IMPHAL, Aug 3: With an objective to help indentify the roles of media and how media personnel can support in the prevention and control of vector borne disease in the state, a one day advocacy meeting for media personnel on prevention and control of vector borne diseases was held today at Manipur Press Club.
The meeting was organized, in relation with the observation of anti-malaria month 2011, by State Vector Borne Disease Control Society with support from National Rural health Mission and National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBCP).
The meeting was attended by journalists working in electronic and various print media of the state with All Manipur Journalist Working Association (AMWJA) president A Mobi as chief guest, NVCDCP state Entomologist Y Kishna Singh as president and Poknapham editor A Robindro Sharma as guest of honour.
While addressing the function AMWJU’s president A Mobi has said that vector borne disease are more visible in rural areas of the state. He added that it is due to the gap in information, education and awareness. He stated that this gap can be bridge up by the media personnel by acquiring the technical information and knowledge from the expert and multiplied through their mass medium to every nook and cranny of the state. He also asked the media personnel to verified information in case of suspicion of disease before being reported to the masses to panic to public. He opined that participation of media personnel is indispensable in prevention and control of VBD. He added, only the concern department can’t prevent and control.
Speaking at the function, A Robindro Sharma has said that media played a multi-dimensional role the society. He added that media can help enhance the treatment and medication of VBD by clarifying all the traditional myth and misconception perceived by people. He added that media can help public information rich about the prevention and control through utilizing their medium.
Y Krishna, State Entomologist for NVBDCP, has stated the suffering of malaria shows the socio-economic structure of a place. He stated that malaria is visible in the places where the socio-economic system is quite poor. He added, according to National health Policy 2002 it focus to reduce the mortality rate cause by vector borne diseases by 50 percent. He also added that hazardous affects of fogging anti-mosquito smoke in the residential areas. He stated, many people have come to asked to fog the anti-mosquito smoke from their department without knowing the negative impact.
He also added that some media sometimes creates panic to public by reporting a suspicion of encephalitis without proper confirmation. He also requested the media personnel to confirm ahead of reporting. He also stated that vector borne diseases are treatable easily. He added, early detection and treatment is a must.
