Mysuru’s primary health centres (PHCs) are on a mission to combat malaria although the district has been free from malaria cases since the last five years. The Department of Health and Family Welfare in Mysuru does not want to take chances as the threat always looms large in monsoon and also from migrant population.
So, how are the PHCs that were in the forefront in the war against COVID-19 planning to fight malaria? What preparations has the department done to end breeding of mosquitoes? By rearing mosquito-killing guppy and gambusia fish, the department plans to ease the threat as guppies and gambusias would be introduced in large water bodies that are prone to mosquito breeding. For this, large fish tanks are being constructed in every PHC and CHC in Mysuru where guppy and gambusia fish are bred, as a biological controlling way of fighting mosquito breeding.
So far, 135 fish tanks have been constructed in PHCs across the district and 20 more are under construction. Many PHCs have started breeding guppy and gambusia and all 150 fish tanks would be ready by June when anti-malaria month is observed.
