Awareness Drive on Tropical Illness

KOCHI:  Keeping in view the threat of spread of diseases like malaria, filariasis, leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases through the migrant labourers, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre in collaboration with UNICEF and Kerala State Council for Science and Technology and Environment is launching the Indian Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (INNTD) on Friday.

The initiative plans to raise awareness about the issue at an institutional level and suggest preventive measures to stop re-emergence of such diseases.

An estimated 25 lakh migrant labourers are in Kerala, mostly from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, with almost 2.35 lakh added every year. Most of them work in construction sector and hospitality industry.

“While they play a key role in the development of the state, they could be a potential health threat to the local population,” said Dr Panicker, Emeritus Professor in Community Medicine at Amrita Institute of Medical Science.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com