Worshipping mosquito!

Prasaad Bhosekar

Temples are places often reserved for worshipping Gods. Have you ever thought of a temple where mosquitoes are worshipped! Sounds strange, isn’t it? Yes! There is a temple of mosquitoes where they are worshipped in a different way and for a different reason.In Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, there is a remote village called Mokshagundam. The village, surrounded by jungles, faced mosquito menace and related troubles perpetually. Therefore, a doctor in the local Primary Healthcare Center (PHC) decided to spread awareness in a strange way. He did so by constructing a temple for mosquitoes! Usually, PHC plays an important role in villages. It is the nearest and the most convenient place where villagers go for the cure of any illness. While most of the PHCs in our country wear a deserted look, the one in Mokshagundam is unique and happening. It has a mosquito temple on its premises where mosquitoes are literally "worshipped". The story began when the Medical Officer of this PHC, Dr Satish Babu, tried all methods to educate local people about mosquitoes, cleanliness and precautions but to no avail. Then he came up with a unique idea. He built a small ‘mosquito temple’ on the PHC premises with the slogan ‘Mosquitoes go away’. Regarding his novel idea of a ‘mosquito temple’, Dr Satish Babu says, "For the last three years, me and my staff did the best to educate people on precautions to be taken against mosquitoes but it had very little effect. Now, I have constructed a small temple with messages on its walls stating that we should never give chance to mosquitoes to breed and bite. The aim is simple, Prevention is better than cure." The PHC has a very clean campus and around the temple there are illustrations of various mosquitoes and mosquito related diseases like Malaria, Chikungunya, Dengue, etc. It is not just the doctors who have worked hard but have also involved the village Sarpanch and local leaders to spread awareness among the villagers. This move has turned out to be an extremely successful one and has created a huge impact in dispersing knowledge and awareness about mosquitoes. Prabhakar, a resident of the village says, "It is really a good idea and concept to educate the ignorant and illiterate masses in rural areas. Now the temple is attracting people who are getting the important messages." Mosquitoes, in this temple are worshipped, to keep them away and create a mass awareness among the people. Mosquitoes are the main culprits behind half of the diseases we all contract, especially in rural and remote areas. The mosquitoes would not dare to bite if proper precautions are taken well in advance. Indeed, a novel way to say, "keep it clean and safe." Adapted by: Sharique N Siddiquie