Sandeep Mishra
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 18: Orissa continues to be haunted by the spectre of malaria, with the state being ranked as the second deadliest in the country going by the number of fatalities.
According to nationwide data released by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) till July, the state occupies the dubious top spot in the country when it comes to recording the maximum number of people testing positive for the dreaded disease.
The entire country recorded 99 deaths till July, with Orissa alone accounting for 46 deaths. States like Meghalaya, West Bengal and Tripura were the other major contributors. Last year too, Orissa was ranked No. 2 according to the number of deaths caused by malaria. Tripura took top spot with 96 deaths.
Altogether 3,41,373 persons tested positive for the deadly vector-borne disease in the country this year, out of which Orissa had 1,59,983 cases. A quick calculation shows that about 46 per cent of the total disease burden of the country is borne by Orissa.
The anopheles mosquito has spread its tentacles across the state, with 18 deaths being reported in July alone.
The southern district of Rayagada continued to remain the worst-affected by the malaria menace for the second consecutive month with 13,502 persons testing positive in a single month. However, the district recorded only one death in July compared to three deaths in June.
As many as 13 out of the 30 districts of the state are highly vulnerable to the epidemic. In July, three deaths were reported from Bolangir while two deaths each were reported from Angul, Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts. Balasore, Boudh, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada and Rayagada recorded one death each in July.
The state had recorded five deaths in January, two deaths each in February and March, four deaths each in April and May and 11 deaths in June. The casualties graph continued to be on an upward trajectory, peaking in July with 18 deaths.
“We have been trying hard to control the spread of malaria which is spreading its grip especially in the tribal belt of the state. Officials at the grassroots level have been rigorously undertaking various awareness activities, but citizens should also have to take necessary safety precautions or else it will be impossible to stop the spread of this deadly epidemic,” said Madan Mohan Pradhan, joint director of NVBDCP.
Officials in the health department are of the view that no amount of government initiatives will work effectively if there is no significant awareness on the part of the public in fighting the epidemic. “People have to take basic safety precautions such as using mosquito nets and mosquito repellants and prevent water from stagnating near households. This alone will help considerably in bringing down the prevalence of the vector-borne disease,” said an official requesting anonymity.
NVBDCP officials have come up with a new initiative titled DaMaNa (Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran) which has been proposed to be initiated in eight high-priority districts in the first phase. “We have submitted the project report to the state government. Once it gets the official nod, we will carry on with intensified efforts to curb the epidemic,” said Pradhan.
