World Malaria Day is celebrated on April 25 every year to promote actions to put an end to malaria. World Health Organization (WHO) continues to call for greater investment and expanded coverage of proven tools that prevent, diagnose and treat malaria.
This year’s World Malaria Day theme is “Zero malaria starts with me”.
This theme aims at highlighting malaria at political level along with mobilization of additional resources and empowerment of communities to take ownership of malaria prevention and cure.
After so many efforts we are yet to see: world free of malaria which can only be made possible by engaging all members of society including government, private sector companies and communities affected by malaria.
Facts:
High risk areas for malaria transmission in India:
Malaria is a public health problem in India. The majority of malaria cases are reported from eastern and central part of the country and from states which have forest, hilly and tribal areas. These states include Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and some north-eastern states like Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. In India malaria cases have consistently declined from 2.08 million in 2001 to about 4 lakhs in 2018. Of the countries hardest hit by malaria, only India showed progress in reducing its disease burden.
Malaria control strategies in India:
Directorate of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is the central nodal agency for the prevention and control of vector borne diseases including malaria and other VBDs (Dengue, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar, Japanese Encephalitis and Chikungunya) in India.
The National Strategic Plan (NSP)* has been developed by NVBDCP, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India with the support of WHO to provide a road map for making India malaria free by 2027.
Malaria control strategies consist of:
a. Early case detection and prompt treatment (EDPT):
EDPT is the main strategy of malaria control and radical treatment is necessary for all the cases of malaria to prevent transmission of malaria in the community.
b. Vector control:
Mosquitoes in the community can be controlled with the combination of multiple activities such as chemical and biological control.
c. Personal protective measures against mosquito bites:
d. Environment management and community awareness about detection of mosquito breeding places and their elimination. Swachh Bharat Mission promotes people to keep vicinity clean thereby elimination of breeding places for mosquitoes.
To Know more about malaria:
References-
* https://www.nvbdcp.gov.in/WriteReadData/l892s/nsp_2017-2022.pdf
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/world-malaria-day-2019/about-the-campaign
https://www.who.int/malaria/news/2018/india-takes-on-malaria/en/
https://www.nvbdcp.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=1&sublinkid=5784&lid=3689