WHO Join Hands with Dabbawalas to Fight Vector-borne Diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined hands with Mumbai dabbawalas, the famous food delivery workforce, to spread awareness about measures to fight vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and kala-azar.

WHO has collaborated with the government of Maharashtra and Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust. The Mumbai dabbawalas have an extensive network in the city and its suburbs to carry home-made lunch. They will be carrying a tag with messages on how to prevent and control these diseases.

The innovative awareness programme is aimed at a larger and more focused campaign on prevention of and control of vector-borne diseases. According to a WHO representative in India, Nata Menabde, the burden and risk of vector-borne diseases is massive and it is mostly found in areas with poorest health systems where the population is most exposed in India. She added that reaching out to a larger number of Mumbaikars will certainly have a multiplier effect on spreading the message on prevention measures.

Vector-borne diseases are spread by mosquitos, insects, bacteria and viruses. According to WHO, vector-borne diseases account for 17 percent of the estimated global burden of all infectious diseases.

(Source: Jagran Post)

(Image source:Getty)

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