By Sandeep Pattnaik
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Bhubaneswar, 18th April 2016: Eight districts in Odisha have shown remarkable headway in malaria control and prevention, as Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi directed to intensify State sponsored malaria elimination scheme named DAMAN in remote district from the month of May, 2016.
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The implementation of the scheme would be intensified in 8 districts which have reported more than 10 API. These districts include Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada. An amount of Rs.25 cr has been estimated for the purpose. The services to be provided would include diagnosis, treatment, intensive mass awareness, behavioural change communications, haemoglobin test, nutrition test, supply of medicines etc.
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Besides, 25 entomological units will be set up in various districts including 5 municipal corporations to address malaria and other vector borne diseases including dengue, chikangunia etc. It was also decided that around 1.52 cr LLI nets would be procured from Global Fund for TB , AIDS & Malaria ( GFTAM) control through Govt of India within 6 months.
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Chief Secretary assured that State Govt would provide the required fund for the purpose from its own resources. He further directed the Health & Family Welfare Department to ensure availability of malarial medicines at PHCs and Health Centres and cautioned the department that no person should be deprived of getting medicine in time.
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Dr Madan Mohan Pradhan, Joint Director Health while presenting the national survey figures said that conditions have improved significantly in 8 costal districts where Annual Parasite Incidence (API) per 1000 population is less than 1. Looking to block API data, it was decided to move to elimination phase in 3 districts namely Puri, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur. Other 5 districts namely Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack and Khurda would move to pre-elimination phase.
