Mumbai: WHO launches campaign against vector borne diseases

Mumbai: The World Health Organisation or WHO has launched a campaign against vector-borne diseases in India. The 'Small Bite: Big Threat' campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the threat from diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, Lymphatic Filiariasis, Kala-Azar and Japanese Encephalitis. It aims to motivate people to protect themselves through simple measures.

The WHO has roped in partners like the Mumbai dabbawalas to fight vector borne diseases that claimed 167 lives in 2013. On World Health Day (April 7), the dabbawalas will deliver a specially created tag with key messages to fight vector borne diseases along with the lunch boxes. Along with the dabbawalas, the Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will play an important role in the campaign.

Legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra died of dengue last year. Actor Ranveer Singh too suffered a dengue infection bringing a sharp focus on the disease in Mumbai. The city reported more than 500 cases and more than 70,000 cases of dengue were reported across India last year; the disease is now endemic in the country. Over 2.5 billion people, nearly 40 per cent of world population, is now at risk from dengue, transmitted by bites from female Aedes mosquito. WHO estimates say there could 100 million dengue cases in the world every year.

Dr Nata Menabde, WHO representative to India said, "In India, the burden and risk of vector-borne diseases is massive. These diseases pose major public health problems and hamper socio-economic development."

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With cases of dengue rising every year, the need of hour is form a strategy to fight the disease. The WHO campaign is an effort to educate people to fight vector-borne diseases at the community level.