By Rafiullah Mandokhail
QUETTA: ‘The vector-borne disease malaria is considered to be the deadliest and costliest disease in human history. It is estimated that the disease kills around half million people every year globally, predominantly children under the age of five, despite the fact that, it’s a treatable and preventable disease,’ these mind-blowing figures were shared by Dr Aimal Mandokhail, the provincial coordinator Indus Hospital and Health Network, at a health reporting training organized for the media persons across Balochistan.
Around twenty journalists covering health beat from different parts of Balochistan associated with print and online media participated in the two-day training – organized by the Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) at a local hotel in the provincial capital Quetta. The participating journalists have been tasked to intensify their efforts in the fight against the fatal-disease malaria by disseminating accurate, reliable and timely information in their area of coverage.
Trainer and senior journalist Muhammad Irtaza and Manager Training and Communication, Balochistan Rural Support Programme Abdullah Badini highlighted the responsibility of journalists covering health issues and journalism ethics. The paramount role of journalists in the fight against malaria was also discussed during the two-day session.
‘Indus Hospital & Health Network is working for the eradication of malaria in two dozen endemic districts of Balochistan. Hundreds of government-run health centers and private diagnostic laboratories have been provided with diagnostic facilities, where patients are being screened, diagnosed and treated free of cost. The health facilities have been provided with anti-malarial medicines and RDT kits,’ they said.
IHHN official Dr. Aimal Mandokhail revealed that with more than half the world’s population at risk of infection as malaria has now become an alarming threat to global health. This year, the theme as designated by the World Health Organization is ‘Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, implement’. Adding that tremendous progress has been made in the fight against life-threatening disease malaria. The bite of a mosquito carrying plasmodium parasite causes malaria.
‘Following the catastrophic floods across Balochistan, thousands of malaria cases have been reported in the province. In different districts of Balochistan, falciparum and vivax malaria is common. According to last year’s statistics, 110,000 people were screened in which 16,000 positive cases of malaria were reported,’ he added.
