The New Indian Express 07.01.2010

malaria control steps to be intensified

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has set itself an ambitious target of reducing the malaria prevalence rate to 4 per cent in the next five years. It also gave itself time till 2015 to eliminate filariasis from the State. At the State-level Task Force meeting, chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya, it was also decided to intensify control measures by roping in village welfare committees and SHGs. Malaria has remained a public health problem for the State for last several decades and Orissa reports one of India’s highest mortality and falciparum plasmodium rates in India. However, the death rate has shown a declining trend lately. In 2002, Orissa reported 25 per cent malaria cases and 48 per cent deaths. By July last year, the country showed a six per cent rise in prevalence rate and 26 per cent rise of the deaths caused by the disease. However, Orissa had reportedly witnessed a decline - its prevalence rate is now 8 per cent while mortality stands at 15 per cent. Although both the PR and the casualty rates have dropped, Acharya said, the scenario looks daunting in the State because the detection rate has improved. However, the rates are higher than the national average which calls for more focussed intervention. With a large number of districts reporting resistance to chloroquin, the Government has started using second line drugs to the affected population. The State Government which has launched a Mo Masari programme to distribute medicated mosquito nets has decided to make village as a unit for disbursal of the nets. The VWCs and SGHs will be asked to keep a watch on the scheme, Acharya said.