LOWER DIR/LAKKI MARWAT: Health experts have said that precious lives can be protected by raising awareness among people regarding spread of malaria.

A ceremony and an awareness walk were arranged by Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) in Timergara, Lower Dir, to mark World Malaria Day on Thursday.

The walk was attended by experts, government officials, local elders and representatives of minorities including Dr Jehanzeb, social activist Akbar Khan, ANP worker Khalid Lalkhani, Lal Badsha, Adesh Kumar, Kinan Pasha, Shah Hussain from population welfare department and Umar Khitab and Zakriya from health department.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jehanzeb said that an equitable healthcare system grounded in gender equality and human rights was essential for preventing as well as treating malaria.

The district coordinator of malaria programme, Ibrash Pasha, said that precious lives could be saved by raising awareness among people. He called for heightened action against malaria. He said that with an approach grounded in health equity, gender equality and human rights, IHHN wanted to make the country malaria-free.

District entomologist Abdul Waris asked people to use insecticidal bed nets and repellents against malaria.

In Lakki Marwat, Frontier Primary Health Care (FPHC) and Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) with support of district health department held an awareness walk to mark the day.

The participants of the walk, led by district health officer Dr Shamsur Rehman, were holding banners and placards inscribed with messages about anti-malaria precautions.

The walk culminated in front of district health offices where insecticide treated bed nets, anti-malaria medicines, fog spray machines, microscope and rapid diagnostic kits and awareness material were displayed.

Later at a function, Dr Shams said that health department with support of partner organisations distributed mosquito nets and sensitised people about its effective use to save themselves from the vector-borne disease.

He said that free malaria diagnosis and treatment facilities were available at public and private sector hospitals and health centres.

Deputy DHO Dr Kifayat Betani, public health coordinator Dr Nisar, FPHC coordinator Azmat Ali Shah, Kifayat Zakori from Indus Hospital, malaria unit head Aziz Khan, entomologists Mohammad Jameel and Sadia Irfan, teachers, students, civil society members and people from different walks of life were present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024