SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, April 25: If all goes as per the plan of the state malaria department, Jharkhand is all set to achieve the zero malaria death milestone in 2023.
On the occasion of World Malaria Day today ( April 25), the state malaria department launched massive awareness programmes ( rally and seminar) in the state capital Ranchi and the headquarters of 23 districts to achieve the mission of malaria elimination.
State malaria officer (SMO) Dr BK Singh said that in 2022 only four deaths ( East Singhbhum-2, West Singhbhum and Simdega -1 each) were registered. The death number could be curtailed by increasing the testing ratio and distribution of net among people in vulnerable districts.
Dr BK Singh said in comparison to 2021, the department was able to increase the 17% malaria testing ratio in 2022 and conducted spray in 3668 vulnerable villages covering 30.32 lakh villagers. Insecticidal nets were also distributed among 1.36 crore people.
Moreover, in 2022 the department conducted a special survey of fever patients in the most affected 1176 villages under 176 health sub-centres of 15 districts including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Simdega, Saraikela, Palamu, Pakur, Latehar, Koderma, Khunti, Hazaribagh, Godda, Giridih, Gumla, Garhwa, and Dumka.
“From this year we have also implemented Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) for better monitoring of malaria cases and entomological survey is being carried out in the affected zone,” said Dr Singh, state malaria officer.
The State Malaria officer said in 2022 that Annual Parasite Incidence ( more than one case among 1000 population) was found only in two districts of the state, West Singhbhum and Khunti districts. Malaria testing facility has been provided at all CHCs, PHCs and health sub-centres with free of cost medicines for the treatment of patients.
