COMIC BOOK ON MALARIA

The release and distribution of a health comic book to create awareness on Malaria to school kids could not have been more timely as the death toll from Malaria has increased 524 percent in 2007 over 2003 in Meghalaya. 

The first of its kind health comic book titled – A tale of two magic potions - is an “absorbing” story of two school kids, Abhishek and Anu, fighting to make their town Malaria-free. 

Both the schools kids together with others make their town Amritnagar “Malaria-free” by taking some basic Malaria-control steps. The 30-paged Comic book was distributed to fifth grade students in three different schools here by Chillibreeze Solutions - a content and design service provider. Before distribution of the comic book a quiz contest was conducted and later after a few days another quiz was held. 

 “The students showed visible improvement in their knowledge about Malaria after reading the comic as indicated by their answers,” Dr. Nishi Viswanathan, one of the directors at Chillibreeze and author of the book said. During the Second World War such initiative was also taken by Walt Disney to educate soldiers and people on the prevalent diseases including Malaria through films and comics. 

Walt Disney’s “The Winged Scourge” produced in 1943 showcased the seven dwarves pointing out several precautions to fight Malaria. By 1945 more than 8000 shows were held each month attracting over 4 million people to such health oriented films. Dr. Viswanathan adds though Malaria is preventable hundreds of people die of the disease in India. 

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) envisages achieving a target of 50 percent reduction of Malaria death rate by 2010. However, in Meghalaya Malaria morbidity and Malaria mortality has increased 524 per cent this year from 2003, despite the state spending Rs. 23.70 crore to combat the disease as per the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report.

 “The possibility of achieving the objective (under NRHM) of reducing Malaria morbidity and mortality rate by 30 and 50 per cent respectively by 2010 is remote,” the report underscored. However, Dr. Viswanathan is optimistic. She says creating awareness on this preventable disease through “entertaining and engaging” medium to school kids is one of the solutions to combat Malaria. Chillibreeze is trying to translate the comic book in different languages for distribution to school children across India as part of its non-profit ventures.