Decrease in the Rate of Malaria Infection in Chhattisgarh | 30 Jun 2022

Why in News?

• On June 28, 2022, Special Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Chhattisgarh cum Director of National Health Mission, Dr. Priyanka Shukla said that along with Bastar, the rate of malaria infection in entire Chhattisgarh has reached the lowest level ever.

Key Points

• The first five phases of the 'Malaria Mukt Chhattisgarh Abhiyan' have shown a massive impact in the Bastar division, which is most affected by malaria in the state. In the entire Bastar division, in the first phase, the malaria positivity rate was recorded at 4.6 percent. At the same time, in the sixth phase, it has come down to only 0.21 percent.
• If we compare the first phase and the sixth phase of 'Malaria Free Chhattisgarh Campaign' in January 2020, the malaria positivity rate in Bastar district is 2.05 percent in the first phase and 0.09 percent in the sixth phase.
• It may be mentioned that in the first phase of malaria free Chhattisgarh campaign, 64 thousand 646 malaria cases were registered. At the same time, only 7 thousand 170 cases have been found in the sixth phase, which are being treated immediately.
• During the sixth phase of this campaign, till now 33 lakh 96 thousand 998 people have been tested for malaria by reaching 7 lakh 6 thousand homes by the health department teams. During this, the patients found positive were started on the spot.
• With the impact of this campaign, which was earlier called the 'Malaria-Free Bastar Campaign', there has been a big reduction in the number of malaria patients found annually per 1,000 population.
• Under the campaign, all the people were tested for malaria with RD kit after reaching door-to-door in the inaccessible, inaccessible and remote areas of Bastar surrounded by dense forests and mountains. Those found positive were given full doses of medicines under the supervision of Mitanin.
• During the campaign, to ensure that every house and every person is checked, stickers are pasted in the houses and marking the toes of the checked people.
• Significantly, the sixth phase of the 'Malaria-Free Chhattisgarh Campaign' to eliminate malaria from Chhattisgarh has been launched from May 17. Considering the impact of the campaign, it has been extended to 21 districts of the state.
• Under this, work is being done on the action plan of activities related to spreading awareness to prevent malaria in the entire Chhattisgarh along with remote forests of Chhattisgarh, in which people are mainly encouraged to use mosquito nets, water stored around houses, drains. Spraying of DDT/burnt oil, important measures to maintain cleanliness and prevent mosquito breeding around the houses are being told.