Longleng, June 29: An inter-school poster competition was organised in Longleng on Monday as part of the ongoing Anti-Malaria Month campaign, with students using art and slogans to spread awareness on malaria prevention and control.

The event, organised under the District Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, witnessed participation from students of various schools across the district, who showcased hand-drawn posters highlighting mosquito breeding sites, the importance of insecticide-treated bed nets, symptoms of malaria and community-level preventive measures.

Several posters carried messages such as “Anti Malaria” and featured mosquito prohibition symbols, reflecting the students’ understanding of the disease and the need for collective action to prevent its spread.

District Vector Borne Diseases Officer (DVBO) Longleng, Dr K. Manan Phom, attended the programme along with health officials and teachers.

Addressing the participants, Dr Phom said community participation remains crucial in the fight against malaria and that school-level programmes play an important role in building awareness at the grassroots.

He said Anti-Malaria Month is observed every June to intensify Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities ahead of the monsoon season, when malaria transmission typically peaks.

Urging students to become ambassadors of awareness in their homes and communities, Dr Phom encouraged them to spread messages on eliminating mosquito breeding sites, seeking early diagnosis and ensuring complete treatment.

Officials of the District Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme said such competitions not only nurture creativity among students but also reinforce important public health messages.

Winners of the poster competition will be awarded certificates and prizes by the department. The programme formed part of the district’s wider IEC campaign under the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).