In Bareilly, Mortein commemorates World Malaria Day 2024 and steps its efforts to eradicate malaria there

Mortein and Prayatna announced the inauguration of a school malaria curriculum and a unique mosquito sculpture public exhibit in Bareilly as part of their Mission Zero Malaria campaign on the eve of World Malaria Day. Mortein Mission Zero Malaria collaborated with famous artist Dr. Bibhuti Adhikary to construct a visually arresting public project aimed at increasing awareness about mosquito-borne illnesses, including malaria, with the goal of keeping Bareilly malaria-free.

In India’s state of Uttar Pradesh, where the Bareilly district alone accounted for a substantial portion of the state’s malaria cases, malaria continues to pose a serious threat to public health, highlighting the urgent need for focused interventions. Mortein Mission Zero Malaria was founded in 2023 with the goal of promoting behavioral change and health awareness in the Bareilly community.
Executive Vice President of Reckitt South Asia Gaurav Jain stated:

“A major international and national public health goal is the eradication of malaria by 2030. At Reckitt, we firmly believe that everyone has the basic right to obtain health care, regardless of their financial situation. We are honored to use art and culture to spread the word on World Malaria Day that, although a significant concern, malaria can be avoided with prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and effective mosquito control. We think that this distinctive sculpture will act as a constant reminder to encourage the Bareilly community to be watchful until we attain a malaria-free environment, as Bareilly is a land of public art installations.”

“On this World Malaria Day, we are happy to partner with Reckitt as we stand united in our commitment to combating one of the oldest and deadliest foes humanity has faced—malaria,” said Pratik Kumar, President of Prayatna. Together, with unified effort and steadfast will, we can defeat malaria. Let’s show our support for one another not only today but every day until we eradicate malaria from Bareilly and the whole planet.

“As we embark on the Mission Zero Malaria journey with Mortein and Prayatna, Sesame Workshop India proudly introduces an engaging school malaria curriculum with quirky characters like Malaria Jasoos, Malaria Police, Malaria Guru, and Miss Malaria to educate children,” stated Sonali Khan, Managing Director of Sesame Workshop India. By providing interesting information, we want to close the knowledge gap and foster critical attitudes toward malaria prevention.

In addition to preventing malaria, the instructional kit Stop Malaria Club fosters a generation of knowledgeable, responsible citizens by integrating STEM principles into its design. Sesame Workshop India aims to provide kids with the knowledge and skills they need to identify symptoms, comprehend the reproduction cycle, and take preventative action.”

Inspired by the famous Polio Chowk in Moradabad and the ‘Statue of Unity’ in Gujarat, the mosquito installation at Bareilly’s Machhar Chowk aims to raise awareness about the value of malaria prevention and control among healthcare professionals, schools, communities, and organizations. An 18-foot-tall edifice with three pillars and three insects adorning it serves as a striking reminder of the menace that mosquitoes represent. Three lights in the sculpture will change color according to the pattern of mosquito infestation in the city:

green when there is no need to be concerned about malaria or mosquito infestations, orange when there is a citywide outbreak of cases, and red when cases are rising and people should take precautions.
Dr. Bibhuti Adhikary, a sculptor, stated: “An artist’s ability to profoundly influence society through their work is unmatched. I saw the project’s enormous potential when Reckitt contacted me about developing a public art display that addressed malaria. I accepted Reckitt’s idea and used my creative abilities to make it a reality.

I really think, as an artist, that art is not what you see, but rather what you make others perceive. This artwork will have served its goal if it is able to increase awareness about malaria and motivate the people of Bareilly to take the required actions collectively.”
With the goal of educating and increasing awareness among students, Mortein and Sesame Workshop India created a complete school malaria curriculum based on the “Know. Act. Control” paradigm. The program, which is designed for kids between the ages of 5 and 15, includes interesting educational resources like Malaria Activity Sheets, Macchar Hunt Books, Malaria Calendars, Malaria Suraksha Chakras, and Stop Malaria Club badges, in addition to entertaining characters that kids can relate to.

The goal of the school malaria curriculum is to provide over 4 lakh students in 850 schools in the Bareilly district with the necessary information and skills to become change agents in their communities by implementing desirable behavior change techniques.

By scanning the QR code below, you may unlock the puzzle and make your getaway without being bitten by mosquitoes.
Mortein is still dedicated to its goal of eliminating malaria in Bareilly via their Mission Zero Malaria initiative.

The collaborations guarantee financial resources, technological accessibility, and inventiveness that may be used to decrease the prevalence of malaria inside the designated region. The campaign’s goal is to defeat malaria by working together and involving the community in order to create a healthier, malaria-free future for future generations.