World Mosquito Day 2023: Here’s Why To Celebrate?
World Mosquito Day is a special day dedicated for spreading awareness about mosquitoes and the types of diseases they carry. It is celebrated on 20th August of every year worldwide. The health-contingency event is bieng observed for the past 126 years. These tiny mosquitoes may be very small in size but perhaps the only predators that have thrived through the centuries, considered among the deadliest insects. These tiny creatures leave a huge impact and are of different kinds who carry different diseases.
This is done to commemorate the contributions of British doctor Sir Ronald Ross who was the first person to discover the connection between malaria and female anopheline mosquitoes. Every year, World Mosquito Day is celebrated to create awareness about the dangers of mosquitoes, the ways by which we can protect ourselves from these diseases, and to rise together to combat these insects.
India is a hotspot for many kinds of mosquito-borne illnesses because of its diversified climate and geography. Nearly 40 million people in India get infected with diseases spread by mosquitoes each year. Some of the most common mosquito-borne diseases include malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and zika virus.
In India, Malaria is still one of the most common illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes. It places a significant impact on India’s healthcare system. The nation makes for 1.7 percent of all malaria cases and 1.2 percent of all malaria-related fatalities worldwide. There were more than 45,000 recorded cases of malaria in India in 2022
AIM: The main aim of celebrating the World Mosquito Day is to create awareness among people about the mosquito-borne diseases and their preventive measures.
HISTORY: The history of World Mosquito Day dates back to 20 August 1897, when Ronald Ross – British Doctor made a revolutionary discovery about the Malaria transmission. Sir Ronald Ross discovered that a parasite found in the stomach of female Anopheles mosquito is responsible for transmitting the malaria among humans.
To commemorate this groundbreaking discovery, World Mosquito Day was founded and is celebrated every year on 20 August. The main motive behind observing World Mosquito Day is to make a world free of mosquito-borne diseases.
SIGNIFICANCE:
The main significance of World Mosquito Day is to combat mosquito-borne diseases and protect communities across the globe. This day is also observed by raising awareness about the dangers of these diseases. Fundraising is done to explore the cure for malaria. The works of scientists such as Ronald Ross and others are also applauded on this day.
PREVENTIONS: To prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes, it’s important to take preventive measures. Here are some tips:
1. Use mosquito repellent: Apply an effective mosquito repellent on exposed skin to keep mosquitoes at bay.
2.Wear protective clothing: Cover your body with long sleeves, pants, and socks to reduce mosquito bites.
3. Eliminate standing water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so empty any containers that collect water, such as buckets, flower pots, or birdbaths.
4. Use bed nets: When sleeping, use bed nets treated with insecticides to protect yourself from mosquito bites, especially in areas where malaria is prevalent.
5. Stay indoors during peak mosquito activity: Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk, so try to stay indoors during these times. Remember, prevention is key to reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Stay vigilant and protect yourself and your community.
CELEBRATIONS AND ACTIVITIES: One of the best ways to observe World Mosquito Day is by raising funds to help people treat diseases such as malaria, dengue and zika. We can also read about the dangers of mosquitoes online and get informed.
World Mosquito Day, people should participate in seminars, conferences, health quizzes, workshops, and webinars to learn about the different types of mosquito-borne diseases and their preventive measures.
Some of the World Mosquito Day 2023 activities include:
1. Launching awareness campaigns.
2. Holding community clean drives to locate and clean the mosquito breeding sites.
3. Distributing educational materials like brochures, pamphlets, and flyers to create awareness among people about the mosquito-borne diseases.
4. Participation in fundraising events to support the research and initiatives for treating mosquito-borne diseases.
The main purpose behind celebrating the World Mosquito Day is to educate people about the mosquito-borne diseases and their preventive measures. Due to climatic changes, globalisation, and urbanisation, the rate at which mosquito-borne diseases are spreading across regions is quite alarming. Therefore, it is critical to take necessary measures to combat such fatal diseases.
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