World Malaria Day: Vedanta holds awareness drive in Kalahandi’s remote pockets
Dr. Gouranga Charan Rout
Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi/Odisha), April 27: In a bid to enhance the vulnerable community’s well-understanding of malaria control, Vedanta Aluminium marked the World Malaria Day with a massive awareness drive in the tribal-dominated Kalahandi district of Odisha on Saturday.
While the main focus was on two villages Nakrundi and Gunpur apart from other remote pockets, the anti-malaria awareness campaign featured street plays performed by seasoned artists drawing over 380 rural residents. The street plays effectively conveyed key malaria prevention strategies with a special focus on the use of medicated mosquito nets previously distributed by the Sijimali Bauxite team.
These performances were followed by interactive discussions enabling villagers to ask questions and share insights that enhanced community understanding of malaria control.
Speaking about the initiative, Vedanta Aluminium Chief Operating Officer (COO) Mr. Sunil Gupta said, “We recognize that good health is the foundation of thriving communities and sustainable development. Our commitment goes beyond providing healthcare services. We strive to foster a culture of wellness through comprehensive outreach programmes that educate and empower individuals at the grassroots level.”
He added, “Whether it is malaria prevention, nutrition awareness, or holistic health initiatives like yoga and cancer education, our goal is to create lasting impact by enabling healthier lifestyles and building healthier communities.”
Notably, this event is part of Vedanta Aluminium’s sustained commitment to healthcare and community well-being. The company has, meanwhile, reached out to more than 45,000 people last year through health camps, Swarna Prashan immunization initiative and various awareness programmes.
Pertinent to mention here that, Odisha’s Kalahandi district was once synonymous with poverty and deprivation. The region had long struggled under the pangs of inadequate health infrastructure, low awareness and high disease burden. For decades, malaria loomed large as a persistent threat for the hapless villagers in the remote pockets frequently falling prey to the killer disease due to lack of proper healthcare and basic sanitation. However, the sad story has now changed dramatically over the past two decades, kudos to Vedanta Aluminium’s sustained efforts in the region.
