Malaria is one of the major communicable diseases affecting mankind, caused by the plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infective female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria imposes great socio-economic burden on humanity, and with six other disease (diarrhea, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, measles, hepatitis B, and Pneumonia), accounts for 85% of global infectious disease burden.

Considering the fact that, malaria & other Vector government of India launched a comprehensive country-wide NVBDCP (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme) in order to curb the transmission & spread of this vector borne disease.

In the year 2010, VHAG in collaboration with Directorate of Health Services undertook malaria BCC program in Goa. One of the Goals of the Malaria BCC program in Goa is to create a network of partners working in tandem on different aspects of the program to achieve the objectives of Malaria Elimination Programme in Goa.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES:

1. To identify all the construction sites in target area.

2. To find out mosquito breeding sites in target area.

3. To creates awareness about malaria and prevention of malaria in workers.

4. To use behavior change communication to bring about awareness & change in habit amongst people

5. To make the construction sites malaria free

TARGET AREAS:

Taluka of Tiswadi, Bardez, Mormugao and in Vasco area. The staff of VHAG have been working tirelessly going from village to village and from construction sites to remote areas of Goa where these workers reside, not sparing the slums and residential areas to spread awareness on Malaria. 

Tiswadi- Panaji, Chimbel, Santacruz, Taligao, Miramar, Donapaula, St. Inez

Bardez- Mapusa, Siolim, Assagao, Parra, Porvorim, Calangute, Candolim

Mormugao- Vasco, Mangur Hill, Baina, Chicalim, Dabolim, Vaddem

TARGET GROUP: 

Builders, contractors, construction workers and people living around such high risk sites about the need to follow & adopt preventive & safety measures, early detection and treatment seeking and surveillance.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER THIS PROGRAM:

• Visit the construction sites & identify construction workers who do not have their health cards made.
•  Motivate these workers to visit the health centre & get their health cards done.
• Identify mosquito breeding sites & and with the help of the necessary authority take corrective measures or target larval control activities at these sites.
• Ascertain the availability of drinking water & sanitation facilities at the construction sites.
• Conduct Behavior Change communication (BCC) sessions on Malaria at construction sites for the workers.
• Promote the use of mosquito bed nets by the construction workers.
• Screening for malaria amongst the construction site workers with the help of malaria staff of health centre.