It gives me a great pleasure to welcome all the delegates to XIII Joint Conference of Indian Society of Malaria & Other Communicable Diseases from 31st January to 2nd February 2025 at ICMR-NIMR, Sector-8, Dwarka. The venue has been chosen as per the need for the discussions on the Climate Change : A Threat to Vector Borne Diseases. Climate Change is having direct or indirect impact on the vector borne diseases posing challenges to its elimination / control. There is also a threat for other emerging and re-emerging vector bore diseases i.e. CCHF, KFD, Scrub Typhus besides regular upsurge of dengue and chikungunya incidence in the country. The theme : Climate Change : A Threat to Vector Borne Diseses (VBDs) suits appropriately to this conference, wherein all eco-epidemiological, climatic, environmental, social aspects shall be discussed to face and overcome the challenges in those situations.
The National Society of India for Malaria and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases came into existence in the year 1950.
The main objectives of the Society were to advance knowledge regarding the cause, prevalence, epidemiology, treatment, prevention and control of malaria and other-mosquito-borne diseases, to stimulate scientific and practical interest among individuals and organizations in the prompt and effective application of treatment and control methods, to integrate scientific and field activities and co-ordinate various scientific investigations, to disseminate such knowledge both to scientists and to the general public, to act as liaison body between Indian and the International workers in the field. Lt. Col. Jaswant Singh was first President of the society.
Activities of the Society are essentially directed to further the scientific pursuit of its members and helping them to establish contact with national and international scientists for exchange of information and ideas. Public health experts i.e. Epidemiologists and Entomologists from MOH / DGHS, State Program Officers, Regional Directors, NVBDCP, NCDC, ICMR Institutions, public health institute, public health associations, NGOs, Medical Colleges and Municipal corporations are expected to participate in this conference.
Technical discussion would focus on the gaps and challenges in tackling the vector borne diseases at the field level and solutions in terms of disease & Vector surveillance, new tools and innovations, human resource, skill development, funding envelope, real time reporting, effective monitoring and evaluation , drug and insecticide resistance, community behaviour and response. There is future threat of ZIKA, Yellow Fever, West Nile Fever virus, scrub typhus, Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in India. Discussion on the preparedness to deal with the situation and action plan would also be main thrust by the speakers. This will help to arrive at some of the key recommendations to develop an implementable action plan, roadmap with time framework as the outcome of this national technical discussion by the public health experts. This platform would encourage most of the young public health professionals in the country to enrich their knowledge with regard to technical and implementation issues at the grassroot level.
I extend my invitation to all the life members of ISMOCD and others with a hearty welcome to participate in this conference.
