The belief is growing on me that the disease is communicated by the bite of the
mosquito. She always injects a small quantity of fluid with her bite – what if the
parasite gets into the system in this manner exclaimed the curious Sir Ronald Ross
on his sojourn in India to study the causes of malaria.
World Mosquito Day is observed every year on 20th August in honour of Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery which made people across the world aware that female Anopheles mosquito acts as the carrier of malarial parasite. Commemorating the eventful day, our school had organised an invigorating guest lecture on Causes and Prevention of Malaria. Our respected speaker was Dr. Sandeep K. Malhotra, an eminent Researcher and Professor from the University of Allahabad. Our beloved Head of School, Ms.Jayu Ganesh felicitated Dr.Malhotra and Amiteshwar, Societal Leader of IBDP Year 1 introduced the speaker and the topic of the lecture to the participants. In his lecture, Dr.Malhotra discussed the time and energy spent trying to find a way to get rid of the mosquito menace which has been in vogue since time immemorial. He introduced the students, the various solutions to repel and kill mosquitoes without denying the fact that the intention of humans to bring up a malaria free community have met only with little success. He also opined on the fact that reinvention has always become the need of the hour as these winged carriers of disease adapts, evolves and develops immunity against every man-made formulations intended to combat them. The ingenuity of humans that stretched to trying to attack the source of problem by spraying stagnant water with oil and poison and the certain amount of success met by ensconcing oneself within walls made of net to keep the mosquitoes at bay was addressed by the speaker. The talk also explored the recent Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing difficulties and complications in coming up with a vaccine for the novel Coronavirus. At the end of the key-note address, the participants inquired the speaker with an array of questions largely pertaining to the present pandemic situation due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. The speaker answered every question with much detailed information and encouraged the participants to take care of their personal safety and security during this time of pandemic which reminisced one of the famous quote by Martin Luther King Jr. that states “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” The session was ended with a vote of thanks by Amiteshwar who pronounced that the session was such an eye-opener and profusely enlightening for every participant.