GUWAHATI: As World Malaria Day was recently observed on April 25, the officials of the health & family welfare department are working towards reducing the number of cases of the disease in 2019.
Last year in Kamrup (Metro), third highest cases were recorded for Malaria from the district with 22,713 cases being registered. The vector-borne disease constituted 16 per cent of the total cases registered in 2018.
On the other hand, in 2018, the maximum cases registered were for respiratory diseases among all diseases. As many as 75,475 cases related to acute respiratory infection were registered in Kamrup (Metro).
World Malaria Day was observed in the state by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Assam on April 25. The theme of World Malaria Day this year was “Zero Malaria Starts With Me.”
To check the outbreak of malaria, IEC-BCC materials and activities have been developed and carried out with different strategies.
On the occasion, a programme was also organised at the Lakhipriya Devi Baruani Children Park, Mother Teresa Road in Narikalbari area of the city. Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Debeswar Malakar, took part in the function along with officials from the health department.
Speaking during the occasion, Malakar laid stress on the need to make people aware of the mosquito-borne diseases and general cleanliness. He also underlined the importance of this year’s World Malaria Day theme – “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” and urged the members of the gathering, especially the students present on the occasion, to take the lead in promoting cleanliness and hygienic lifestyle.
On the other hand, among the northeastern states, Manipur is nearing the “Zero Malaria” status, stated a DIPR report which was released on the occasion of World Malaria Day.
Further, in 2018, only 12 cases were reported from the state which were concentrated in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.
The union ministry of health & family welfare has targeted to end Malaria nationally by the year 2030. However, Manipur is expected to achieve the feat by 2021. The state had earlier set the target as 2020 but later changed it to 2021 after the 12 cases of the vector-borne disease were detected in the state in 2018.