosquito activity hours — is a simple yet powerful way to avoid in particular, should be dressed in protective clothing when playing outdoors or attending school during mosquito-prone STAGNANT WATER IN YOUR SURROUNDINGSMosquitoes breed in stagnant water, and even a small puddle of water collected in containers, flowerpots, or discarded tyres can be a breeding ground. Regularly inspecting and clearing stagnant water from around your home is crucial to breaking the mosquito life are encouraged to cover water storage containers, keep drains unclogged, and ensure that rainwater does not accumulate in plant trays, rooftops, or empty INSECTICIDE AROUND YOUR HOUSEUsing household insecticide sprays in corners, under furniture, and near windows or doors is an additional layer of defence. The government also recommends community-wide spraying initiatives, especially during malaria season, to curb the mosquito alternatives like camphor, neem oil, and citronella may also help repel mosquitoes indoors, but should be used with proper children, pregnant women, and the elderly are at higher risk of severe malaria. For these groups, extra precautions like using nets and ensuring indoor mosquito protection are especially symptoms can include fever, chills, sweating, body aches, and, in severe cases, organ failure. Early detection and treatment can prevent complications, but prevention is the safer and smarter path. JOINING THE NATIONAL MALARIA ERADICATION MISSIONIndia is committed to achieving zero indigenous malaria cases by 2030, as per WHO's Global Technical Strategy. The Health Ministry urges all citizens to take personal and community responsibility in maintaining mosquito-free environments and promoting awareness in schools, workplaces, and message is clear: 'The fight against malaria begins with you.'By following these basic steps and staying informed, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from malaria this season. Simple actions like wearing full sleeves or emptying flowerpots can collectively save thousands of lives.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
"Malaria ends with us," WHO regional head Saima Wazed urges for political commitment to fight disease
New Delhi: On World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25, Saima Wazed , Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia , emphasised the need for continued investment and political commitment in the fight against malaria. This year, WHO joins with the RBM Partnership to End Malaria in promoting the theme "Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite." In a statement, Wazed said, "World Malaria Day, marked annually on April 25, was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. She added, "We stand at a defining moment. It is one of both immense promise and challenges, and calls for a shift from a business-as-usual approach to a whatever-it-takes mindset. Our region has made excellent progress in the fight against malaria. South-East Asia is the only WHO region to have met the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) 2020 milestones for reducing malaria cases and deaths. We are on track to achieve the ambitious GTS 2025 and 2030 targets. The success of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, certified malaria-free in 2015 and 2016, remains a point of pride for us. Of our nine endemic countries, four--Bhutan, India, Nepal and Timor-Leste--have achieved a greater than 63% reduction in malaria incidence since 2015. Timor-Leste and Bhutan are on the cusp of elimination." Wazed further stressed that the persistence of drug-resistant malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion, evolving vector behaviours, insecticide resistance, and climate change further complicate the efforts. "Hard-to-reach populations, fragile healthcare infrastructure , and declining international funding pose additional threats. We have just five years left to achieve our regional target of malaria elimination by 2030," Wazed said. She added, "To succeed, we must take decisive action -- Reinvest: Financial sustainability is essential. With increasing constraints on funding, we must prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and optimise existing funds to maximise impact. Malaria elimination is an investment, not a cost. It brings significant economic and social benefits, improves workforce productivity, and reduces healthcare expenses. Financing this is a smart, high-return investment." She further said, "Reimagine: As malaria dynamics shift, our response has to evolve. We must embrace innovations in both products and in service delivery. Digital health solutions can strengthen surveillance and enable real-time decision-making, particularly in high-burden countries. Strong surveillance systems that rapidly identify transmission hotspots and respond with targeted interventions are crucial. In conflict-affected areas, we need adaptive service delivery models that ensure continuity of care and Reignite: The fight against malaria demands more than just strategies and investments--it needs passion, commitment and urgency. Political leadership at the highest levels is needed to ensure that malaria elimination remains a national priority. Frontline healthcare workers need recognition, motivation and support." Wazed further emphasised that the fight against malaria is not solely the responsibility of governments and health agencies--it is a shared mission that requires the commitment of every individual, community, and partner. "On this World Malaria Day 2025 , let us remember that elimination is not the responsibility of governments and health agencies alone. It is a shared mission that requires the commitment of every individual, every community, and every partner. The end of malaria is within reach. Let us reinvest in proven strategies, reimagine our approach, and reignite our collective determination. We can deliver on our promise of a malaria-free South-East Asia Region by 2030 - because malaria truly ends with us," Wazed said.
