Berhampur: The health department in Ganjam district has undertaken a month-long anti malaria drive in seven blocks of the district. The drive is under DAMAN (Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran).
After the first phase of DAMAN concluded in June, the administration identified the seven blocks as highly endemic to mosquito borne disease and began the second phase that will continue till mid December.
Among the blocks were highly Malaria-prone blocks– Sanakhemundi, Sorada, Dharakote, Bhanjanagar, Patrapur, Digapahandi and Polasara, all major towns in Ganjam district. Over 40 per cent of the total malaria cases in the district are reported from this seven blocks, said an officials sources.
The drive aims at bridging the gaps of EDCT (Early Diagnosis and Complete Treatment) through mass screening, District Malaria Officer (DMO) R Jagadeesh Patnaik said.
Around 120 camps would be set up in the seven blocks for mass screening of malaria and other health problems of pregnant women and children less than five years.
During the month long mass screening drive in the first phase done in June, at least 3,618 people out of a total of 25,204 screened were tested malaria positive.
With 1,923 malaria positive cases, Patrapur block detected the highest cases. In the first phase, 63 camps were set up in Patrapur block. Treatment of people who tested positive to Malaria were given immediate treatment.
“This time, we will also set up same number of camps in Patrapur block and start immediate treatment of malaria patients,” said the DMO.
Apart from these blocks, screening is also going on among students of residential schools run by ST and SC development department. The district has 44 government-run residential schools with 6,444 hospital inmates.
PNN
