DISTRICT administration is working actively for eradicating Malaria from district of Bastar and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. A Malaria Free Bastar Campaign is being executed in both the districts for the purpose. Under the campaign, an intensive malaria screening drive was launched from January 15 to February 14, in which a total of 3.11 lakh people underwent blood test and 14656 malaria positive cases were found.
Over 550 people were found PV malaria positive while 13314 PF malaria patients were detected and 790 mixture of Malaria positive patients were also detected.
The second phase of campaign started from June 15 and lasted till July 31, after the arrival of the monsoon. In all blocks of Naxalinfested Dantewada district, the first phase was launched from June 8 for inaccessible areas under the guidance of Collector Deepak Soni.
In the second phase, a target was set to conduct malaria screening of 3.01 lakh people after conducting survey of 69532 households. But survey was conducted of 71186 house-holds and 3.03 lakh people underwent medical examination.
3645 people were detected malaria positive. The third phase was conducted from January 15 to February 23, 2020, in which survey of over 3 lakh house-holds was conducted and 3.17 lakh people under-went malaria check-up. 14891 people were found to be malaria positive.
Proper medical treatment was given to these people and a preventive measure against the disease was also informed to them. A video message by Collector Deepak Soni in regional Gondi language made positive effect on people and they supported the malaria survey team and used mosquito nets and consumed medicines as prescribed.
The malaria survey teams conducted blood test of all people and those found positive were given proper treatment and free of cost medicines. Proper followup of patients was also maintained and due to which Dantewada district completed its target before the scheduled time. It was the result of able guidance of the district administration and hard work of the health department officials.
It is worth mentioning that besides Covid-19, appropriate steps are also being taken for controlling Malaria in remote and inaccessible areas.
Medicated mosquito nets are also being distributed to villagers and medicines are being given. Necessary vaccination of children and pregnant women is also being done. They are also following rules of social distancing.
To be noted that 3.17 lakh people under-went malaria checkup in first phase and 14591 women, men and children were found to be malaria positive.
Malaria dose were given to all and eventually, there was a decline in Malaria positive patients. Merely 3645 malaria positive patients were found in the second phase and third phase will also start soon to get rid of malaria.
Chhattisgarh government launched ‘Malaria-free Bastar’ campaign in Janunary 2020. Bastar is the Red zone in south Chhattisgarh for malaria. The region has the Annual Parasite Incidence (API) (malaria) of over 10—rated among the highest in the country, according to the report. API-10 is equivalent to 10 confirmed cases per thousand population and Bastar is among the very few geographical locations endemic to malaria parasites—Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum.
Going by the previous 3 years data, the prevalence of malaria cases recorded were highest during the months of January, July and November, a report said. So based on it, a three-phase ‘Malaria Free Bastar’ campaign is being carried out during these months so as to eliminate malarial parasites in its entirety.
